In September 2026, the National Science Library, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NSL, CAS) and the Public Library of Science (PLOS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly advance the Open for Science 10 (OS10) Program. The collaboration builds on the organizations’ respective strengths in open science infrastructure, publishing policies, data resources, and services, with the aim of promoting open sharing and innovative use of scientific knowledge and data.
Under the agreement, NSL and PLOS will explore cooperation in areas such as sharing scientific research and open science resources, developing the OS10 platform’s technical architecture, and strengthening open science capacity-building. PLOS may also participate in OS10 working groups, contributing to resource coordination, technical standards, and service design. The two parties plan to support open science capacity-building in China and other OS10 regions through training, workshops, community engagement, and international exchange. They will also consider linking OS10 with outcomes from PLOS’s Redefining Publishing initiative to expand cooperation on open science policy and practice.
The OS10 Program, formally titled Towards Open Science Infrastructure Sharing Network: Knowledge and Data Sharing Platform from China—Open for Science 10, was initiated under the leadership of Professor Wei Yang, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and endorsed by UNESCO in February 2025. The program aligns with the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science and the strategic plan of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (“Science Decade”). NSL and Zhejiang University serve as liaison and supporting institutions, while the CAST‑UN Consultative Committee on Open Science and Global Partnership (CCOS) acts as the lead organization.
OS10 has already achieved several milestones: the launch of the Open4Science platform (open4science.cn), which provides access to more than 100 million open science and technology resources across 105 countries; the development of the International Specification for Open Knowledge and Data Sharing and Application, which advances collaboration and infrastructure sharing; and the release of the Open Science Readiness Index (OSRI) report and monitoring platform, mapping open science development across all 193 UN Member States.
PLOS, a non‑profit organization, continues to focus on driving open science through publishing, policy, and practice. The organization has emphasized its mission to remove barriers, promote inclusion, and reimagine publishing models to align with open science principles. Its journals serve as platforms to test and refine innovations across the research lifecycle, supporting multidisciplinary discussions and enabling stakeholders to reuse and build upon scientific knowledge.
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