Blog about Open Science
The Context
Open science is often framed as an academic ideal and associated with publicly funded research, open access publishing, or institutional reform, while industry is mostly perceived as operating in tension with openness, constrained by commercial interests, intellectual property, and competitive advantage.
This case study explores how Zeeks embeds the principles of open science into its business model, culture, and services, drawing on the career trajectory of its founder and director, Dr Elisabeth Kugler. It demonstrates that industry and open science are not mutually exclusive and that, when approached with integrity and intention, entrepreneurship can actively strengthen openness, collaboration, and public engagement in science.
In this article for “Dr Heidi Seibold” (now Digital Research Academy), we aimed to discuss Zeeks' perspective on open science and emphasise that industry does not necessarily exclude open science. Our director, Dr Elisabeth Kugler, founded Zeeks in 2022 after an international education and a successful academic career.
Founder’s Journey: From Academia to Entrepreneurship
Dr Elisabeth Kugler founded Zeeks in 2022 following an international academic career in biomedical research and image analysis. Trained across multiple European research environments, Elisabeth built a strong publication record, developed open research tools, and contributed to collaborative, interdisciplinary science for over a decade.
Her academic work was deeply embedded in open science practices: sharing methods, developing reusable tools, publishing in open (or hybrid) journals, and communicating research beyond narrow disciplinary boundaries (e.g. YouTube, Twitter, Pint of Science, etc). Alongside her research, Elisabeth became increasingly involved in scientific communication through teaching, public engagement, and science art.
When founding Zeeks, bringing open and collaborative science practices into it was a natural process. For Dr Kugler, entrepreneurship offered a way to professionalise scientific communication, support researchers and innovators more directly, and build bridges between science, creativity, and society; in a unique way – the Zeeks way.
Zeeks’ Perspective on Open Science
At Zeeks, open science is a culture of practice grounded in collaboration, transparency, accessibility, and respect for diverse forms of expertise, expertise, and insights.
A central belief underpinning Zeeks’ work is that how science is communicated matters as much as what is communicated. Very often, “open science” is still poorly communicated science (.. complex jargon, inaccessible visuals, or exclusionary narratives), excluding audiences to the point that it is sometimes completely dysfunctional and actually makes people shy away.
Zeeks addresses this gap by providing high-quality scientific copywriting, illustration, and podcasting services that translate complex research into clear, accurate, and engaging narratives, without diluting scientific integrity. In doing so, the company actively supports the goals of open science: enabling understanding, reuse, dialogue, and trust.
Collaboration as Core Infrastructure
One of the most significant insights from Zeeks’ journey is that collaboration is the backbone of open science. While platforms and policies are important, progress ultimately depends on people and relationships.
At Zeeks, the most valuable assets are not the tools or systems, but the network of people the company works with: clients, collaborators, creatives, researchers, funders, and community members – which we like to refer to as the Zeeks tribe. By working at an interface of academia, industry, policy, and the creative sector, traditional boundaries can flow, and new ways can be explored.
Since forming Zeeks, Elisabeth has observed that connecting scientists, artists, and the wider public is one of the most powerful ways to advance science. Artists bring visual and narrative thinking that reshapes how problems are framed. Scientists bring rigour, evidence, and domain expertise. The public brings context, lived experience, and critical questioning.
Open science thrives at the intersection of perspectives.
Industry as an Enabler, Not a Barrier
Operating as a company has allowed Zeeks to engage with open science in ways that are often difficult within academic structures alone. As an industry partner, Zeeks can:
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Work across institutions and sectors without being confined to a single discipline, location, or funding silo
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Invest sustained time and expertise into communication, rather than treating it as a one-off funded project
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Support researchers, startups, and consortia in meeting open science and impact requirements in a meaningful way
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Act as a intermediary between science and society
Importantly, Zeeks demonstrates that commercial sustainability does not require abandoning openness. Instead, the company’s science communication business model is built on service, trust, and long-term relationships, not on locking knowledge away. Ethical innovation, respect for contributors, and clarity about authorship are integral to Zeeks' operations (.. we LOVE to collaborate!).
Outcomes and Impact of Science Communication
Through its services and collaborations, Zeeks has supported:
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Researchers in making their work more accessible to funders, stakeholders, and the public
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Interdisciplinary projects that require shared language and visual coherence
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Podcasts and written content that open up conversations about science, careers, and research culture
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Organisations seeking to align innovation with transparency and societal responsibility
Looking to activate your brand?
If you are a biotech, life science, or pharma company preparing for growth, partnerships, or visibility, Zeeks can help you build a brand that is credible, coherent, and ready to scale.
Your science is amazing. Your brand should be too!
Book a FREE consultation
Book your FREE consultation today. During the call, we will get to know you, your business, and your science communication needs.
Or email us at info@zeeks-artforgeeks.com.