Online workshop “Focus on Open Science”, organised by SKS Knowledge Services, UCL Office for Open Science, UCL Press and UNICA | 3 Feb 2026
UNICA is partnering with SKS Knowledge Services, UCL Office for Open Science (University College London) and UCL Press to organise an online workshop on 3 February 2026, from 9h00 to 11h00 (CET).
Emphasizing research practices and offering opportunities for both on-the-spot interactions and follow-up opportunities, the workshop will address the role of research organisations in supporting the transition to Open Science, both acting local and internationally.
The results of the workshops will be captured in a formal report. The report is intended to be used by all involved partners, to advance the implementation of Open Science in their communities and their own institutions.
More about the topic
Open Science describes the current transition in how research is undertaken, how the outputs are stored and disseminated, how researchers collaborate, how success is measured and how researchers are rewarded for more transparent and collaborative approaches. Open Science has the potential to transform the research landscape. This potential has been successfully tested – if only that – during pandemic times.
Open Science started as a vision, aiming to address matters like research reproducibility and access to the results of publicly-funded research. The vision was generally welcome by academic and research institutions and benefited from a great advocacy movement. It’s high time now to build on practice and effective management.
It is generally accepted in Europe that research should be as open as possible and as close as necessary. Finding the borderline between the two is one of the most important tasks for practitioners, whether they belong to funders, research organisations, their partners or researchers themselves.
Yet, this borderline is not sufficiently explored. Guidelines based on feedback and learning from practice should be created, rather sooner than later.
This innovative approach to research has further potential: to address existing inequalities and matters like inclusivity, ethics, better assessment or the missing links between science and society or to re-shape public-private partnerships.
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“Focus on Open Science” Webinar_3 Feb 2026
Agenda
| 9:00 | Opening Notes by Prof. Luciano Saso, Secretary-General, UNICA |
| 9:05 | Research Security: European Perspectives with UCL Showcase. Dr Tiberius Ignat, Director at SKS Knowledge Services and Dr Paul Ayris, Pro-Vice-Provost for LCCOS at UCL |
| 9:25 | Pioneering Open Science practice in Hong Kong, China. Benjamin Meunier, Librarian at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) |
| 9:45 | Presentation by Prof. Dr Eva Méndez, Director of the Open Science Lab at UC3M and CoARA Steering Board Member, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid |
| 10:05 | Adopting the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science as the basis of a new Open Research action plan at the University of Edinburgh. Kerry Miller, University of Edinburgh |
| 10:25 | Panel discussion with all the speakers | Chair: Dr Paul Ayris |
| 10:55 | Closing Notes by Dr Paul Ayris, Pro-Vice-Provost for LCCOS at UCL |
3 February 2026, 9:00 to 11:00 (CET)
Online
Contact
office@unica-network.eu

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.