The conference continued with the Parallel Session titled “The Social Costs and Benefits of Open Science.” Chaired by Gelsomina Catalano (CSIL), the roundtable examined key insights into the value, impact, and challenges associated with Open Science.
The session featured:
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Silvia Vignetti (CSIL) presenting a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis framework for evaluating the social costs and benefits of Open Science.
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Gelsomina Catalano (CSIL) highlighting the societal and scientific value of Open Science, drawing on lessons from the UniProt biodata resource.
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Valentina Morretta (University of Milan) providing evidence on the economic payoff of Earth Observation data, including sectoral value added and contributions to GDP growth in Italy.
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Massimo Florio (University of Milan) discussing the paradox of Open Science, in which substantial public investment frequently results in significant private benefits.
This rich discussion underscored the central role of Open Science in fostering innovation, enhancing transparency, and supporting long-term societal progress.
The paper session “Advances in Non-Market Valuation Methods”, chaired by Katarzyna Skrzypek and Ewa Zawojska (University of Warsaw), showcased new empirical approaches and methodological refinements in non-market valuation. Ewa Zawojska discussed the joint use of recalled and contingent behaviour data in recreation demand analyses, while Wojciech Zawadzki (University of Warsaw) presented evidence on strategies to mitigate hypothetical bias in discrete choice experiments. Katarzyna Skrzypek examined how to account for substitute sites when data are scarce, and Wiktor Budzinski (University of Warsaw) analysed the role of attribute-vector effects in choice experiments. Collectively, the contributions advanced experimental design, measurement, and modelling techniques used to value environmental and recreational goods.
The parallel panel, “Climate Neutrality Meets Resilience: Cost-Effective Pathways for Decarbonization and Protection from Extremes”, chaired by Prof. Ruslana Rachel Palatnik (Yezreel Valley College; AE4RIA), deepened the conversation on Europe’s climate and resilience agenda. Professor Dr. Phoebe Koundouri (AUEB; AE4RIA) presented a multi-sector modelling framework for assessing European national commitments for climate neutrality, while Stathis Devves (AUEB; AE4RIA) discussed an integrated assessment of Greece’s climate neutrality pathways based on a multi-model decision support tool. Prof. Ruslana Rachel Palatnik examined the economics of net zero through a computable general equilibrium approach to carbon neutrality. Dr. Dimitris Raptis (AUEB; AE4RIA) addressed climate resilience via integrated modelling and economic analysis of post-fire flood hazards, and Dr. Ioannis Arampatzidis (ReSEES, AUEB) presented work on economically optimal electricity generation for European energy systems. The session offered a rich suite of evidence, tools, and insights to support Europe’s transition toward climate neutrality and enhanced resilience to extremes.
The roundtable on “The Social Costs and Benefits of Open Science”, chaired by Gelsomina Catalano (CSIL), examined how Open Science generates scientific, economic, and societal value while raising important design and governance challenges. Silvia Vignetti (CSIL) presented a comprehensive cost–benefit analysis framework for assessing the social costs and benefits of Open Science. Gelsomina Catalano drew on the UniProt biodata resource to illustrate the long-term value of open research infrastructures. Valentina Morretta (University of Milan) provided evidence on the economic payoff of Earth Observation data in terms of sectoral value added and GDP contributions in Italy, while Massimo Florio (University of Milan) reflected on the paradox of Open Science, whereby large public investments often underpin significant private gains. The discussion highlighted Open Science as a cornerstone of innovation, transparency, and long-term societal progress.
