Our pillars

Building Communities. Transforming Systems.

Building Communities. Transforming Systems.

Science has the potential to profoundly impact the health, well-being, and decision-making of both individuals and communities. But as it currently operates, it is rife with inefficiencies that hinder how research is conducted, conveyed, applied, and understood. ORCA brings together creative, cross-cutting coalitions to actively address these systemic barriers, because systemic problems require collective action, and collective action needs systems change to stick.

Coalitions

We convene researchers, funders, institutions, policymakers, and industry to tackle challenges no single organization can solve alone. Through shared learning, trusted relationships, and collective action, we help communities move from talking to doing.

A minimalist line art illustration depicting a pod of dolphins swimming gracefully, with several outlined in orange for emphasis, set against a plain background.
A minimalist line art illustration depicting a pod of dolphins swimming gracefully, with several outlined in orange for emphasis, set against a plain background.

Systemic Barriers

We take bold steps to address the persistent problems that keep science disconnected from society. We pair ambitious ideas with practical experimentation, developing initiatives that strengthen the systems, incentives, and relationships underpinning research.

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Our Work

From Ideas to Impact

Our activities focus on transforming the research landscape to be more open, collaborative, and trustworthy. We believe a more intentional approach to science ultimately benefits not just academia, but society as a whole.

Our Work
Our Work

Modernizing Academic Appointment and Advancement (MA3)

MA3 provides $1.5 million to U.S. colleges and universities to reimagine hiring, review, promotion, and tenure. Our inaugural cohort of six institutions is already building bold, creative strategies for a more collaborative, responsive academic reward system.

The image features a logo with the text "MA3 Challenge" and the tagline "Modernizing Academic Appointment & Advancement," set against a blue background with abstract orange and beige curves.
The image features a logo with the text "MA3 Challenge" and the tagline "Modernizing Academic Appointment & Advancement," set against a blue background with abstract orange and beige curves.

Fostering Innovation through Open Science (FIN)

FIN is a cross-sector initiative co-convened by ORCA, Microsoft, and CERN to harness open science, open source, and open data as engines of innovation, economic growth, and public benefit. Through collaborative pilots, shared learning, and systems-level partnerships, FIN works to turn the promise of openness into practical, scalable solutions that accelerate discovery and strengthen research ecosystems.

Fostering Innovation Network

Catalytic Awards Program (CAP)

Up to $15,000 in flexible funding for scholars and staff members at traditionally under-resourced U.S. institutions to catalyze cultural change toward open scholarship within their research communities.

Open Scholarship Catalytic Awards Program

abreLA

The Advancing Biomedical Research & Education in Latin America (abreLA) program trains students and faculty to integrate open science technologies into their university courses, utilizing open hardware and open source software tools to foster hands-on learning.

abreLA: Advancing Biomedical Research & Education in Latin America

By the Numbers

The Work So Far

The Work So Far

115,000+

Faculty, students, and staff at institutions reimagining research assessment through MA3

1,000+

Students and faculty engaged in open source, open data, and OER events and trainings through abreLA, spanning 6 Latin American countries

550+

Unique organizations across 40 countries participating in ORCA initiatives

200+

Collaborators across 34 traditionally under-resourced institutions participating in the Catalytic Awards Program

Our Collaborators

Meaningful change happens in pods. It takes coordination, trust, and collective action. We are honored to work with a diverse range of organizations to advance our vision.

A representative sample of our collaborators includes:

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Public Sector & Civil Society

Belmont Forum

CERN

Civic Science Fellows Network

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI)

NASA

Science Europe

UNESCO

U.S. National Science Foundation

World Bank

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Philanthropy

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

Dana Foundation

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

David and Lucile Packard Foundation

Navigation Fund

Rita Allen Foundation

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Schmidt Sciences

Templeton World Charity Foundation

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Academia & Research

American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Carnegie Mellon University

Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology (COGDOP)

Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET)

University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

Technology & Industry

Alliance for Data Science and AI (ADSA)

Hugging Face

Microsoft

Open Forum for AI (OFAI)

Contact us

What can we change together?

ORCA brings people together to tackle the big challenges that stand in the way of a more efficient and responsive research ecosystem. If you’re looking to reshape how research works, we’d love to hear from you.

Let's Connect
Let's Connect