Open Science is the movement to make scientific research and data accessible to all. It includes practices such as publishing open scientific research, campaigning for open access and generally making it easier to publish and communicate scientific knowledge. Additionally, it includes other ways to make science more transparent and accessible during the research process. This includes open notebook science, citizen science, and aspects of open source software and crowdfunded research projects.

The many advantages of this movement include:

• Greater availability and accessibility of publicly funded scientific research outputs;
• Possibility for rigorous peer-review processes;
• Greater reproducibility and transparency of scientific works;
• Greater impact of scientific research.

Open Science utilizes the prevalence of the Internet and associated digital tools to enable greater local and global research collaboration. Numerous documents, organizations, and social movements advocate wider adoption of open science and open science data. These initiatives foster the development and implementation of scientific research communication strategies that are inclusive, effective, and conducive to scientific collaboration and discovery across scientific fields.

Historical statements of principles such as the Budapest Open Access Initiative of 2001 and the Panton Principles as well as new statements such as the Amsterdam Call for Action on Open Science  presented to the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the European Union in May, are driving forces which are trying to regularize licenses and disclosure for scientific data and scientific literature.

Here, we have highlighted the current situation of the Open Science movement in the regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.