PNU-OpenLab - Advanced Materials Open Science Centre at the Precarpathian National University
Science cluster
Summary
The PNU-OpenLab project, hosted at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (PNU), aims to serve as a central hub for advanced research on materials for energy and life sciences. It seeks to expand access to cutting-edge research tools for Ukrainian scientists, with the possibility of future integration into the Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium (CERIC-ERIC). PNU-OpenLab includes existing facilities, such as PNU-NanoLab, which focuses on nanotechnology, and PNU-FabLab, a space designed to foster practical learning and prototyping. Together, these labs aim to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and promote open access to advanced technology, tools, and expertise.
Ultimately, the project’s goal is to establish PNU-OpenLab as a leading centre for Open Science in Ukraine, driving innovation and collaboration in advanced materials research.
Challenge
Open Science project, Open Science Service
PNU-OpenLab addresses the need for consolidating Ukraine’s scientific research efforts in advanced materials and nanomaterials amidst ongoing challenges. The project aligns with the National Open Science Plan, which aims to foster open access to scientific data, encourage knowledge dissemination, and enhance citizen engagement in science. In the context of war, relocating key research and industrial capacities to Western Ukraine has also become crucial.
Solution
By establishing the PNU-OpenLab as a leading centre for collaboration, open data sharing, and advanced materials and nanomaterials research, the project aims to enhance collaboration among Ukrainian researchers, while providing consultancy on FAIR data management, and offering standardised and FAIR-compliant data repositories. Training programmes and workshops will equip researchers with knowledge on data collection, storage, and sharing, fostering data accessibility and reuse in the global scientific community, and empowering them to work in Open Science frameworks.
The certified PNU-NanoLab will offer a controlled environment for materials characterisation and experiments, crucial for industries, such as defence, energy, and precision engineering. While integration into CERIC is an aspirational goal, PNU-OpenLab will build partnerships with European RIs, aligning with international standards.
Scientific Impact
PNU-OpenLab will facilitate the certification of the PNU-NanoLab, enabling it to deliver accredited materials and data analysis services. This certification will ensure rigorous quality control and reliable results, essential for industries relying on high-tech materials. Furthermore, PNU-OpenLab will promote interdisciplinary collaboration and contribute to initiatives like the EDUC-WIDE project, enhancing Ukraine's integration into the European Research Area and supporting science-industry collaborations, especially critical in the context of the ongoing challenges faced by the country.
Results
- 1.1 Foundation of PNU-OpenLab as a part of PNU research ecosystem: PNU-OpenLab has been officially established as a structural component of the Precarpathian National University’s research ecosystem. Regulatory documentation, including the affiliation statute, internal governance structure, rights and responsibilities of participating units, has been developed, approved at the university level, and published on the institutional portal.
- 1.2 Analysis of the current state-of-the-art of Open Science Practice in Science Clusters Family: A comprehensive analysis was conducted based on the National Open Science Action Plan of Ukraine and current developments in the EOSC. Results have been presented internally and integrated into the policy framework of PNU-OpenLab. Project coordinator Volodymyr Kotsyubynsky joined the WG of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine tasked with developing the national professional standard “Research Data Management Specialist.” The standard addresses all stages of the research data lifecycle — including planning, data collection, documentation, processing, preservation, and dissemination in accordance with FAIR principles.
- 1.3 Creation of PNU-OpenLab portal, which includes a repository, DataSet: The PNU-OpenLab portal has been launched and is publicly accessible at https://dataset.pnu.edu.ua. The platform is based on the InvenioRDM framework and is fully compliant with FAIR principles. Metadata and DOI assignment are integrated through CrossRef, and interoperability with EOSC is ensured via OpenAIRE guidelines and OAI-PMH protocol.
- 1.4 Development and adaptation of the procedure for open access to the scientific facilities of PNU-NanoLab and PNU-FabLab
- 1.5 Testing and implementation of standard protocols and APIs for EOSC-compliant research data access: Standard metadata exchange has been configured and tested within the repository infrastructure. These ensure metadata exchange and data harvesting. An application has been submitted to join OpenAIRE.
- 2.1. Implementation of the certification of PNU-NanoLab: The PNU-NanoLab certification process is nearing completion. All laboratory equipment has been certified and calibrated https://dataset.cnu.edu.ua/records/bb1vh-zcp69, staff have successfully completed the necessary certified training https://dataset.cnu.edu.ua/records/y2zjb-1ch78, and an agreement confirming the completion of the certification procedure has been signed with the state-owned enterprise ‘Ivano-Frankivsk Scientific and Production Centre for Standardisation, Metrology and Certification’.
- 2.2. Preparation and publication of information on methodologies and protocols of experimental methods, including details on sample preparation, instrument settings, as well as data analysis techniques on the PNU-OpenLab digital resources: Detailed methodologies and experimental protocols, including sample preparation procedures, instrument settings, and data analysis methods, have been prepared and published, and the relevant protocols have been uploaded and made publicly available via the DataSet repository to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and reusability (https://dataset.cnu.edu.ua/records/p1hfm-zp711)
Publications
- Kotsiubynskyi, V., Boichuk, V., Yakubiv, V., Hryhoruk, I., & Turovska, L. (2025). PNU-DataSet. User Manual (Version 1). Openlab Dataset.
- CNU-NanoLab. Experimental methods.
Events
- 21 October, 2024 | Ivano-Frankivsk - Meeting of the University's Scientific and Technical Council
- 1 October, 2024 | Ivano-Frankivsk - PNU-OpenLab project kick-off meeting
- 13 January 2025 | Ivano-Frankivsk - Founding of the PNU-OpenLab | Presentation
- 27 January 2025 | Online - Launch of the PNU-OpenLab digital science centre
- 23 April, 2025 | Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University and online - Forum of Young Scientists “Scientific Trends: The Formula for a Young Researcher’s Success.” Councils of Higher Education Institutions in the Ivano-Frankivsk Region. A structured approach to open research data management was presented, in particular, on the development of the institutional repository DataSet (https://dataset.pnu.edu.ua/), built using the InvenioRDM platform. | News post, Presentation
- 30 April, 2025 | Ivano-Frankivsk and online - Advancing Best Practices in PhD Training - The key achievements of the Center for Open Science on Advanced Materials (PNU-OpenLab), established within the framework of the HORIZON-INFRA-2023-EOSC-01-01 project (2024–2026), are outlined | News post
- 9 May, 2025 | Kyiv and online - The online meeting Strategic approaches to forming a national system of scientific repositories was organised by the team of the State Scientific and Technical Library of Ukraine (Director Alla Zharinova and Deputy Director for Research and International Cooperation Tetiana Yaroshenko), with open data and repository infrastructure expert Viacheslav Tykhonov. | News post
- 16 May, 2025 | Ivano-Frankivsk - Workshop ‘Open Science and FAIR: Global strategies for accessibility, interoperability and information security. Presentation of the institutional repository developed at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University - dataset.pnu.edu.ua | Presentation
- 25 May, 2025 | Kyiv and online - As part of Open Government Week 2025, an online discussion on the topic Open Data in the Age of AI: From Science to Public Administration. was held. The event was organised by the Open4UA project with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Erasmus+ program, and was attended by the team of the Open Science Center for Advanced Materials of the Precarpathian National University | News post (in Ukrainian)
- 25 June 2025 | Ivano-Frankivsk and online - Informational Webinar - Presentation of DataSet functionality for PNU employees | Presentation
- July 2025 - Radnote radiation monitoring station has been installed on Mount Pip Ivan Chornohorskyi, one of the highest peaks in the Ukrainian Carpathians, standing at an altitude of 2,028.5 metres. The installation of the Radnote station on Mount Pip Ivan provides continuous, high-altitude monitoring of ambient radiation levels in the Ukrainian Carpathians at a site with unique environmental conditions and minimal local technogenic influence. The station strengthens both public and scientific oversight by enabling timely detection of anomalies, supporting long-term observation datasets, and improving transparency and accessibility of environmental information for local communities, tourists, emergency services, and research teams.
- 29 October 2025 | Round table with RIFF project coordinators: A roundtable gathered the RIFF project coordinators and representatives of CNU’s RIs to discuss recovery-oriented road-mapping for Ukrainian RIs and the practical uptake of Open Science.
- 9 October 2025 | 20th International Freik Conference on Physics and Technology of Thin Films and Nanosystems, Ivano-Frankivsk. Volodymyr Kotsyubynskyi gave a presentation on the university's efforts to strengthen open science policy. This ecosystem is based on the DataSet repository (created on the basis of CERN's InvenioRDM) and the PNU-OpenLab RI. The university adheres to the principle of ‘maximum openness, minimum closure,’ balancing openness with responsible data management and compliance with ethical and legal requirements. | News post
- 10 October 2025 | Yaremche, Ukraine - International Scientific and Methodological Conference “Current Issues in Improving the Quality of the Educational Process". Prof. Volodymyra Boichuk presented “Digital Open Data Platforms: Challenges and Prospects,” highlighting CNU’s progress in implementing Ukraine’s National Open Science Plan and showcasing OSCARS (Horizon Europe) results that advance FAIR services and practices across European RIs. | News post
- 19 November 2025 - Visit by the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk | News post, Presentation
Other promotional material
Principal investigator
Volodymyr Kotsiubynskyi has over 20 years of experience working as a university lector, physicist, and expert in obtaining and characterization of new materials under Ukrainian and international research projects. He is PhD, Doctor of Science in Physics and Chemistry of Surface (Materials Science and Nanotechnology). He has experience as a manager of international projects in energy-efficient new materials. Today his activities are focused on providing access to research infrastructures for scientists and manufacturers as well as the implementation of Open Science and FAIR practices in Ukraine.
