Ana Persic, UNESCO

1. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
Towards a UNESCO Recommendation
on Open Science
Building a Global Consensus on Open
Science

2. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
Science at the service of the SDGs
In the context of pressing planetary
and socio-economic challenges,
sustainable and innovative solutions
require an efficient, transparent
and vibrant scientific community
not only stemming from scientists,
but from the whole of society.

3. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
R&D intensity
Inequalities in STI
Regional averages for the share of
GDP devoted to R&D activities
• 2.4% for North America and
Western Europe
• 2.1% for East Asia and the
Pacific
• 1.7% for World
• 1.0% for Central and Eastern
Europe
• 0.7% for Latin America and the
Caribbean
• 0.6% for Arab States
• 0.5% for South and West Asia
• 0.4% for Sub-Saharan Africa
• 0.2% for Central Asia
Gross domestic expenditure on R&D as a percentage of GDP, 2017 or latest year available

4. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
Number of researchers
Inequalities in STI

5. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
Women in science
Inequalities in STI
The regional averages for the share
of female researchers:
• 48.2% for Central Asia
• 45.1% for Latin America and the
Caribbean
• 41.5% for Arab States
• 39.3% for Central and Eastern
Europe
• 32.7% for North America and
Western Europe
• 31.8% for Sub-Saharan Africa
• 29.3% for World
• 23.9% for East Asia and the
Pacific
• 18.5% for South and West Asia
Women as a share of total researchers, 2017 or latest year available

6. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
The Need for Science, Technology
and Innovation
Need for data, information, knowledge, technologies
Need for evidence based decisions and policies
Need for global STI standards and governance
Need to close the STI gaps
Need to
Open
Science
to
Society

7. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
What is the meaning of
Open Science?
Linking Science to Society
Reducing Inequalities
Access to
information
Access to
data
Access to
society
Access to
networks
“While education remains the most
important means of fighting inequalities
at the individual level, in the 21st
century, science is the best way to fight
inequalities between countries and
regions.” Ambassador of Portugal to UNESCO,
HE Mr Antonio Novoa

8. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
Democratize Science
Open Science embodies
the movement to
transform and democratize
the entire scientific
process to ensure that
science truly drives and
enables the achievement
of the United Nations
Sustainable Development
Goals for the benefits of
all.

9. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
Open Science to Society
Open Science allows
scientific information, data
and outputs to be more
widely accessible (Open
Access) and more reliably
harnessed (Open Data)
with the active engagement
of all the stakeholders
(Open to Society).

10. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
How can everyone benefit from Open Science?
A movement has emerged from the scientific world, rapidly
spreading across nations and calling for the opening of the gates
of knowledge. Investors, entrepreneurs, policy makers and citizens
are joining this call.
The question is no longer whether Open Science is happening, but
rather how everyone can contribute and benefit from the
transition.

11. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
A global understanding is needed
UNESCO 40th Session of the General Conference
That is why, UNESCO, as the UN
agency for science, embarked in a
process to build a global consensus
on Open Science.
In the fragmented scientific and policy environment, a global
understanding of the meaning, opportunities and challenges of
Open Science is still missing.

12. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
Why Open Science in UNESCO?
Because of the “S”
Because of the SDGs
Because of the Human Rights
Because of the Normative Power

13. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
A UNESCO Recommendation
• Preliminary study of the technical, financial and legal aspects on
the desirability of a UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
(2019)
206th and 207th session of the Executive Board
• UNESCO Strategy on Open Access to scientific information and
research (2011)
36th session General Conference
• UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science to be
developed for adoption of Member States in November
2021 (2019)
36th session General Conference
Background

14. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
A UNESCO Recommendation
UNESCO 40th Session of the General Conference
The General Conference at its 40th session:
• Recognizes the need for a new standard-
setting instrument on open science, in the
form of a recommendation;
• Invites the Director-General to initiate the
process of elaborating a draft text of a new
standard-setting instrument on open
science, in the form of a recommendation;
• Also requests the Director-General to take
all necessary measures to ensure an
inclusive consultative process leading to a
recommendation on open science;
• Further invites the Director-General to
submit to it at the earliest possible session
(preferably the 41st session) the draft text
of a UNESCO recommendation on open
science
At the UNESCO 40th General Conference,
193 Members States tasked UNESCO with
the development of an international
standard-setting instrument on Open
Science in the form of a UNESCO
Recommendation on Open Science.

15. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
Inclusive UNESCO Recommendation
With the aim of building a global
consensus on Open Science, the
development of the UNESCO
Recommendation on Open Science will
rely on an inclusive, transparent and
consultative process involving all
countries and all stakeholders.
The Recommendation is expected to
define shared values and principles for
Open Science, and point to concrete
measures on Open Access and Open
Data with proposals for action to bring
citizens closer to science, and
commitments for a better distribution
and production of science in the world.
During two years of consultations,
UNESCO will support and open
debate on Open Science
awareness, understanding and
policy development, leading to the
adoption of the Recommendation
by UNESCO Member States in
2021.
Guided by a multi-stakeholder Open
Science Advisory Committee, the
process will be supported by a
global comprehensive Open Science
Partnership and will lead to the
development of a vibrant Open
Science community of practice
across the world.

16. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
Roadmap of the Recommendation on Open Science

17. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
Regional consultations
Date Consultation Comment
12 December
2019
UNESCO-AU Consultation on Open Science,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ministerial Decision on open science as game
changer for sustainable development in Africa
25 February
2020
Consultation on open science in Africa,
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Discussion in the context of the African Regional
Science Technology and Innovation Forum organized
jointly with the Economic Commission for Africa
6 July 2020 Online European regional consultation in
collaboration with ICTP and the Venice Office
Originally planned on 6 July in Trieste on the margins
of the ESOF Meeting, which has now been
tentatively postponed to September
8 July 2020 Online Arab regional consultation in
collaboration with UNESCO Cairo Office
Originally planned on 16 June on the margins of a
joint SC/SHS meeting on science for society in
Alexandria
23 September
2020
Online LAC regional consultation in
collaboration with Montevideo Office
Originally planned on the margins of CILAC in
September in Buenos Aires, which will probably be
postponed to April 2021.
15 September
2020
Online Asia and Pacific regional consultation
in collaboration with Jakarta Office
Building on consultations already held in the region
in September 2019 and February 2020.
30 September
2020
Online Eastern Europe regional consultation
in collaboration with Venice and Almaty
Offices
Originally, Russian Federation was interested in
hosting the face to face consultation around
September.
5 October
2020
Online Africa regional consultation in
collaboration with Regional Offices.
Building on consultations with the AU in December
2019 and at the African STI Forum in Zimbabwe in
February 2020

18. UNESCO Natural Science Sector
Join the Open Science
Partnership!
Join the debate!
http://bit.do/surveyUNESCO_OS
Participate to the Global Survey