COS’s 2026–2028 Strategic Planning Process
As the global research system evolves—technologically, politically, and culturally—so must the organizations that support it. At the Center for Open Science (COS), we’re developing a bold and focused strategy for 2026–2028 to meet the moment and our shared future with clarity, collaboration, and impact.
This planning process comes at a pivotal time. Over the past few years, COS has sharpened its vision and purpose, strengthened internal systems, and matured programmatic areas across research infrastructure, policy, capacity-building, and metascience. Now, we’re building on that foundation to co-create a strategy that guides our next chapter—one that is actionable, community-centered, and grounded in evidence.
A Community-Centered, Data-Informed Approach
Our strategic planning process, running from mid-2025 to early 2026, is designed to be:
- Inclusive: Engaging diverse voices—staff, board, collaborators, funders, and users—to reflect the community’s realities and aspirations
- Evidence-informed: Drawing on internal data and ecosystem analysis through comprehensive scans
- Actionable: Producing clear priorities, success metrics, and a phased roadmap for the first 12–18 months
What We’re Aiming For
Through this process, we aim to:
- Reaffirm our mission, vision, and values in the context of today’s open science landscape
- Define meaningful impact metrics for COS and the broader field
- Refine strategic goals to reflect both organizational strengths and new opportunities
- Embed equity and inclusion across all aspects of our work
- Align goals with measurable outcomes and the resources needed to achieve them
Evolving with Purpose: Key Themes Emerging
As we engage in deep reflection and collaboration, several key themes are emerging to inform our strategic priorities:
Clarifying Our Role in the Ecosystem
COS is part of a vibrant, growing global movement. As we evolve, we’re becoming more intentional about where we lead, where we collaborate, and where others are best positioned to take the lead. This clarity allows us to focus our efforts where they can have the greatest impact—without duplicating efforts or overextending.
Strengthening How We Measure System Progress
We're enhancing our use of metrics to better track progress and adapt in real time. These improvements support internal learning and enable our partners and supporters to see how COS contributes to lasting change.
Centering Community Ownership
COS’s most impactful initiatives—such as the Transparency and Openness Promotion (TOP) Guidelines, preregistration, peer review innovations (like Registered Reports), and the Open Science Open Source Ecosystem—are not intended to be owned or accelerated by us alone. As part of our strategy, we are focusing more intentionally on building and supporting community-led stewardship of these core tools and frameworks.
Adapting for Long-Term Sustainability
We’re aligning our strategic direction with financial sustainability and ongoing risk assessment, including scenario planning. This ensures our mission remains resilient in a dynamic funding and policy landscape.
Interrogating Our Assumptions
We’re taking a close look at the evidence behind our strategies. Where is our theory of change holding up? Where do we need more data or a new approach? This reflective posture is critical to staying grounded in what works and becoming a stronger learning organization.
What’s Next
We’ll present the final strategy to our Board of Directors in December 2025 and release it publicly in early 2026. Throughout this process, we’re committed to listening, learning, and adapting—modeling the transparency and rigor that we promote in the research ecosystem.
By early 2026, our strategy will deliver:
- Clear, mission-aligned goals focused on the highest-impact areas
- A practical implementation roadmap with timelines, accountability, and aligned resources
- A robust performance framework for tracking progress transparently
- Stronger internal cohesion and shared understanding of COS’s role and priorities
- Open communication that reflects our values and invites ongoing dialogue
Join Us in Shaping the Future of Open Science
No single organization can transform the research culture alone. As a global community committed to openness and reproducibility, your insight and support are essential. COS remains dedicated to being a collaborator, enabler, and evidence-driven advocate in the open science movement.
Together, we will continue building a more transparent, rigorous, and inclusive future for science.
.png)
