Lili Zhang, Director of the Global Open Science Cloud International Programme Office (GOSC IPO), Computer Network Information Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences
On my first day in Brisbane for SciDataCon and International Data Week (IDW) 2025, I was captivated by local exhibits, especially the keyword ‘connection’ that stood out to me. ‘Connections bring people together and are vital in preserving cultural knowledge, strengthening identity, fostering belonging, and tethering past, present, and future generations.’ The same applies to open science infrastructures.
As a key pillar of Open Science, e-infrastructures connect advanced technologies with domain-specific solutions for robust development; they connect cloud services to the widest possible audience; and they tie digital revolutions to sovereignty, ensuring a fair and equitable future. As part of extended and ongoing collaborations and discussions, the Global Open Science Cloud initiative (GOSC) connects us with an IDW session titled ‘Open science actions toward achieving the SDGs: an infrastructure dialogue with the Global South’ on September 15th in Brisbane, Australia.
The UN 2030 Agenda has become a cornerstone of global science and policy efforts, demanding urgent, collective action to tackle poverty, inequality, climate change, and other systemic problems. The Global South remains at the forefront of the risks and opportunities within the SDGs framework. These regions face the most significant development challenges, but they also possess a wealth of untapped knowledge systems, scientific talents, and emerging infrastructures.
Co-organized by the Global Open Science Cloud International Programme Office (GOSC IPO), the session featured discussion on fostering a dialogue about how trusted, cross-national, and cross-regional e-infrastructures can promote science and innovation in line with the SDGs.
Read more on the CODATA blog https://codata.org/blog/2025/11/17/connections-for-a-sustainable-open-science-future/