Open science as a means for development aid: Fostering scientific research and innovation

Knowledge Generation in Science and the Role of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In the Newtonian sense of “giants on whose shoulders [s]he could look so far”, knowledge generation in science is best characterised by a cumulative process that heavily relies and benefits from the existing work of other researchers (Moser and Biasi 2018, Nagler et al. 2019). Indeed, the emergence of the internet and the use of new digital technologies have fundamentally changed the way academics collaborate, communicate, and publish research (Pham et al. 2019, Schmitz et al. 2022).

Previously in the academic publishing market, it was common practice for publicly funded scientists to produce most of the journal content and for academic peers to contribute to reviews on a voluntary basis, next to what academic publishers invested in operating production and repository systems. However, technological changes in markets have incentivised some academic publishers to engage in price discrimination (Edlin and Rubinfeld 2005). As a result, the rise in subscription prices in the publishing market has led to a so-called ‘serials crisis’ (Ramello 2010, Eger and Scheufen 2018). In some cases, university libraries have reduced their holdings of academic journals in response to higher fees. Against this background, there is a broader public debate on how such markets can be organised in a more sustainable and efficient way.

Notably, the situation in the wake of the serials crisis is particularly difficult for academic institutions located in developing countries that often lack the necessary resources. In the past, many local institutions were barely able to pay subscription fees for academic journals (Annan 2004). As a result, the political will to involve researchers from all nations and make access to science more affordable to them surfaced globally. In the early 2000s, the opportunities for free or low-cost access to scientific content at the international level were fully recognised which led to the development of the Research4Life (R4L) initiative.

Research4Life and the Hinari programme

The R4L initiative provides free or low-cost access to more than 200,000 journals and books for more than 11,500 academic institutions in 125 countries in the fields of health science (Hinari 2002), agriculture science (AGORA 2003), environmental science (OARE 2006), innovation (ARDI 2009) and research for global justice (GOALI 2018). Eligible are scientific institutions in countries, areas, or territories with a total gross national income (GNI) below $1 trillion, giving free access (Group A countries) to the complete collection to countries with a GNI at or less than $500 billion or reduced-fee access (Group B countries) to other eligible countries. Access to journals and book collections by individual scientists in the respective areas (Hinari, AGORA, OARE, ARDI, and GOALI) depends on the registration of the scientific institutions.

Using registration data from the WHO and finding more than 167,000 papers co-authored by local researchers in developing countries by screening 36 million papers available in the PubMed-repository, in our recent paper (Cuntz et al. 2024) we focus in particular on the health science orientated Hinari-programme. Figure 1 shows the geo distribution by percentiles (0-25%, 25%-50%, 50%-75%, 75%-90%, 90%-95% and 95%-99%) for Hinari-field publishing institutions. Against this background, the Hinari-field institutions in Nigeria, Ukraine and, Bangladesh are among the most productive in the Hinari sector.

Figure 1: Hinari institutions by country

Results: Scientific output, clinical trials

Our study examines the impact of free or cost-reduced online access for research institutions in developing countries. It raises two main questions:

1. How does Hinari programme registration and improved informational access to health sciences affect the publication output by institutions and researchers in developing countries?
2. To what extent does this free or low-cost access to scientific information trickle down or encourage further clinical trial research and innovation in health or pharmaceutical related fields?

With reference to research question (1), we find a substantial increase in scientific output of up to 75% following registration to the Hinari programme. For example, an institution with an average of 100 publications per year can increase this output to up to 175 publications on average, almost doubling the number of publications after joining the programme. Concerning clinical trials in research question (2), we find an average increase in participation in international clinical trials of up to 20% as a result of Hinari registration. These results show particular potential for the research and development of pharmaceutical products to combat rare diseases (Fischer et al. 2022) – i.e. problem-solving for local diseases for which the financial incentives to develop appropriate drugs are often lacking in developing economies (Kremer 2002, Mueller-Langer 2013). Both results make it clear that free or reduced-cost access to scientific content promotes scientific output and potential innovations in the pharmaceutical and health sectors – a clear and positive message to the initiators of the Research4Life initiative to continue their efforts and move step by step closer to the goal of involving all nations in science.

From a methodological perspective, higher-performing institutions might be better informed and more likely to participate in the programme in the first place. Arguably, this could upward bias study results. Hence, we also compare institutions treated under the programme to those not participating in the programme, as well as look at differences in output performance among various research fields within the same institution, bearing in mind that HINARI is discipline-specific and covers only health-related information. This difference-in-difference-in-differences approach builds on work by Mueller-Langer et al. (2020). It, therefore, addresses potential endogeneity concerns from institutional selection into the programme.

Outlook: Innovation

In addition to the changes observed for scientific output and clinical trials, we also look at the impact on innovation more broadly by examining the impact of the Hinari programme on the patenting of inventions in health and related sciences. In theory, there could be knowledge and technology spillovers from the basic research conducted at local institutions to industrial research applications and the development of innovations. However, local spillover effects are expected to be minor under the programme, meaning that only a few patents will result from programme-induced research collaborations between industry and science. This does not allow for a well-founded empirical analysis of the output. Against this background, we develop an alternative approach by analysing Hinari-related scientific publications as cited in patents. However, the positive effect of the Hinari programme is not confirmed from this input perspective. At the same time, results point to new research opportunities that question the architecture of the innovation process and collaboration between industry and science (Meier et al.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses the access to scientific knowledge and the impact it has on scientific output, clinical trials, and innovation in developing countries. These issues are connected to SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. SDG 9 is also relevant as it focuses on promoting sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation. Additionally, SDG 10 addresses reducing inequalities, including access to knowledge and resources. Finally, SDG 17 emphasizes the importance of partnerships and collaboration to achieve the goals of sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
• SDG 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, particularly developing countries.
• SDG 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices.
• SDG 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge.

The article highlights the impact of access to scientific knowledge on scientific output, clinical trials, and innovation in developing countries. These outcomes align with the targets mentioned above, which emphasize the importance of promoting sustainable development through knowledge acquisition, technological capabilities, reducing inequalities, and fostering global partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of scientific publications per institution before and after joining the Hinari programme (SDG 4.7)
• Percentage increase in participation in international clinical trials after Hinari registration (SDG 9.5)
• Comparison of scientific output among institutions participating in the Hinari programme and those not participating (SDG 10.3)
• Analysis of citations of Hinari-related scientific publications in patents (SDG 17.16)

The article provides indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include the number of scientific publications per institution, the percentage increase in participation in international clinical trials, and the comparison of scientific output between participating and non-participating institutions. Additionally, analyzing citations of Hinari-related scientific publications in patents can provide insights into the impact of the programme on innovation and collaboration between industry and science.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: cepr.org

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