UNESCO has introduced the Open Science Platform, a digital tool designed to promote open access to its scientific knowledge and research outputs while tracking global progress on open science. The launch took place during UN Open Source Week 2026, held from June 22 to 26 in New York.
Developed in collaboration with the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), the platform is released as free and open-source software. It is built on open technologies, including a customized version of CERN’s InvenioRDM framework, which supports large-scale academic repositories. The initial focus is on research produced or supported by UNESCO’s Natural Sciences Family, with the aim of advancing the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science.
The platform provides interactive dashboards that visualize developments across UNESCO Member States in areas such as policies, infrastructure, capacity building, and incentives. These dashboards are based on data collected during UNESCO’s first consultation on the implementation of the Recommendation on Open Science. Features include cross-country comparisons, country profiles, and a semantic cloud highlighting key challenges.
UNESCO reported that approximately 75% of responding Member States have established open science infrastructure at either the national or institutional level. By combining UNESCO-related publications with data on global progress, the platform is intended to make knowledge more accessible and useful for evidence-based decision-making.
The platform consolidates research outputs from UNESCO science programs, awards, and fellowship initiatives. Current collections primarily include journal articles, books, and reports, with plans to integrate research data in the future. Users can explore metadata, open access status, and impact indicators such as scholarly and patent citations.
Shaofeng Hu, Director of the Division of Ethics, Research and Technology in UNESCO’s Sciences Sector, emphasized that the platform is dedicated to promoting open access to UNESCO’s research products and making them easier to discover and use.
To connect scientific findings with broader audiences, the platform offers curated highlights and plain language summaries. These summaries translate complex research on issues such as climate change, water resource management, and gender gaps in science into accessible insights for policymakers and non-specialist readers. Updates will be made regularly to reflect new evidence.
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