Advancing Science With Open Access and Transformative Agreements

The scholarly publishing landscape has witnessed a profound shift towards open access (OA) publishing in recent years. Driven by a growing number of funders and institutions that cover OA publishing costs for their affiliated researchers, this shift is propelled by transformative agreements or deals that are reshaping the traditional subscription-based model into a more inclusive approach. These agreements represent a pivotal step towards making research more accessible to the global community. 

What Are Transformative Agreements?

Transformative agreements, often referred to as transformative deals, signify a deviation from the traditional subscription-based publishing model. These contracts between institutions and publishers entail a strategic shift where participating institutions combine journal subscription payments with article publication charges (APCs). This dual approach ensures that research outputs are freely accessible to the public, aligning with the mandates of funders and institutions advocating for open access.

Participating institutions in transformative agreements take a major step toward compliance with OA requirements. The key aspects of transformative agreements are:

1. Balance Subscription-based Publishing and OA APCs

2. Fulfilling Funder Mandates

3. Cost-Effective OA Publishing

4. Safeguarding Academic Freedom

5. Broadening Research Accessibility

However, these agreements do not always cover other publication charges, such as page or color charges. Therefore, authors should check if other publication charges are included with the journal prior to submission, and request a waiver if such charges apply.

Types of Deals

Transformative agreements come in two primary forms: read-and-publish and publish-and-read deals.

1. Read and Publish Deals

In a read and publish deal, institutions combine their existing journal subscription access with OA APCs. They pay a negotiated fee to a publisher that encompasses both traditional subscription access to journals and the publication of a specific number of OA articles. This model enables researchers affiliated with these institutions to publish their work openly, without incurring additional APCs, while retaining access to a range of journals.

2. Publish-and-Read Deals

In Publish-and-read deals, institutions agree to cover the APCs for their affiliated authors, allowing them to publish their articles openly. In return, they gain full access to the publisher's journal content, promoting transparency and accessibility.

Researchers must be aware of their entitlement to publish their research OA with their fees covered under transformative agreements. Institutions can support their authors via APCs within these agreements. Institutions must inform their researchers about the existence and details of transformative agreements and should define the eligibility criteria for benefitting authors. Additionally, they should provide comprehensive support and guidance to authors throughout the publishing process and must establish a streamlined payment process for APCs. Researchers should be informed about how to initiate and complete the payment process, thereby reducing administrative hurdles.

Institutions must regularly monitor compliance with the transformative agreements to ensure that eligible authors are taking advantage of the APC coverage. This may involve tracking publications, verifying author eligibility, and addressing any discrepancies or issues that arise. Furthermore, it also includes evaluating the cost-effectiveness of APC coverage, analyzing publication trends, and assessing the overall success of the agreements in meeting institutional and funder goals.

Benefits of Transformative Agreements

Transformative agreements in the realm of academic publishing offer a wide range of benefits to researchers, institutions, publishers, and the broader scientific community. These innovative agreements have gained prominence as a means of transitioning from traditional subscription-based models to more inclusive and open access publishing practices. Some benefits of transformative agreements are:

1. Promote OA Publishing

One of the primary benefits of transformative agreements is that they facilitate and encourage OA publishing. Researchers affiliated with participating institutions can publish their work openly without incurring additional article publication charges (APCs). This promotes the dissemination of knowledge to a global audience, fostering greater collaboration and innovation.

2. Provide Financial Support for Researchers

Transformative agreements typically alleviate the financial burden on individual researchers. By covering the APCs associated with OA publishing, these agreements make it easier for researchers to choose open access for their work, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder the dissemination of their findings. However, researchers must be aware of whether they are entitled to publish OA with their fees covered under transformative agreements. 

3. Ensure Compliance with Funders' OA Requirements

Many funding agencies promote the accessibility of research outputs. Transformative agreements enable institutions to meet these mandates effectively, ensuring that research funded by government agencies, private foundations, and other organizations is published in accordance with their OA policies.

4. Increase Accessibility

Under transformative agreements, the final published version of the record is made immediately available to the public. This aligns with the principles of gold OA, where research becomes freely accessible upon publication. This immediate accessibility enhances the visibility and impact of research, ensuring that research findings reach a global audience promptly. 

5. Increased Visibility and Impact

OA publications tend to have broader readership and higher citation rates. This increased visibility can boost the impact and recognition of researchers' work, benefiting both the individual authors and their institutions. Beyond financial support and immediate access, transformative agreements can offer other benefits to authors. These may include enhanced visibility for their research, increased citation potential, and a broader readership base.

6. Facilitate Global Access to Research

Transformative agreements enable research to reach a global audience without access barriers. This inclusivity ensures that knowledge is not limited by geographical or financial constraints, promoting the equitable distribution of research findings.

7. Provide a Sustainable Publishing Model

These agreements provide a sustainable path for institutions to support OA publishing while maintaining access to subscription journals. By negotiating collectively with publishers, institutions can often secure favorable terms or receive waivers, ensuring that OA publishing remains financially viable in the long term.

8. Promote Collaboration

Institutions that participate in transformative agreements often collaborate with other institutions, libraries, and consortia to negotiate collectively with publishers. This collaborative approach fosters knowledge sharing and strengthens the collective bargaining power of participating institutions.

In conclusion, transformative agreements represent a significant advancement in the world of academic publishing, offering numerous benefits that support the principles of OA, compliance with funders' requirements, and the broader dissemination of research. It bridges the gap between subscription-based models and the principles of open access. As institutions continue to embrace these agreements, they contribute to a more open, accessible, and collaborative scholarly ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. How can I determine if my institution has a transformative agreement in place?

You can use the IOPP Journal Finder tool to see if your institution is covered by a transformative agreement. You can also visit "Transformative and institutional open access agreements" and select the agreement you may be covered by. Also, check with your institution's library or research office. They can provide information on existing agreements and guide you on how to publish OA under these arrangements.

2. Are there any additional costs for me as an author under a transformative agreement?

Generally, no additional costs are to be incurred by the author under a transformative agreement as they are designed to cover the APCs, ensuring that you can publish your research openly without incurring extra expenses. However, authors are charged APCs if they choose to publish their research in a non-covered journal.

3. What are the benefits of publishing under a transformative agreement?

By publishing under a transformative agreement, your research becomes immediately accessible to a wider audience, enhancing its impact and visibility within the academic community.

4. How can I ensure compliance with my funder's open access requirements?

Transformative agreements often align with funder mandates for open access. However, it's essential to stay informed about your specific funder's policies and ensure that you are publishing in compliant journals.