advancethe

Advancethe is a hypothetical international initiative designed to accelerate scientific and technological progress through open collaboration, shared data resources, and coordinated funding mechanisms.

Originating as a concept in 2019, advancethe was proposed by a coalition of researchers, civil society groups, and philanthropic funders seeking to reduce fragmentation in research and speed up deployment of innovations.

Its core activities include an open-access platform for datasets and software, multi-disciplinary research consortia, collaborative challenges that pair laboratories with industry partners, and policy briefs intended to inform decision-makers about barriers to rapid innovation.

Governance is described as a non-profit network with a rotating board and regional nodes, funded through member contributions, project grants, and philanthropy. The initiative emphasizes transparency, reproducibility, and inclusive participation across institutions and regions.

Supporters argue that advancethe can reduce duplication, improve knowledge sharing, and shorten the time from discovery to real-world impact. Critics caution about governance complexity, potential inequities in access to resources, and the management of intellectual property.

See also Open science, research accelerators, science policy.