6. Towards a science organized around research programmes

The final chapter outlines practical steps toward program-based science. Instead of rewarding fragmented projects, funders should support research programs built around community-shared priorities. Journals might adopt program-level formats and program-level registered reports, and universities could adjust evaluation systems to recognize collaborative work and contributions to collective goals. Educational reforms would complement these changes by preparing researchers for collaborative and participatory environments.

Such reforms cannot be imposed wholesale. Progress will require trial and error: funders, journals, universities, and researchers must test models, evaluate impact, and refine based on evidence—while guarding against unintended consequences like bureaucracy, mega-mistakes, and political interference. Progress also demands persistence and patience. Yet Open Science proves that, with coordinated and sustained effort, reform is achievable within a decade.