Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University is launching a new stage of international cooperation with OpenAIRE — a European Open Science infrastructure that brings together services, tools, and expert support for the development of open access, FAIR data, responsible management of research outputs, and the integration of research-performing organizations into the European Open Science Cloud. This cooperation is being implemented in the context of the OSCARS-PNU-OpenLab project — Advanced Materials Open Science Centre at the Carpathian National University — which is aimed at promoting Open
Science, FAIR-oriented research data management, increasing the
visibility of Ukrainian research outputs, and developing a modern
digital research infrastructure at the University. The first practical
step was an online meeting between representatives of Carpathian
National University and the OpenAIRE team. During the meeting, the participants discussed opportunities for cooperation, support tools for research-performing organizations, and OpenAIRE services that can be used to develop the institutional repository, prepare data management plans, improve the interoperability of scientific resources, and integrate research outputs into the European Open Science area. Special attention was paid to the presentation of OpenAIRE services, including the OpenAIRE Service Catalogue, OpenAIRE Graph, ARGOS for preparing Data Management Plans, as well as tools for research-performing organizations that help universities implement Open Science policies, ensure compliance with FAIR principles, improve metadata quality, and make research outputs more accessible, visible, and reusable.

During the discussions, the submission of an application for Carpathian National University to join the OpenAIRE community was also addressed. This step is important for the systematic integration of the University into the European Open Science ecosystem, expanding access to OpenAIRE services, participating in professional community calls, using methodological materials and consultancy support, and establishing sustainable links with European institutions working in the field of open research infrastructures. In the context of Ukraine’s European integration in science and education, the openness of research outputs, high-quality data management, compatibility of institutional repositories with European standards, and transparent presentation of scientific achievements are becoming not only technical tasks but also important elements of academic competitiveness. Access to OpenAIRE services will enable Ukrainian researchers to become more effectively integrated into international research networks, increase the visibility of publications, datasets, software, and other research outputs, and work in accordance with the current requirements of Horizon Europe, EOSC, and the European Research Area. The launch of cooperation with OpenAIRE is an important result of the implementation of OSCARS-PNU-OpenLab and, at the same time, a practical step towards developing a modern culture of Open Science at Carpathian National University — one focused on transparency, reproducibility, international cooperation, and the sustainable development of the Ukrainian academic community.