Why do research infrastructures matter? Answering to the Open Access week theme: Who owns our knowledge?

Presentation for the University of Coimbra Open Science team given on the occasion of the Open Access Week on the 20th October 2020. The presentation explores the central role of research infrastructures in shaping how knowledge is produced, accessed, and shared. It examines how infrastructures -- ranging from libraries and repositories to databases and digital platforms - function as the backbone of scholarly communication. Drawing on examples from OPERAS-PL and OPERAS Innovation Lab, and other initiatives, the talk argues that infrastructures are not neutral tools but active agents in determining ownership and accessibility of knowledge.