Forging the Future of Open Access through Global Reach and Collaboration
Open access publishing has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of global academic research. More and more researchers are choosing open access (OA) as their preferred way to publish, and the trend continues to gain momentum, surpassing traditional paywalled or closed-access models. Today, leading universities and funders worldwide recognize open access as the gold standard for research dissemination. The landscape has evolved to include diverse, community-driven publishing models, transparent cost structures, and a focus on inclusivity and interdisciplinarity.
As we go into International Open Access Week (21–27 October 2024), we will be emphasizing the importance and the benefits of accessible research for driving innovation and collaboration among research communities.
Visit our blog for background information on open access and open science.
Tools and Resources for Open Research
At MDPI, we support diverse approaches to research, believing that our mission is to equip scientific communities with the tools they need, while ensuring they have the final say in how science is conducted and in how it evolves to remain future-proof. Emerging initiatives like Diamond OA help remove the financial burden for authors, but tackling today’s global information needs requires diverse strategies and inclusive efforts across the scholarly community.
We offer a variety of resources to help scientists connect and collaborate, including access to our advanced submission system, an extensive reviewer database, standardized quality checks and AI-enhanced peer review processes, support for scientific conferences, and our preprint platform, Preprints.org.
Preprints and Open Science
For many, the importance of preprints lies in their ability to be circulated rapidly, enabling authors to receive feedback quickly and gain early recognition for their work. Preprints also provide a platform for sharing intermediate steps in research, allowing readers to see how the research evolves in a transparent and traceable way. Opening preliminary findings to the scientific community enables others to build upon the work, fostering a collaborative environment. In contrast, only fully developed research should be submitted to peer-reviewed journals, where the rigor of review ensures its validity and scientific contribution.
Diamond OA: A Pathway to Community-Driven Publishing
Diamond open access is emerging as a key model for fostering community-driven academic publishing, aligning with this year's International Open Access Week.
A prime example of this shift is the recent strategic partnership between the Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU) and MDPI. This collaboration leverages MDPI's extensive experience in managing open access journals, supporting the SIU's goal of enhancing the accessibility and inclusivity of scholarly communication. "This move towards community-driven publishing reflects our commitment to advancing accessible and inclusive scholarly communication," wrote Dr. Peter C. Black, Editor-in-Chief of the SIUJ journal, in a January 2024 editorial.
MDPI partners with over 180 societies in a variety of ways to support scholarly communities and expand the reach of open access.
MDPI Singapore is holding its inaugural celebration of International Open Access Week on 24 October 2024 at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. With the international theme of "Community over Commercialization," the event will gather scholars, researchers, and academic leaders to address key issues in open scholarship, including the effects of commercialization on knowledge access, alternative publishing models, and the role of open access in promoting collaboration and innovation. Visit the event page to join us for expert presentations and engaging discussions on the future of open access and its crucial role in benefiting both the academic community and the public.
Transparency and Integrity
Research integrity enables Open Access to thrive. It promotes honesty, fairness, and the highest research standards. Open Access in turn strengthens research integrity by generating transparency and encouraging accountability. Because of its importance, MDPI has a dedicated Research Integrity Team. Learn more in our article "Research Integrity Promotes Open Access Practices".
Benefits of OA and Open Research
Faster Scientific Progress
Open access allows everyone to engage with research findings right away. The rapid sharing speeds up discoveries in science and technology, as researchers can quickly build on each other's work without delay.
Community-Driven Innovation
Open access allows research communities to manage their own journals and platforms. Community-driven models give researchers and their institutions more control over how their latest findings are shared, building shared infrastructure that promotes teamwork and continuous knowledge sharing.
More Visible Research
Open access ensures your research reaches the widest possible audience, including scholars, practitioners, and the public. This increased visibility leads to greater recognition, new collaborations, and real-world impact.
Bridging Gaps and Uniting Disciplines
Open access breaks down barriers, financial and geographical, enabling researchers, students, and institutions from different backgrounds to access and share knowledge, sparking new ideas across disciplines.
Keeping the Momentum for a Fully Open Future
The open access movement has made significant progress, but the journey is far from complete. In recent years, articles with open access (OA) licenses have accounted for approximately 50% of all research and review articles published (see graph below).While some regions and disciplines have well surpassed the 50% mark, the global adoption of OA has progressed at a slower pace. Currently, about one-third of articles remain behind closed access, not including Green OA articles, which often come with embargo periods and copyright restrictions.
Over the past four years, including 2024 to date, MDPI's share of OA publications has accounted for between 10% and 15% of all articles published in Gold and Hybrid OA journals. With over one million peer-reviewed articles published during this period, we have played a key role in helping funders and institutions worldwide achieve their OA targets.
Uncertainty remains about the long-term sustainability and structure of publishing models deemed "transformative" once these agreements expire, making it all the more crucial to continue exploring a diversity of models moving forward. There is an opportunity to strengthen the infrastructure for open access and enhance the global learning process surrounding these models.
With the OSTP’s 2022 directive for immediate access to publicly funded research by 2026, MDPI is prepared to support the shift towards open access, which is already reshaping library budgets and scholarly communication processes.
