Understanding Open Infrastructure: Why It Matters and Why It Needs Funding

What exactly is open infrastructure, and why is it essential to the future of research and scholarship? This 90-minute symposium unpacked the concept of open infrastructure, highlighted its critical role in enabling open science and equitable access to knowledge, and explored why sustained investment is vital. Through the lens of SCOSS—the Global Sustainability Coalition for Open Science Services—participants learned about a proven, community-led model for identifying and funding key open infrastructures. SCOSS provides institutions with a practical, vetted mechanism to take meaningful action in support of the global open science ecosystem. This symposium also presented real-world examples of infrastructures worth supporting and offered insights into how strategic investment delivers long-term value.

What participants learned:

  • A clear understanding of what constitutes open infrastructure and how it differs from proprietary systems.
  • Why open infrastructure is essential to the functioning and sustainability of open science.
  • Key examples of open infrastructures that support scholarly communication and research workflows.
  • How SCOSS works as a trusted, community-driven mechanism for assessing and recommending infrastructures for coordinated support.


Experts:

  • Dr. Alwaleed K. Alkhaja, Head of Open and Copyright, Qatar National Library; SCOSS Board Member

  • Rosalie Lack, SCOSS Coordinator

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