Open Source Hardware in Academia: Mapping the Diversity of Framings and Strategic Pathways

Two decades ago, the field of open source hardware (OSH) emerged transferring the idea of open source from software to physical products. The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science (2021) identified the OSH concept as a strategic component of open science policies and it is gaining increasing relevance with OSH being developed in almost every discipline. However, OSH principles are leveraged for a multiplicity of problematisations, implementation modes and transformative directions. The inclusive nature of emerging framings shapes how projects understand openness, who they involve in design activities, how they document their work, mobilise resources and evaluate their impact and outcomes. We study 15 successful academia-related OSH projects based on semi-structured interviews, utilising thematic analysis to identify alternative strategic pathways and RRI practices. We detect convergent framings and differences in activities, practices and audiences. The results are hoped to contribute towards consolidating RRI approaches and policy discussions fostering OSH in academia.