Ramon, MeikeMeikeRamonLenggenhager, BignaBignaLenggenhagerRoel Lesur, MarteMarteRoel LesurSuay, DilaDilaSuayBaines, LindaLindaBainesHaste, AmandaAmandaHaste2026-06-032026-06-032026-05-19https://doi.org/10.24451/arbor.1377210.1016/j.tins.2026.04.010https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/47633Science is a public good, yet the spaces where it is produced remain structurally constrained. Independent researchers, citizen scientists, and practitioners often lack access to institutional conditions needed for scientific work that is sustainable and publicly perceived as credible. We argue for third spaces-autonomous, collaborativ e ecosystems-as essential complements to academia and industry, promoting a distributed, transdisciplinary, and democratic knowledge ecology.enarticle