KISTI and UNESCO Launch Full-Scale International Cooperation on Open Science
High-Level Inaugural Event Held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris
- Collaboration begins in Open Data, Diamond Open Access, and Software Heritage preservation
- Collaboration aims to build an inclusive scientific ecosystem for the Global South, including Asia and Africa

□ The Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) announced that it successfully co-hosted a “High-Level Launch Event for Strengthening Cooperation in Open Science” with UNESCO on Friday, June 6, at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. The event was broadcast live worldwide both onsite and online.

□ Jointly organized by KISTI, UNESCO, and the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Korea to UNESCO, the event marked the official launch of full-scale cooperation between the two institutions. This collaboration will focus on key areas such as Open Data, Diamond Open Access*, and Software Heritage preservation. It aims to support the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science and contribute to the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development.

  * Diamond Open Access is a non-profit scholarly publishing model that charges no fees to authors or readers, and is typically managed by academic communities or publicly funded institutions.

□ The event brought together approximately 70 high-level representatives from around the world, including officials from the Permanent Delegations of the People's Republic of China and the Slovak Republic to UNESCO, the French National Research Agency (ANR), and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Angola. Opening remarks were delivered by H. E. Ms. Bak Sang Mee, Ambassador and the Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Korea to UNESCO; Dr. Lee Sik, President of KISTI; Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information of UNESCO; and Dr. Lidia Brito, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences of UNESCO. All speakers emphasized the importance of international cooperation, especially in the context of Open Science.

□ In his remarks, KISTI President Dr. Lee Sik stated, “KISTI traces its roots back to 1962, when it was founded as the Korea Science and Technology Information Center (KORSTIC) with support from UNESCO, and has since upheld the spirit of international cooperation in scientific knowledge. This project marks a significant milestone in building an inclusive scientific ecosystem that benefits the Global South**, including Asia and Africa.”

  ** Global South refers not to geographic southern regions but to developing and low- and middle-income countries in political, economic, and historical contexts.

□ During the presentation session, KISTI and UNESCO shared the framework of their cooperation and outlined their future vision. A high-level roundtable discussion followed, addressing key topics such as:

  - Advancing Policies and infrastructure for Diamond Open Access

  - Preserving software source code as part of the global Software Heritage

  - Sharing knowledge globally through inclusive strategies

□ Dr. Song Sakwang, the project lead at KISTI, stated, “KISTI holds world-class expertise and infrastructure in Open Data, Open Access, and Open Software. We are committed to supporting the enhancement of Open Science capacities across Asia and Africa based on these strengths. Through this initiative, KISTI aims to become a global leader in Open Science and further strengthen Korea’s international standing.”

□ The KISTI-UNESCO cooperative project will be implemented over a five-year period from March 2025 to December 2029. It will focus on building inclusive digital infrastructure, expanding institutional support, and developing innovative international cooperation models for Open Science. The initiative will be implemented through regional pilot projects, policy framework development, and capacity-building programs.