Today, I learned about an important initiative: Call to Commitment: A Future-Proof Approach to Open Access Publishing in the Netherlands. It raises big questions about how we share research and who has control over it.
The Problem with Current Deals
Since 2015, Dutch universities have made deals with big publishers. These deals, called transformative agreements, let researchers publish Open Access (OA) without extra costs. They also give universities access to subscription journals.
At first, these deals seemed like progress. But they have big downsides. They keep publishers in control and focus on making money. Researchers lose control of their work. The costs are also very high. This system does not match the values of Open Science, which aims for fairness, openness, and equality.
A New Direction
The Call to Commitment asks universities to take a different path. Many of these agreements will end soon. This gives us a chance to create a better system. A system that focuses on community needs, not company profits.
The group behind this call wants universities to follow the Open Science principles from UNESCO. These principles focus on fairness, openness, and public benefit. They can help us build a publishing system that works for everyone.
What Can Change?
The Call to Commitment suggests new ways to share research:
- Institutional Repositories: Free platforms where researchers can share their work without paywalls.
- Diamond Open Access: Journals run by communities, free for authors and readers, supported by public funding.
- Preprint Servers: Sites where researchers can share their work before formal publication, encouraging faster sharing and feedback.
- Thematic Curation: Tools to help different audiences easily find and use research.
Instead of spending large amounts on current deals, universities could fund these alternatives. This would make research sharing fairer and give control back to the academic community.
Why It Matters
How we share research affects everyone. Current systems benefit big companies but limit who can take part. A new system could give all researchers and institutions equal opportunities. It would also make knowledge more available to the public.
This is our chance to make real change. Dutch universities have always been leaders in Open Access. By acting now, they can set an example for others around the world.
What Can You Do?
If you care about Open Science, you can support this initiative. Talk about it with your colleagues, or share it with your institution. Change takes action, and every voice helps.
Let’s build a future where research is open, fair, and for everyone.
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