A study exploring the economic impact of Open Science has been published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.The paper is a key output of the EU-funded PathOS (Open Science Impact Pathways) project, which investigates how Open Science practices shape research, society, and the economy. By reviewing literature from 2000 to 2023, the study provides the most comprehensive synthesis to date of evidence on the economic effects of Open Science.
The research team applied a systematic scoping review approach (PRISMA-ScR). Out of 7,397 initial records, only 27 studies met the strict inclusion criteria and were analysed in detail. These studies covered four major dimensions of Open Science: Open/FAIR Data, Open Access, Open Source Software, and Open Methods, while evidence was still lacking for Citizen Science and Open Evaluation.
Key findings
- Efficiency gains: Open Science reduces time and costs by allowing researchers and organisations to access and reuse existing data, knowledge, software, and methods instead of recreating them.
- Innovation: By lowering access barriers, Open Science enables the development of new products, services, and processes, and supports faster uptake of knowledge across sectors.
- Economic growth: Open Science contributes to productivity and growth at the macroeconomic level, with established models showing significant returns on investment in Open Science initiatives.
Life sciences provide some of the strongest evidence, particularly for Open Data and Open Access, while evidence on Open Source Software and Open Methods is still scarce but promising.
In summary, the review confirms that Open Science has measurable economic benefits — from accelerating research and cutting costs to driving innovation and economic growth. At the same time, it highlights important evidence gaps, particularly in areas such as Citizen Science and Open Evaluation, and calls for more systematic studies across diverse sectors and regions.
The paper was authored by Lena Tsipouri (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; OPIX PC, Greece), Sofia Liarti (OPIX PC, Greece), Silvia Vignetti (CSIL, Italy), and Izabella Martins Grapengiesser (Technopolis Consulting Group, Belgium).
Read the study here
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