Custodire la conoscenza: la sicurezza della ricerca come sfida al paradigma della scienza aperta

Luciano Colombo

First

Conceptualization

2025-01-01

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Abstract

Safeguarding Knowledge: Research Security as a Challenge to the Open Science Paradigm. In the current landscape of scientific knowledge, Open Science emerges not merely as a technical reform, but as a far-reaching epistemological and cultural shift. It redefines the relationship between science and society by treating knowledge as a common good, meant to be shared, critically engaged with, and harnessed for inclusive social progress. However, this transformative openness faces increasing tensions due to evolving geopolitical and technological threats. The proliferation of digital vulnerabilities, dual-use research, and foreign interference, to name just a few critical issues, calls for a new awareness about research security. This introduces a systemic tension between openness and protection, transparency and confidentiality, collaboration and control. In this essay, I advocate for a recalibration of Open Science towards a model that is both conscious and resilient. Rather than opposing security to openness, I propose a synthetic paradigm reconciling both through critical responsibility, multi-level risk governance, and robust public legitimacy.