Recent developments in the United States and other countries to cut critical funding and programmes for research and education pose a significant risk of disrupting the global research ecosystem and access to it, far beyond one country’s borders. There is a threat to the critical infrastructure necessary for sharing and accessing research at every level; from the tools, training, and connectivity to the availability of research and data at large.
As Lauren Kane, CEO of BioOne says:
‘You almost need a catastrophic failure of open infrastructure to get people to understand how critical it is to a healthy ecosystem.’
From business and innovation, AI technology development, and scientific breakthroughs, to advancements in health, climate, and poverty alleviation, we depend on open knowledge infrastructure. It is our collective responsibility to safeguard these vital resources and prevent their disruption.
In this moment, it is crucial to protect and expand open infrastructure — open source, decentralised, and grounded in community needs. By taking collective action, we can ensure the continued flow of vital knowledge.
Since 2020, Invest In Open Infrastructure (IOI) has been working with communities across the globe to uncover and strengthen the crucial tools and services that power research and scholarship, raising awareness of the sustainability challenges they face, strengthening their governance and business models, and catalysing financial support to ensure long-term viability.
Join them in advocating for sustainable, open infrastructure that address global challenges by signing this Statement and committing to action.
