On October 10, 2025, within the framework of the International Scientific and Methodological Conference “Current Issues in Improving the Quality of the Educational Process,” organized by Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Volodymyra Boichuk, Professor at the Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science of Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, delivered a talk entitled “Digital Open Data Platforms: Challenges and Prospects.” The presentation outlined CNU’s experience in implementing the National Open Science Plan: ensuring open access to research outputs and scientific–technical information; open access to research infrastructure; creating conditions for effective work with publicly available data and infrastructure assets; promoting science and advancing citizen science; improving systems for assessing scientific and R&D performance; and raising awareness and building competencies in open science across the academic community. The talk drew on results from the OSCARS project (Horizon Europe, https://oscars-project.eu/about-oscars), aimed at consolidating European research infrastructures (on and beyond the ESFRI roadmap) into interdisciplinary FAIR services and practices that directly support open science.

One of the core elements of the University’s research ecosystem is the institutional DataSet repository, which enables the deposition of datasets, preprints, articles, teaching materials, and code with DOI assignment and reuse in line with the FAIR principles, alongside the CNU-Nanolab infrastructure providing access to state-of-the-art materials science equipment. Work requested by researchers is carried out free of charge, and—subject to the requester’s consent—the resulting measurement data are deposited in DataSet with preservation of intellectual property rights. At the same time, PNU-OpenLab operates as an element of CNU’s research ecosystem that provides materials-properties investigation services for industry, which are important for the needs of the country’s critical infrastructure. The implementation of open science in Ukraine is strategically essential for transparency, reproducibility, and integration into the European Research Area, and the project “Open Science Center in Modern Materials Science at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University (PNU-OpenLab)” (https://open-lab.pnu.edu.ua/) is another step toward enhancing the quality of the scientific and educational process and strengthening Ukraine’s innovation capacity as part of the European research area.

On October 9, 2025, at the 20th International Freik Conference on Physics and Technology of Thin Films and Nanosystems, Volodymyr Kotsiubynskyi (Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University) delivered a talk on the University’s strengthening of its open science policy.

At the core of this ecosystem are the DataSet repository (built on CERN’s InvenioRDM) and the PNU-OpenLab research infrastructure, which provides access to state-of-the-art materials science equipment.

The University follows the principle “as open as possible, as closed as necessary,” balancing openness with responsible data stewardship and compliance with ethical and legal norms. University researchers and partners can deposit datasets, preprints, articles, teaching materials, and code with DOI assignment, ensuring citability and reuse in line with the FAIR principles.

Within PNU-OpenLab, collaboration at multiple levels and project-based work upon request (subject to available resources) are envisaged. Measurement data obtained (with the performers’ consent) are deposited in DataSet, increasing the visibility and reproducibility of results. Among the flagship facilities are the Gamma-Resonance Spectroscopy Laboratory (a national treasure of Ukraine) and other instruments for advanced materials characterization.

The ecosystem supports CNU’s engagement in European initiatives on research assessment reform (COARA) and aligns with Horizon Europe requirements, particularly regarding open access and research data management.

For inquiries about publishing in DataSet and accessing equipment, please contact PNU-OpenLab or the Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science at CNU.

A Radnote radiation monitoring station has been installed on Mount Pip Ivan Chornohorskyi, one of the highest peaks in the Ukrainian Carpathians, standing at an altitude of 2,028.5 metres. This has been made possible through cooperation of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University with NGO SaveDnipro and international partnerships with SAFECAST and Blues.

It is worth noting that a key advantage of the Radnote stations is their autonomous operation. They require neither a mains electricity supply nor a wired or Wi-Fi Internet connection. Radnote functions perfectly in standalone mode, powered by an integrated solar panel and transmitting data via the mobile network – a fact proven by its uninterrupted operation in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and during last year’s stabilisation power outages. Thanks to these features, Radnote is an ideal solution for remote locations such as Mount Pip Ivan. At an altitude of over 2,000 metres, winter temperatures often fall below -20⁰C, and wind speeds can exceed 50 km/h; everything is covered in thick layers of snow and ice for weeks or even months. For some radiation monitoring stations, low temperatures present a risk of malfunction. And now we have the opportunity to test the system under the most severe conditions. The mountain’s proximity of the station to the EU border makes it an important site for cross-border monitoring, which will contribute to data exchange and coordination efforts between Ukraine and the European Union.

Radiation data from Mount Pip Ivan can be viewed on the SaveEcoBot radiation map: https://www.saveecobot.com/radiation-maps#12/48.0695/24.6441/gamma/ara+arc+clua+cuc+crc

From the system, the data are automatically transmitted to Deepstatemap.live, Windy.com, and other platforms that integrate SaveEcoBot data. In particular, the system shares data with the official Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources platform “EcoThreat”, as well as with State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate, State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety, the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine; it is also displayed on the website of the National Commission for Radiation Protection of the Population of Ukraine and published via the State Open Data Portal.

Furthermore, the data collected from the Radnote station on Mount Pip Ivan will also be published in the open data repository DataSet of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (established under the OSCARS project “Advanced Materials Open Science Centre at the Precarpathian National University – PNU-OpenLab”). These data are openly accessible and may be freely used by researchers, civil society organisations, and public authorities for scientific, environmental, and policy-related purposes. This is in line with the objectives of the Jean Monnet Module project “Radiation Safety: European-Ukrainian Approach”, which is being implemented at the Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science.

The online presentation of the partnership’s results featured Ihor Tsependa, Acting Rector of the Precarpathian National University, Volodymyr Kotsiubynskyi, Head of the Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science, Pavlo Tkachenko, co-founder of SaveDnipro, Head of IT and Chief Developer of SaveEcoBot (Dnipro), Azbi Brown, Lead Researcher at Safecast (Yokohama, Japan), and the university’s scientific community.

We sincerely thank Pavlo Tkachenko and Azba Brown for their valuable cooperation and contribution to the implementation of this important project for Ukraine. We thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the opportunity to work.

On 25 June 2025, an informational webinar was held to present the functionality of DataSet, the newly launched institutional repository of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (https://pnu.edu.ua/). The repository serves as a digital platform for storing and disseminating scientific outputs produced by the university’s researchers and students.

The webinar was led by Volodymyr Kotsiubynskyi, Head of the Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science and Coordinator of the Advanced Materials Open Science Centre, established under the HORIZON-INFRA-2023-EOSC-01-01 programme (2024–2026).

Participants were introduced to: the role of institutional repositories in the modern academic ecosystem; step-by-step guidance on user registration and research profile creation; procedures for assigning DOIs and content licensing; implementation of Open Science policies and adherence to FAIR principles.

Practical demonstrations were provided using the DataSet platform (https://dataset.pnu.edu.ua), showcasing real-use cases and best practices.

The webinar targeted academic staff, postgraduate students, research project managers, faculty administrators, and all those interested in ensuring open access to research results.

The event also highlighted the strategic significance of the university’s involvement in the OSCARS initiative (Open Science Clusters’ Action for Research and Society – https://oscars-project.eu/about-oscars). Participation in OSCARS supports institutional integration into the European Research Area, promotes the adoption of FAIR and EOSC-aligned practices, and strengthens infrastructure for research data management. This contributes to greater transparency, accessibility, and interoperability of scientific knowledge produced by Ukrainian researchers.

As part of the Open Government Week 2025, an online discussion titled “Open Data in the Age of AI: From Science to Public Governance” was held. The event was organised by the Open4UA project with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Erasmus+ programme, and featured the participation of the team from the Advanced Materials Open Science Centre at the Precarpathian National University.

The event brought together over 40 participants – representatives of the academic community, government bodies, civil society organisations, and the IT sector – to discuss the potential of open data in the context of digital transformation and the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI).

The discussion focused on key concepts:

-️ Open data as public information in a machine-readable format, available without restrictions and enabling the creation of new services;

️- Open science, based on the principles of transparency, accessibility, and reproducibility of research;

️ -Open government, which promotes accountability, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making;

-️ FAIR data, which complies with international standards – Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable – and is especially valuable for training AI models.

Special attention was paid to the Ukrainian context:

– Since 2015, the open data sector in Ukraine has been actively developing, with the launch of the national portal gov.ua, now containing over 38,000 datasets;

– Ukraine ranks 3rd among European countries in terms of open data policy maturity, despite the challenges posed by the full-scale war;

– Over 13.9 million Ukrainians use open data-based services monthly (e.g. Open Databot, YouControl, Easyway);

– In the scientific domain, data openness is still less developed but holds significant potential for advancing AI.

During the event, it was emphasised that open scientific data could become a driving force for developing Ukrainian-language and analytical AI models, particularly in light of the demand for Ukrainian-language data. Sources such as the State Register of Court Decisions, scientific research archives, and data from university repositories could serve as a foundation for future breakthroughs in AI.

Speakers also highlighted the importance of balancing openness with national security during wartime, the need to improve legislation on access to information, and the role of data stewards within government institutions and communities. At the same time, thanks to the growth of open data and cross-sector collaboration, Ukraine has the opportunity to strengthen its position in scientific research, digital technologies, and public governance.

The team of the project Advanced Materials Open Science Centre at the Precarpathian National University (PNU- OpenLab) participated in the international workshop ‘Open Science and FAIR: Global strategies for accessibility, interoperability, and information security’, which was dedicated to implementing global strategies in open science to ensure data accessibility, interoperability, and information security.

The project leader, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Volodymyr Kotsiubynskyi, was among the keynote speakers and delivered a presentation on the role of open science in advancing materials research and the importance of the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) for effective data storage, reuse, and scientific collaboration.

In his talk, Professor Kotsiubynskyi emphasized practical steps toward implementing open science policies in Ukrainian academic institutions, including the establishment of institutional repositories, integration of international metadata standards, and interaction with global infrastructures such as DataCite, CrossRef, and InvenioRDM. He also presented the institutional repository developed at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University — dataset.pnu.edu.ua.

The participation of the project team in this workshop confirms the active integration of the Ukrainian research community into international processes of digital transformation in science, as well as the promotion of an innovative culture of open knowledge exchange.

On May 9, 2025, an online meeting was held, organized by the team of the State Scientific and Technical Library of Ukraine (Director Alla Zharinova and Deputy Director for Research and International Cooperation Tetiana Yaroshenko, https://dntb.gov.ua), with open data and repository infrastructure expert Viacheslav Tykhonov (https://dataverse.nl). Volodymyr Kotsyubynskyi, Head of PNU-OpenLab (https://open-lab.pnu.edu.ua/), took part in the meeting.

The discussion focused on strategic approaches to developing a national system of scientific repositories aligned with the FAIR principles. Special attention was given to the role of controlled vocabularies such as Finto, BioPortal, and OntoPortal, which ensure data interoperability in scientific infrastructures.

The capabilities of the Dataverse platform were presented, highlighting its implementation in the Netherlands for the academic sector and discussing its potential as a technical and conceptual foundation for building a Ukrainian repository system.

On April 30, 2025, the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University hosted the 4th Scientific and Practical Conference with international participation, titled “Advancing Best Practices in PhD Training,” dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the university’s founding.

The conference focused on pressing issues related to doctoral training under the academic and research program 222 “Medicine,” including the openness and relevance of scientific profiles, challenges in selecting dissertation topics, the integration of artificial intelligence into the educational process and research, the development of open science, and involvement in grant-based activities.

Special attention was given to aligning educational processes with the standards of the European Higher Education Area and to the development of interdisciplinary competencies among doctoral candidates. IFNMU is actively implementing effective mentorship models aimed at supporting the professional development of early-career researchers.

Also during the conference, Volodymyr Kotsiubynskyi, Head of the Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science at PNU, presented current practices for implementing open science principles in the university’s research activities. In his presentation, he outlined key achievements of the Advanced Materials Open Science Centre (PNU-OpenLab), established as part of the HORIZON-INFRA-2023-EOSC-01-01 project (2024–2026).

The focus was on managing open research data, in particular, the creation of the institutional repository DataSet (https://dataset.pnu.edu.ua/), which operates on the InvenioRDM platform. The presentation demonstrated how the synergy of open technologies, advanced digital infrastructure, and the university’s strategic vision contributes to advancing open science at both the local and national levels.

On April 23, 2025, Professors Volodymyr Kotsiubynskyi and Volodymyra Boichuk, participants in the project “The Advanced Materials Open Science Centre,” took part in the Forum of Young Scientists’ Councils of Higher Education Institutions in the Ivano-Frankivsk Region, titled “Scientific Trends: The Formula for a Young Researcher’s Success.”

The event, hosted by Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, brought together young scholars and academic leaders to explore current challenges and opportunities in the development of science in Ukraine. Discussions focused on the evolving role of early-career researchers in societal transformation, models for science-industry collaboration, and prospects for the commercialization of research outcomes.

Particular attention was devoted to the advancement of open science practices in Ukraine. As a featured speaker in the panel discussion “Open Science: A New Research Culture,” Professor Volodymyr Kotsiubynskyi presented the implementation of open science principles at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University. He highlighted key achievements from the first six months of activity at the Open Science Center OpenLab (https://open-lab.pnu.edu.ua/), established within the framework of the project, funded under the HORIZON-INFRA-2023-EOSC-01-01 programme (2024–2026).

His presentation emphasized the structured approach to open research data management, including the development of the institutional repository DataSet (https://dataset.pnu.edu.ua/), built using the InvenioRDM platform. The session illustrated the productive synergy between open technologies, digital research infrastructure, and the university’s strategic commitment to fostering open science at both regional and national levels.

Once again, Easter comes to us in difficult times — times of trials, struggle, and great hope.
Today, Ukraine’s destiny is intertwined with pain and loss, yet also with unbreakable spirit, sincere faith in victory, and a deep longing for peace, justice, and light.

May the Glorious Resurrection of Christ become for each of us a symbol of renewal, strength, and faith.

May the Lord protect our defenders, inspire each of us to do good, and may the dawn of peace and justice rise over Ukraine as soon as possible.