India-France Seminar Explores Open Science, Data Sharing, and Computational Innovation

New Delhi: The CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), in collaboration with the CNRS-Department for Open Research Data (CNRS-DDOR), hosted a two-day Indo-French seminar on “Open Horizons: Integrating Open Access, Open Data, and Computational Innovation” at its Satsang Vihar Campus in New Delhi on March 5-6, 2025.

The seminar brought together researchers, policymakers, and industry experts from India and France to discuss the growing importance of open access, open data, and digital advancements in fostering transparency, collaboration, and innovation in scientific research. The event emphasized how open science can bridge knowledge gaps, enhance research efficiency, and drive global scientific progress.

The inaugural session featured distinguished speakers, including Dr. Antoine Petit, Chairman and CEO of CNRS, France; Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director of CSIR-NIScPR; Prof. Nitin Seth, Director of CEFIPRA; and Dr. Srinivasa Reddy, Director of CSIR-IICT. Prof. Aggarwal highlighted India’s efforts in promoting open science through initiatives like “One Nation, One Subscription,” which aims to provide broader access to scientific knowledge. Dr. Petit and Dr. Sylvie Rousset, Senior Scientist and Head of Open Research Data at CNRS, emphasized France’s commitment to making open access a global norm in scientific research.

A key session focused on policies shaping open access in India and France. Experts, including Dr. Marin Dacos from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and Dr. Remya Haridasan from the PSA Office, Government of India, discussed the advantages of open science in increasing academic efficiency, preventing duplication, and enhancing global collaboration. Discussions also covered challenges in policy implementation and the evolving role of government initiatives in supporting open-access frameworks.

Another critical discussion explored different routes to open access, chaired by Prof. Anirban Chakraborti from JNU. Speakers such as Dr. Bénédicte Kuntziger from CNRS and Dr. Françoise Rousseau from the Couperin Consortium shared insights into national open-access repositories and negotiations with major scientific publishers. Experts from IISc Bangalore and CSIR-HRDG also highlighted India’s growing adoption of open-source approaches in scientific research and drug discovery.

The second day focused on computational innovation and the role of open-source software in scientific advancement. Sessions chaired by Dr. Avinash Kshitij of CSIR-NIScPR featured talks by Prof. Roberto Di Cosmo of INRIA on the “Software Heritage Initiative,” and Dr. Sridhar Gautam of ICAR on the impact of open-source tools in agricultural research. Discussions also explored reforms in research assessment, data standardization, and the integration of artificial intelligence in scientific evaluation.

A dedicated session on open data sharing included presentations from NIC Deputy Director General Alka Misra and Dr. Marin Dacos, who outlined strategies for ensuring seamless and secure research data exchange. The event concluded with a panel discussion on the future of open science, where experts debated policy frameworks, global collaboration models, and next-generation technological interventions in research.