Open Science Labs (OSL) Incubator Program #

Open Science Labs is committed to fostering the growth and development of innovative scientific projects and/or software for support tasks like DevOps, Automation, etc. Our Incubator Program is designed to provide structure and support at various stages of development, helping projects grow from a mere idea to a fully-fledged, sustainable project. The program is divided into three distinct phases:

1. Proof of Concept (PoC) #

Description: The PoC phase is the first step, aimed at experimenting with new ideas and technologies to determine their feasibility and potential. Projects in this phase can be found at OSL PoC GitHub Repository.

Criteria:

  • Preliminary design and concept.
  • A clear vision of the problem the project aims to solve.
  • Must be licensed under a license approved by Open Source Initiative (OSI).

Application Process:

  • Submit a proposal through OSL PoC GitHub Issues, including the concept, objectives, and a high-level design.
  • Undergo a review process by the OSL selection committee.

2. Incubation #

Description: This phase focuses on nurturing the project, providing resources, mentorship, and facilitating access to grants and partners. Projects in this stage can be found at OSL Incubator GitHub Repository.

Criteria:

  • Successful completion of the PoC phase.
  • Clearly defined milestones and development plan.
  • Strong community engagement and collaboration.
  • Adherence to OSL’s guidelines, including licensing under an OSI-approved license.

Ascending Process:

  • Complete the PoC phase with positive evaluations.
  • Submit an application for the Incubation phase at OSL Incubator GitHub Issues, including a detailed project plan.
  • Obtain approval from OSL mentors and stakeholders.

Support for Raising Funds:

  • OSL will assist in identifying suitable grants and partner organizations.
  • Facilitate collaborations to support the project's financial needs.

3. Graduated #

Description: The Graduated phase is the final step, indicating that the project has matured and is ready for widespread adoption and sustainable growth. Graduated projects are available at OSL Graduated GitHub Repository.

Criteria:

  • Successful completion of the Incubation phase.
  • Demonstrated stability, sustainability, and active community engagement.
  • Ongoing adherence to OSL guidelines, including OSI-approved licensing.

Ascending Process:

  • Successfully meet all the milestones during the Incubation phase.
  • Submit a graduation application at OSL Graduated GitHub Issues, detailing achievements and future plans.
  • Undergo a final review and approval by OSL’s governing board.

Peer review of scientific Python Projects via pyOpenSci #

For all scientific Python projects under the Open Science Labs Incubator program, the evaluation process will be conducted via pyOpenSci, a community-led organization that offers peer reviews of Python software to enhance its quality, usability, and long-term maintainability. These peer reviews are pivotal in advancing the open-source tools that underpin open science initiatives.

Benefits of Using pyOpenSci for Evaluation #

  1. High-Quality Review: pyOpenSci's review process focuses on ensuring that your Python package meets high standards in terms of code quality, documentation, and usability.

  2. JOSS Acceptance: The Journal of Open Source Software (JOSS) accepts a pyOpenSci review as their own. As such your project, if it is in scope for JOSS, can reap the benefits of both pyOpenSci and JOSS through a single peer review process.

  3. Community-Led: Gain insights and recommendations from experts in the open science and Python communities.

Guidelines and Review Process #

  • Project Guidelines: All projects should follow pyOpenSci's packaging guidelines which can be accessed here.

  • Peer Review Process: The detailed guide for pyOpenSci's peer review process can be found here. We highly recommend going through this guide to understand what to expect during the review.

The pyOpenSci review process offers a valuable opportunity to enhance the quality, usability, and maintainability of your software. Additionally, your tool will gain increased visibility and community support once it is accepted into the pyOpenSci ecosystem.

Conclusion #

The OSL Incubator Program is a robust pathway for innovative scientific projects and projects for support tasks to grow and succeed. We invite all creators, researchers, and enthusiasts to explore our program and become part of this thriving ecosystem. Detailed information on applying for each phase, as well as guidelines, can be found on our official website.

For any further inquiries, please contact our dedicated Incubator Program team at OSL. Together, we can shape the future of open science.