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Open science must be embraced as a driver of economic growth, innovation and inclusivity, according to experts at the fourth OSCAR 2.0 National Forum held at the University of Botswana (UB) recently.

UB Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Enterprise, Professor Doreen Ramogola-Masire, said the OSCAR 2.0 Project was critical for Sub-Saharan universities as it supported the implementation of open science principles that democratised research information. “This project helps deliver the best open science institutional policies and practices,” she remarked.

Echoing the call, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Innovation, Ms Lesego Thamae, underscored the urgency of transparency and accessibility in scientific research. “Open science calls for a world where knowledge is not confined to a privileged few but equitably accessible and beneficial to all,” she said, underlining Botswana’s recognition of science as a foundation for economic transformation.

National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI) Chief executive Officer, Professor Julius Atlhopheng, called for robust national frameworks to break away from restrictive systems. “The open agenda really matters because of the challenges of limited access that enable inequality and non-inclusivity,” he said. He challenged Botswana to emulate regions such as Europe and the Americas where science had fuelled national development.

Turning to the future, Dr Tshiamo Motshegwe, Director of the African Open Science Platform, linked open science with artificial intelligence (AI). He cautioned that African data must be integrated into AI tools if the continent’s realities were to be reflected. “For us to be relevant and for us to be invited to economic transformation plans of engagement, we must therefore speak on how science addresses societal challenges,” he said.

Presenting progress under the OSCAR 2.0 Project, Dr Audrey Masizana, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at UB, reported that the University had established an Open Science Institutional Platform, was drafting an AI policy and had upgraded its research management system. She added that dissemination workshops and Open Science hubs were underway, with more achievements expected by 2026.

The two-day forum, held in partnership with the European Commission and Zambia, provided a platform for dialogue on effective national and institutional open science strategies and practices, reaffirming Botswana’s role in shaping global conversations on research and innovation.