OPERAS 2026 & SCIROS Conference: strengthening one network, many possibilities
The OPERAS 2026 & SCIROS Conference took place in Warsaw, Poland, from 18 to 21 May 2026, bringing together the OPERAS community and the SCIROS research network for four days of exchange, reflection, and collaboration. The event was organised around the theme “One Network, Many Possibilities: Strengthening the OPERAS Community” and addressed the role of research infrastructures in shaping the future of open scholarly communication in the Social Sciences and Humanities.
The first two days of the conference were dedicated to satellite events, including the SCIROS validation workshop, the PKP Sprint, and meetings involving Diamond National Capacity Centres and OPERAS National Nodes. The main conference sessions took place on 20 and 21 May.
OPERAS 2026 & SCIROS Conferente also provided an important space to discuss some of the major challenges currently shaping Open Science in SSH: multilingualism, bibliodiversity, research assessment, quality, Diamond Open Access, community governance, and sustainable infrastructure development. These topics are central to the future of scholarly communication and to the consolidation of inclusive, scholar-led models of openness.
The event also marked the ending of SCIROS, a project launched in 2024 and set to conclude in August 2026. SCIROS aims to build a diverse network of researchers and research-performing organisations committed to deepening the understanding of Open Science. Through collaboration, the project has developed new theoretical approaches while strengthening Open Science practices and infrastructures. The full SCIROS programme is available on the website, offering an overview of the sessions and activities developed throughout the event.
The conference also reaffirmed the importance of OPERAS as a European research infrastructure dedicated to scholarly communication in the Social Sciences and Humanities. As OPERAS continues its path towards becoming a European Research Infrastructure Consortium, events such as this are essential for strengthening community ties, identifying shared priorities, and consolidating the role of the infrastructure within the wider Open Science landscape.
The opening keynote was delivered by John Willinsky (PKP, Canada), who spoke on “Driving Open Science Forward”. The conference closed with a keynote by Anna Wałek (OAPEN), who reflected on the governance of Open Science and access through a compelling metaphor of space, flight and airplanes.
- John Willinsky (PKP, Canada)
- Anna Wałek (OAPEN)
The conference programme combined targeted workshops, panel discussions, paper sessions, community activities and networking moments. Across two days, participants discussed Diamond Open Access, scholarly publishing infrastructures, research security, digital sovereignty, AI, multilingualism, metadata, data citation, Open Science governance, the connection between National Nodes and National Capacity Centers, and the role of European research infrastructures. The programme also included a community walk, a guided tour at the Museum of Warsaw, a poster session and a reception, creating space for both formal exchange and informal collaboration.
The full conference programme is available on the conference website. You can also check the Conference repository on Zenodo, where you will find all posters, as well as upcoming presentations and additional materials related to #OPERAS2026SCIROS, including the recordings of panels, sessions, and workshops.
OPERAS thanks all 51 speakers, 173 participants, and all the organisers, partners, and community members who contributed to the success of the conference, both in Warsaw and online. The conversations initiated during OPERAS 2026 and SCIROS will continue to inform future collaborations, services, policies, and community actions across the OPERAS network.
photos by: Daniel Gaszewski
OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
OPERAS Editorial Team (June 2, 2026). OPERAS 2026 & SCIROS Conference: strengthening one network, many possibilities. OPERAS. Retrieved June 10, 2026 from https://doi.org/10.58079/16bem















