Action Line C7: E-Science
With new technologies, the ways in which science is done and communicated has experienced significant shifts, paving the way for the fourth industrial revolution. UNESCO is working towards the creation of a diverse, “open” landscape that provides a sustainable and coherent approach for everyone. It promotes open access, open data, open science, open source, open government, and open educational resources.
The rapid yet profound changes have reverberated throughout the scientific community and the general public, spawning new research avenues, instruments, terminologies, procedures, and products. The open access, open data, open science, open source, open governance, and open education movements collectively are shaping the realm of "e-Science," and contributing significantly to the evolution of scientific practices and the sharing of scientific knowledge.
In this context, UNESCO is actively engaged in the development of an inclusive strategy for the future of open knowledge in science. This strategy endeavours to create a sustainable and unified vision that serves the interests of everyone, regardless of location or background, by bringing together the various components of the open landscape.
In line with this, 91鶹Ʒ introduced a global in 2021, setting an international standard for open science policy and practice, taking into account regional differences, as well as issues such as academic freedom, gender-transformative approaches, and challenges of scientists in different development contexts.
At the same time, UNESCO is working on various platforms to support the monitoring of open access and open data development. These include the advance of south-south collaboration, continued deployment and development of the , through partnerships in 166 countries, as well as the , an online platform for mapping national science, technology and innovation (STI) landscapes, analyzing policies and their implementation. Through these, UNESCO provides capacity-building and benchmarking resources, as well as tools for analysis and monitoring of policy implementation for Member States.