Rethinking Science in Times of Open Science?

Organized by

Raffaela Kunz
Early-Career Fellow 2022–2023

Open science promises to speed up scientific discovery and make research more efficient, transparent, and equitable. At the same time, openness aligns with the demand to “democratize” science and make it more responsive to social needs, participatory, and accountable. Yet one can also identify certain problematic dynamics. The increasing use of digital tools in research further strengthens the position of commercial actors who offer a growing number of digital services and infrastructure for research. Furthermore, policymakers are increasingly discovering open science as a tool to boost innovation. This in turn feeds concerns about an instrumentalization of science and undue state influence.

The participants in this workshop discussed the opportunities and challenges facing the science system in the digital age and explored the role that law can and should play in light of these developments.