ASREN and Bibliotheca Alexandrina Organize Regional Open Science Workshop Under the EUMEDplus Project

ASREN and Bibliotheca Alexandrina Organize Regional Open Science Workshop Under the EUMEDplus Project

Posted on: 15 Nov, 2025

The Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN), in collaboration with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, successfully organized a regional workshop titled “Fundamentals of Open Science: Concepts, Principles, and Regional Implementation” on 5–6 November 2025 at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt. The workshop was held within the framework of the EUMEDplus Project, reinforcing regional cooperation and capacity building in Open Science.

Participants and Representation

The workshop welcomed a broad and diverse group of participants from across the Arab region and beyond, including researchers, academics, librarians, data specialists, IT professionals, and policy makers.

Representatives from leading regional and international institutions took part, among them DataCite, CNUDST, IMIST, DOAJ, SESAME Synchrotron, NICST, ACSS, NARSS, ASRT, UNESCO, Beni-Suef University, OSCE, Prime Vision, the Association of Arab Universities, and CULTNAT. Their active participation and contributions enriched the workshop’s discussions, case studies, and collaborative exchanges.

Objectives and Focus Areas

The workshop aimed to strengthen the regional Open Science ecosystem by:

• Establishing a shared understanding of global Open Science developments

• Introducing FAIR data principles, Open Access concepts, and supporting research infrastructures

• Highlighting national and regional initiatives and success stories.

• Addressing policy-level and institutional challenges

• Setting priority areas for capacity building and coordinated regional action

Programme Highlights

Over two days, the agenda included:

• Keynote presentations on evolving global frameworks for Open Science

• Technical sessions on data stewardship, repositories, identifiers, and digital infrastructure requirements

• Panel discussions on policy alignment, national strategies, and institutional readiness

• Interactive group sessions to identify regional needs and collaboration opportunities

• Roadmap discussions outlining early steps toward a coordinated regional Open Science strategy under EUMEDplus

Outcomes and Recommendations

The workshop concluded with a set of impactful outcomes, including:

• Strong institutional alignment on the importance of developing structured Open Science policies

• Identification of key regional capacity-building needs and infrastructure gaps

• Reinforced collaboration between universities, NRENs, and regional organizations

• A shared commitment to adopting FAIR data practices and strengthening research openness

• Agreement on continuing regional dialogue and coordination through ASREN and the EUMEDplus project.

Participants are encouraged to explore the full list of recommendations and outcomes at the following link:

توصيات ورشة العمل.pdf - Google Drive

ASREN extends its sincere appreciation to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina for the generous hosting and partnership, and to all participating institutions for their valuable engagement. This workshop represents a significant step toward building a connected, collaborative, and sustainable Open Science ecosystem across the Arab region.