Earlier this month (May 4–6, 2026), the Technical University of Munich (TUM) hosted an inspiring, landmark gathering of global scholars, policymakers, infrastructure providers, and activists for the FOR2026 Conference: The Future of Open Research: Reliable, Responsible, Equitable. The event generated immense resonance across the international research landscape, prompting critical and collaborative debates on how to transform the open science movement into a truly inclusive global endeavour.

Members of the Ethical Data Initiative (EDI) team were proud to be present and heavily engaged throughout this highly successful event. While the conference was officially convened within the framework of our close collaborators at the PHIL_OS project, the deep structural and conceptual crossover between the PHIL_OS and EDI teams highlights a powerful, shared vision for the future of global data governance, ethics, and knowledge equity.

A Shared Vision for Data Equity

The conference was hosted within the framework of A Philosophy of Open Science for Diverse Research Environments (PHIL_OS), a major project (2021–2026) based at TUM around the Chair of Philosophy and History of Science and Technology, led by Professor Sabina Leonelli.

The core objective of the PHIL_OS project is to develop an empirically grounded philosophy of Open Science that emphasises the diversity of research settings worldwide. Crucially, the project interrogates the systemic and epistemic risks embedded in the current Open Science movement. For instance, when well-resourced environments exclusively produce open-access tools, dictate standard metrics, and set data-sharing rules, they risk imposing their own localised standards on the rest of the world. Consequently, less-resourced environments face marginalisation, turning what should be a democratic movement into a mechanism that disproportionately benefits elite institutions.

This diagnosis draws undeniable parallels with the mission of the Ethical Data Initiative. At the EDI, we campaign to ensure that data sharing, governance, and digital technologies are bound to strict ethical frameworks that protect fair representation, cognitive justice, and the public interest. Both the EDI and the PHIL_OS group advocate for what can be described as “situated openness” – an approach to open research that refuses a one-size-fits-all model and instead accounts for local power imbalances, varying infrastructural realities, and historical inequalities. By leveraging the cross-team overlap, we aim to ensure that these crucial philosophical critiques translate directly into actionable, fair data policies globally.

Capitalising on Dialogue: The Munich Manifesto for Equitable Open Research

The central defining output of the conference will be the development of the Munich Manifesto for Equitable Open Research (also known as the Munich Declaration). Introduced during the opening plenary session by Sabina Leonelli, the Manifesto acts as a progressive framework detailing concrete pathways to ensure open research serves as a tool for reliable, responsible, and fair inquiry rather than commercial or geopolitical leverage.

The discussions at FOR2026 highlighted pressing contemporary challenges that the Manifesto directly addresses. These include the political polarisation of open science, its rapid and worrying appropriation by massive commercial digital platforms and publishing houses, its fraught intersection with Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the urgent need to realign open methodologies to serve the diverse public interests of communities worldwide.

The Manifesto is currently undergoing final collaborative drafting. The organising committee is working diligently to synthesise the invaluable feedback, critiques, and insights brought forward by the delegates. A finalised version will be distributed to the conference delegates next month for their consideration and signature, after which it will be released to the broader public. The Ethical Data Initiative will notify our audiences and share the final text as soon as it becomes available!

Access the Materials and Get Involved: Conference Resources & Open-Access Links

In the spirit of complete openness, the organisers have made an extraordinary wealth of knowledge and materials from the event publicly accessible. We warmly invite the EDI community and our wider networks to explore, utilise, and share these resources:

• Event Overview & Abstract Book: Review the full thematic scope of the conference and download the complete book of abstracts on the main FOR2026 Conference Page.
• Panel Videos: Video recordings of the main plenary sessions and panels are currently being prepared and will be streamed shortly on the Conference Gallery Page.
• Resources for Open Research Section: The PHIL_OS team has launched a dedicated Resources for Open Research Hub. This is an interactive space where you can consult existing tools or contribute your own. The community is highly encouraged to send recommendations via email to enrich this evolving catalogue for equitable research practices.

Zenodo Open-Access Slide Decks

The comprehensive reports and slides from the keynotes and individual sessions have been published openly on Zenodo, offering a deep dive into data management, infrastructure, and scholarly engagement:

• FOR2026: Keynotes on Openness (Sabina Leonelli, Brian Rappert, Helen Longino) – View on Zenodo
• Session 1: Infrastructures (P. Trauttmansdorff) – View on Zenodo
• Session 2: Data Sharing and Management (K. Hajek) – View on Zenodo
• Session 3: Participation and Engagement (E. Cavazzoni) – View on Zenodo
• Session 4: Openness and Scholarly Communication (R. B. Alcalay) – View on Zenodo
• FOR2026: Participation and Engagement. The Future of Open Research: Reliable, Responsible, Equitable (E. Cavazzoni) – View on Zenodo

Looking Ahead

The resounding success of FOR2026 proves that the future of open research cannot simply be about making data and literature available – it must be about making them just. True openness requires infrastructural equity, ethical accountability, and a persistent defence of regional diversity.

Stay tuned to the Ethical Data Initiative website and newsletter as we await the launch of the Munich Manifesto in the coming weeks!