Indonesia Reminds UNESCO That Open Science Is Not a Race to Open Data
Indonesia has expressed support for the open-science policy being developed by UNESCO to widen access to knowledge and boost international research collaboration. However, the government has warned that openness in science must not come at the expense of data protection, research security and intellectual-property rights.
The position was set out by Indonesia’s Deputy Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, IGAK Satrya Wibawa, at the 225th session of UNESCO’s Executive Board in Paris, France. Indonesia believes the success of open-science policy should not be measured solely by the volume of data made publicly accessible, but also by research quality and its benefits to society.
“Open science is not a race to produce as much open data as possible,” Satrya said in a written statement confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday (14 October 2026).
According to Satrya, open-science policy must strengthen research integrity while expanding scientific cooperation between countries. Making data open should be a means of producing higher-quality knowledge, rather than simply meeting targets for the provision of information.
“What matters more is how openness improves the quality and integrity of research and broadens collaboration. This will ensure scientific knowledge brings tangible benefits to society,” he said.
Satrya said the development of open-science principles rests on three main pillars: relevance and significance; transparency and reproducibility; and self-assessment and responsible use. More than 150 experts from 41 countries were consulted in drafting the principles.
Indonesia considers this approach consistent with efforts to strengthen research governance and national data management. The government has established a policy framework through Presidential Regulation No. 39/2019 on One Data Indonesia, which governs data standards, metadata and interoperability between information systems.
Nevertheless, Satrya stressed that implementation of open science must respect each country’s national regulations. It must also take account of research security, intellectual-property protection and disparities in digital and research infrastructure between developed and developing countries.
These differences in capacity concern Indonesia because applying uniform international standards could create additional challenges for countries with limited resources. Evaluation and monitoring mechanisms for open-science policy should therefore be designed proportionately, so they do not increase the administrative burden.
“The monitoring system must not become a new reporting burden for developing countries,” Satrya said.
In addition to discussing open-science policy, Indonesia voiced support for a decision by the implementation committee for Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). The agenda makes the resilience of education systems a priority for 2026–2027, to ensure continued access to quality education.
Satrya said strengthening education-system resilience is increasingly important as technological developments require changes in the skills of teachers and learners. Education systems must be able to adapt to new needs without neglecting equal access to learning.