Normative differences of open science practices in university-industry research collaboration in Finland and China

Abstract

Open science (OS) policies have become increasingly prominent, not only in the EU with initiatives like Plan S, but also in the US following the introduction of a new OS policy in 2022. In the People's Republic of China (PRC), OS is highlighted in science policy, particularly in the revised Science and Technology Progress Law of the People's Republic of China (2021). As industrial research and development gains value due to the increasing competition and knowledge intensity of the global economy, and with many governments cutting public research funding during the 2010s austerity trend, university-industry research collaboration (UIRC) has become increasingly common. This paper examines whether and how the OS movement has transformed norms in the UIRC context. By comparing multiple case studies, two from Finland and two from the PRC, this paper explores the normative differences between liberal meritocratic capitalist systems and political capitalist systems in terms of their OS practices, such as open access publishing, open data sharing, and science communication. The paper addresses two research questions: 1) What are the similarities and differences in the norms guiding the application of OS practices in UIRC in Finland and the PRC? 2) What do these differences reveal about the science systems of Finland and the PRC? This study applies institutional logics theory (Thornton et al., 2012) to illustrate the normative environment and its dynamics. The findings reveal that both countries share similar institutional logics that foster or hinder OS, including state, market, corporation, profession, and community logics, but with varying weight and manifestations. Finland's institutionalized OS policies and diverse community logics support OS adoption, while the PRC's OS norms in the UIRC context reflect stronger academic capitalism and global competitiveness, often applying OS selectively in areas that align with broader state-driven objectives. This paper contributes to the under-researched topic of OS in UIRC by comparing two distinct contexts: Finland, a small, forerunner country in open science, and the PRC, a rising global science superpower. It highlights how political and economic systems shape OS adoption, offering insights into the dynamics of OS practices in contrasting governance models.