Towards a Digital Research Ecosystem in Ukraine: Community-Driven Models for Open Science Infrastructure

Abstract

Open science (OS) is reshaping the way researchers produce and share knowledge, fostering transparency and collaboration. Given the wartime challenges Ukraine is facing and future post-war recovery, OS is not only a strategic goal but a chance to rebuild its research system on more open and participatory foundations. The paper examines how transitioning from institution-centered to community-led principles can facilitate this transformation. It focuses on the Publish-Review-Curate (PRC) approach, which connects all stages of scholarly communication through open access to manuscripts, peer reviews, and other materials. Drawing on recent policy frameworks from COAR, UNESCO, and Ukraine’s National OS Plan, as well as studies and case examples such as Octopus, Lifecycle Journal, and Peer Community In (PCI), the paper identifies priorities for advancing OS in Ukraine. These include developing interoperable digital platforms, strengthening research communities, and using artificial intelligence (AI) and multilingual tools to broaden participation. The proposed vision outlines a distributed yet coherent digital research ecosystem that enhances Ukraine’s scientific resilience and integration into the global OS landscape as an active co-creator.