PB: Open Science as a Path to Excellence: Across Universities Debate the Future of Research Openness
How does openness shape the quality of scientific research? Where are the limits of transparency, and when does openness become a matter of responsibility? These questions guided a major event held on 23 October 2025 at Bialystok University of Technology as part of Open Science Week – a joint initiative of the European University ACROSS.
The keynote lecture was delivered by Prof. Maciej Żylicz, molecular biologist and long-time President of the Foundation for Polish Science. In his talk “Open Science stimulates scientific excellence?” he emphasised that openness must go hand in hand with credibility. He highlighted reproducibility as the cornerstone of trustworthy science: if results cannot be independently confirmed, public trust erodes.
Prof. Żylicz also stressed that true scientific excellence is defined not by the quantity of publications but by a handful of breakthroughs that genuinely advance knowledge. Peer review, though imperfect, remains essential for maintaining quality. He warned, however, against overreliance on journal prestige and metrics: only a small fraction of papers in top journals are truly transformative.
The discussion was joined by Prof. Marek Drużdżel from PB’s Faculty of Computer Science, who noted that major discoveries often emerge at the intersection of disciplines. He argued for balancing openness with protection of intellectual effort, especially when raw data or code represent years of work and are part of commercialisation pathways.
Prof. Krzysztof Kurzydłowski, Director of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering at PB, who moderated the event, underlined that openness is inseparable from international collaboration. Shared standards, shared datasets and shared challenges accelerate progress across borders – a principle at the heart of the Across alliance.
The event brought together researchers from Poland and abroad, reaffirming that open science is both an opportunity and a responsibility. For Across universities, it is a strategic direction: improving research quality, strengthening societal trust and fostering innovation across Europe.
