Collective Action Advancing Open Infrastructure

Launched at the Munin Conference in 2017, the Global Sustainability Coalition for Open Science Services (SCOSS) was created to address a critical challenge in scholarly communication: the lack of coordinated, sustainable funding for non-commercial, open research infrastructure. Eight years later, SCOSS has facilitated over €7.3 million in pledges and supported 19 infrastructures across multiple funding rounds. From foundational services like the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)—a SCOSS Pilot Round selection—to recent additions such as Episciences, SCOSS helps infrastructures scale, adapt, and attain resilience in a complex ecosystem. Yet, despite this progress, significant gaps remain. Infrastructure fatigue, fragmented funding pathways, and uneven global participation continue to hinder the long-term viability of open infrastructure. In alignment with this year’s Munin Conference topics—“Repairing the Gaps in Research Infrastructure” and “Agency”—this session will explore how collective action, coordinated investment, and cross-sector collaboration can help address these persistent challenges. This 90-minute interactive workshop will be co-led by representatives from SCOSS, DOAJ, and Episciences. The session will begin with a brief overview of SCOSS’s evolution, including tangible impacts and lessons learned from the infrastructures focusing on DOAJ and Episciences. The session will shift to a participatory format, with facilitated small-group discussions where participants will share experiences, identify challenges in supporting open infrastructures, and exchange ideas for more coordinated support strategies. The impact of this workshop will extend beyond the session itself and contribute meaningfully to the broader open science community. The workshop discussions are designed not only to surface shared challenges but also to spark practical solutions to developing and sustaining infrastructure we care about. Following the conference, these outcomes will be captured in a short public summary and a community brief—designed to share key insights and practical strategies with the broader open science community—shared via the SCOSS website and partner networks. This session invites anyone committed to advancing open infrastructure to join a timely, practical conversation on how collective action can lead to sustained funding strategies. Whether you're navigating challenges, testing solutions, or simply looking to learn from others, your experience matters to all workshop participants. Come ready to share, listen, and co-create ideas for moving forward—together.