Open science, research assessment reform, and autonomy of research(ers). A critical discussion

This contribution examines the critical interrelationships between open science, research autonomy, and the ongoing reform of research assessment . Adopting a philosophical-political perspective, it analyzes current pressures on scientific freedom, including geopolitical shifts, technological changes, and the dominance of private platforms over research data . The study questions who determines research value and how evaluation systems can act as instruments of power . It explores the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA) and CoARA principles, which advocate for the direct involvement of scholars in defining qualitative criteria . To contextualize these issues, the paper revisits the 18th and 19th-century Prussian university theories of Immanuel Kant and Wilhelm von Humboldt . Kant's concept of "public reason" and Humboldt’s vision of open-ended science establish a paradigm where research is inherently collaborative and inclusive . Ultimately, this historical model offers a framework to address contemporary contradictions in the open science landscape.