Rethinking reproducibility in enzyme and microbial biotechnology: are technical solutions enough?

Reproducibility remains a central challenge in enzyme and microbial biotechnology despite advances in technology, reporting frameworks, and data-sharing infrastructures. While these developments have improved transparency and consistency, they have not fully resolved persistent issues related to the reliability and interpretation of scientific findings. The increasing complexity of experimental and computational approaches makes this particularly relevant, as the generation of large amounts of data does not necessarily ensure their appropriate interpretation or reproducibility. In this Perspective, we argue that reproducibility is shaped not only by technical standards, but also by the scientific culture and everyday research practices in which these frameworks are applied. This raises a broader question: why do reproducibility challenges persist despite increasingly sophisticated technical solutions? Addressing this challenge requires moving beyond formal compliance with standards and guidelines and considering how researchers design experiments, interpret and report results, and share data and materials. Ultimately, these everyday decisions determine whether principles of rigor and transparency are meaningfully implemented in practice.