The transport sector as such is usually categorized by transport modes (surface transport, aviation and - upcoming - space). Both the production of transport vehicles and their operation account for tremendous societal benefits as well as for a significant environmental impact in terms of use of resources, the emission of e.g. greenhouse gases, and for disposal at end-of-life of transport vehicles, of infrastructure but also of production equipment. Complexity and impact of current and foreseeable challenges on the one and characteristics of the different groups of actors on the other require more efficient mobilisation of resources, increased innovation speed and integration of enabling technologies. In this context, Open Science is considered as an important and promising measure to support the intended performance gain: “Open science, open innovation and open to the world – the so-called 3 O’s – are likely to impact European innovation performance, growth and international competitiveness". However, Open Science is not yet perceived as a concrete option in collaborative AAT research projects.
OSCAR – Open ScienCe Aeronautic & air transport Research – addresses the current perception, acceptance, and implementation of Open Science in the field of European AAT research and in those fields where European AAT research issues interact with e.g. other transport modes and technology exchange. The main goal of the OSCAR project is to initiate and deliver an optimized Open Science concept to European transport with special focus on AAT research with triggering an implementation in aeronautics and air transport where:
- The concept of Open Science is widely known in European aviation sector, taking also proximate research fields like Industry 4.0, digitization, material sciences, etc. into account, and it is implemented at least in pilot cases. The interfaces to other transport modes, to inter-modality and to proximate technology fields are considered.
- The message of an achieved balance between Open Science and IPR protection, which maximises beneficial, transparent, and fair openness while maintaining IPR and related competitiveness has been convincingly spread by means of a Code of Conduct.
- Project consortia concerned are well guided to efficiently apply the Open Science Code of Conduct customized to the characteristics of the individual project and to the individual researchers even in their daily work.
- A paradigm shift towards implementation of Open Science in European aviation research has been initiated.
The main goal of OSCAR is more than simply adapting an established approach to a specific field. It requires on the one an in-depth understanding of Open Science (principles, application, benefits) as well as of the European AAT landscape as is. On the other it requires an application concept, i.e. convincing stakeholders of the added values and guiding them to integration of Open Science in their daily research work beyond single European projects. Thus, the main goal of OSCAR as mentioned above means to pave the way towards Open Science in European aviation research by detailed analysis of the landscape and by developing, validating, and promoting a suitable Open Science concept.