Abstract:
There is no longer any doubt today: much of the world of scientific publication is moving towards an immediate open access model, and Canada is taking part in this movement. Sooner or later, it will be expected that publications resulting from publicly-funded research will be made accessible to all, from the first day of publication, and if possible at no cost. Several models coexist to achieve these objectives: the diamond model, the gold model, the green model, etc. In the coming months and years, we will all have to become little alchemists, composing with our resources and our communities to build and support these more equitable publishing paths. But does anyone have the recipe? In this panel, we will discuss the changes and investments that will be essential to negotiate a complete transition of our scientific publishing system towards more open and equitable models. What does this mean in terms of public investment in publishing infrastructure? How far do we need to rethink research evaluation and funding practices? How can we reconcile the customs and realities of different scientific disciplines? We will be discussing these questions in the light of the strategies deployed by several research institutions around the world, as well as in the light of Canada’s linguistic specificities.

Summary of Conversations

The panel explored strategies for transitioning to open access scientific publishing, emphasizing the need for equitable models. Discussions highlighted Canada’s role, strengths in open infrastructure through projects like the Public Knowledge Project, and its robust non-commercial journal landscape. Key issues included incentive systems creating inequities, the dominance of commercial publishing models, and the complexities in navigating the evolving OA landscape. Speakers discussed the need to re-channel investments from subscriptions to infrastructure and new funding schemes and the potential of diamond open access, which requires a cultural shift in research assessment, policy changes and infrastructure investments, including data management, hosting, and alignment of principles to promote science as a public good. Examples were drawn from the US, Europe, and Latin America, including transformative agreements and the challenges in changing researcher mindsets.

Key Actions: Take Away Messages/Current Status of Challenges

• Culture Shift Impediment: The addiction to prestige associated with publishing in high-impact factor journals is a significant barrier to adopting open access models.
• Commercial Repositioning: The risk of commercial publishers adapting and undermining the principles of diamond open access by leveraging existing prestige or acquiring successful initiatives is a concern.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Fragmented infrastructure and a lack of coordinated strategy hinder the effective implementation of open access policies.
• Lack of Policy Enforcement: Absence of consequences for non-compliance with open access policies weakens their impact.
• Sustainability Concerns: Funding models for open access initiatives lack long-term predictability and stability.
• Researcher Empowerment: Researchers need to be empowered to retain rights and be recognized and assessed based on the content and impact of their work, rather than journal prestige.
• Engaging Leadership: A critical component to the overall equation is an acknowledgement of the importance of key academic stakeholders like university presidents and vice-presidents.
• Disciplinary Differences: The path to open access varies according to existing disciplinary research practices.

Recommendations/Next Steps

• Develop a Stronger Policy Framework: Implement overarching policies at the national level mandating open access to publicly funded research and provide clear guidance.
• Re-channel Investments Strategically: De-invest from expensive subscription models and reinvest in community-led, non-profit open access infrastructure and initiatives.
• Promote Alternative Assessment Metrics: Shift research assessment away from journal-based metrics and focus on content, impact, and community-based peer review processes.
• Increase Stakeholder Engagement: Foster collaboration among researchers, funders, libraries, publishers, and policymakers to align efforts and values.
• Craft Compelling Narratives: Tell the stories of the real-world impact of open science, emphasizing benefits to the public, climate action, and health research.
• Prioritize Data Collection and Metrics: Fund research to gather data on the effectiveness and impact of various open access models and inform future policy decisions.
• Legislate Intellectual Property: Examine copyright laws to empower researchers and enable greater control over the dissemination of their work.
• Treat Platforms as National Infrastructure: Provide sustained and predictable funding for open access publishing platforms, recognizing them as essential national research infrastructure.