Open Science in the digital era

Abstract

Advances in digital technologies have disrupted the established openness of the institution of open science in the digital era. They have introduced unprecedented possibilities and challenges to instantly, interactively, collaboratively, and responsibly perform science around the world. This doctoral dissertation is aimed at a philosophical, sociological, and economic conceptualization of the normative structure of open science in the digital era, as well as revealing its impact on the established governance of research and innovation at universities. I present a systematic literature review and two empirical studies on how new digital technologies and tools, together with new open physical and digital infrastructures, have disrupted the openness of the institution of open science in the digital era in universities and are remodelling their science and innovation practices, cognitive norms, and processes and challenging their existing cultures, missions, and policies. With these three articles, I analyse the foundations of the institution of open science, the evolution of its openness, and the transformation of the institution in the digital era. I investigate the definition, practices, norms, and goal of open science and the role of researchers in the digital era within the context of its main public infrastructure: universities. With Article 1, we develop a rigorous, integrated, and up-to-date definition of open science through a systematic literature review. With Article 2, based on a qualitative empirical research study taking a grounded theory methodological approach, we identify emergent principles, practices, and underlying mechanisms of open science and innovation developed and encountered by research teams at universities. With Article 3, through a qualitative empirical research study using a thematic coding and analysis, we understand how existing and recently adopted open science practices and underlying principles and attitudes of research teams support the advancement of knowledge and the development of actions, solutions, and technologies for sustainable development. This doctoral dissertation lays the philosophical, sociological, and economic foundations of an expansive institution of open science in the digital era. The definition provides a comprehensive view of the streams of knowledge on the institution. The expansive normative structure of open science – its goal, norms, and practices – articulates the institution and provides a robust framework for its theoretical analysis in the digital era. This doctoral dissertation also identifies a new academic entrepreneurial ethos that advances the role of researchers at universities. Additionally, this doctoral dissertation provides the grounds for understanding how the institution of open science is shaping open innovation at universities. Open science is expanding and laying the foundations of open exploration, an expansive model of university research and innovation in the digital era. Finally, this doctoral dissertation provides important suggestions regarding the advancement of open science, innovation policies and governance reforms at universities for enhancing a sustainable world.