The APEC Open Science Alliance (APECOSA) is a regional initiative dedicated to transforming the scientific landscape of the APEC region to address complex regional challenges through inclusive and sustainable development. By enabling the preservation, accessibility, and reusability of data, the alliance seeks to remove traditional barriers to the free flow of knowledge. Central to its mission is the promotion of responsible research conduct, which emphasises transparency and the strategic reduction of research duplication to ensure resources are utilised effectively across the region.

The momentum for this movement began in 2017 with the endorsement 10th APEC Policy Partnership in Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI-10) in Vietnam. This landmark statement recognised that Open Science and Open Access are critical for maximising returns on both public and private investments. It further highlighted how openness reinforces international cooperation and facilitates rapid scientific inquiry that proved indispensable during the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately fostering research in emerging fields that offer significant regional and global benefits.

Building upon this policy foundation, Malaysia introduced the formal concept of APECOSA in 2023 through the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). Presented during the 23rd Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI-23), the initiative received strong collective support from member economies. This led to a series of foundational activities in 2024, including two workshops designed to assess the current Open Science landscape. These efforts culminated in the “Landscape Study Report on Policy Recommendations for The Implementation of APECOSA”, which was formally presented at APEC PPSTI SOM 1 in February 2025.

Subsequently, the 2026 APECOSA Workshop Series shifted focus towards drafting the guidelines for the alliance itself. A virtual session in January 2026 convened 62 participants from 15 economies in which open science experts from Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, China and Chinese Taipei shared respective perspectives on Open Science frameworks, highlighting the importance of coordinated policy reform, FAIR principles adoption and infrastructure development. This was followed by a high-level Consultative Workshop in Guangzhou, China (4–5 February 2026), held alongside the first APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1). Funded by the Seeds of Science, Asia (SoSA) through the INGSA-Asia and ISC RFP-AP, the physical workshop gathered 24 representatives to refine the Alliance’s governance and strategic direction. The workshop was also mentored by esteemed Steering Committee member of INGSA-Asia, Dr Anders Karlsson.

Key outcomes included a proposal for Malaysia to serve as the initial three-year chairman and secretariat of APECOSA and the introduction of a two-tier membership structure. Participants also validated the four pillars of the upcoming APECOSA Guideline:

1. Policy and Governance
2. Data Management and Infrastructure
3. Capacity Building
4. Funding and Incentives

These insights have been synthesized into a Zero Draft of the APECOSA Guidelines. Led by a drafting committee from six economies (China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand), the draft will be refined post-SOM1 for endorsement at the third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM 3) to formally establish the APEC Open Science Alliance.