Call to Commitment: Future-proof OA Publishing

In March 2024, during the Open Science Retreat in Schoorl, NL, participants came together to discuss a new ‘Narrative for sustainable Open Access’. This resulted in the following Call to Commitment, which can be endorsed by those interested in the future of Open Access in the Netherlands. If you want to add your name as well, please fill in the form below.

Call to Commitment: A future-proof approach to Open Access Publishing in the Netherlands

There is a growing awareness of the ways in which transformative1 agreements between the Dutch Universities and academic publishing companies fail to increase the sovereignty of researchers at Dutch Universities2 and equitable access to scientific research outputs3. The current Dutch strategy, focused on Open Access (OA) that is for-profit APC4-driven, has been unable to pursue community-driven publishing strategies. Therefore, we call for an alternative publishing strategy based on community values and Open Science (OS) principles.

In early 2022, the UKB consortium5 renewed a number of ‘read and publish’ contracts with key publishers that were initially established in 2015. In the coming period, a lot of these contracts are to be renegotiated and renewed6. 

We, the undersigned, urge our respective institutions and national stakeholders, when negotiating the renewal of these contracts, to uphold the community values and OS principles to which they have previously committed themselves7, 8. Preferably, these values and principles are the premise of guidelines for OA negotiations, as is becoming more prevalent in Europe and beyond9. 

Only when we put these values and principles at the forefront, can we foster a system of knowledge creation, dissemination and (re)use that is inclusive, equitable and transparent, thereby strengthening our international reputation, financial sustainability, and institutional sovereignty.

The Open Science Values and Principles, Unesco Recommendation on Open Science, 2021
The Open Science Values and Principles (UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, 2021)

For us, this entails moving away from a mere focus on for-profit and non-inclusive models, towards a landscape that fully includes institute- and community-driven OA. 

To provide these alternatives with a fair chance to demonstrate their potential, it is crucial to redirect a significant portion of the investments—currently allocated to transformative agreements—toward open source institutional repositories, diamond platforms, preprint servers, innovations in community peer reviewing, and thematic curation that allows relevant audiences to easily access our research outputs.

Investing in these solutions will bring the Dutch research environment towards a future driven by the values that we uphold.

Signatories

  1. Anna van ‘t Veer, Leiden University & OSC-NL
  2. Maura Cassidy Burke, Utrecht University
  3. Loek Brinkman, Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS)
  4. Rashmi Shetty, Utrecht University
  5. Ewa Miedzobrodzka, Utrecht University
  6. Alexandra Sarafoglou, University of Amsterdam
  7. Rianne Fijten, Maastricht University
  8. Anne van den Maagdenberg, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  9. Johan Rooryck, cOAlition S, Glossa, Leiden University
  10. João Guimarães, Delft University of Technology
  11. Raul Inzaurralde, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
  12. Daniel Lakens, Eindhoven University of Technology
  13. André Brasil, CTWS, Leiden University
  14. Frank Miedema, Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht
  15. Katie Corker, ASAPbio
  16. Vera Sarkol, CWI
  17. Jean-Sébastien Caux, University of Amsterdam, SciPost
  18. Tanya Yankelevich, Delft University of Technology
  19. Anonymous, Amsterdam UMC
  20. Eiko Fried, Leiden University
  21. Nicole Emmenegger, Thematic Digital Competence Centre Social Sciences and Humanities
  22. Serge P.J.M. Horbach, Radboud University
  23. Frédérique Belliard, Delft University of Technology Library
  24. Anonymous
  25. Niels Stern, OAPEN Foundation
  26. Daniela Gawehns, UMC Groningen
  27. Florian Schuberth, University of Twente
  28. Mar Barrantes-Cepas, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  29. Thomas Pronk, Amsterdam UMC
  30. Michèle Nuijten, Tilburg University
  31. Melanie Imming, Imming Impact
  32. Antonio Schettino, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  33. Maria E. Constantin, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  34. Marcel Haas, Leiden University Medical Center
  35. Noah van Dongen, University of Amsterdam
  36. Raul Zurita-Milla, University of Twente
  37. Sarahanne M. Field, University of Groningen
  38. Julia Cramer, Leiden University, Young Academy Leiden
  39. Lucas C. Breedt, Amsterdam UMC
  40. Eva van Heese, Amsterdam UMC
  41. Louise Bezuidenhout, Leiden University
  42. Eva Koderman, Amsterdam UMC
  43. Tanya van Goch, SURF
  44. Niels Reijner, Amsterdam UMC
  45. Eduarda Centeno, Amsterdam UMC
  46. Anonymous
  47. Taichi Ochi, University of Groningen, Open Science Community Groningen
  48. Margaret Gold, Leiden University
  49. Susanne van Rijn, UKB, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  50. Barend Mons, Leiden University
  51. Tessa de Roo, Leiden University Libraries and LUMC
  52. Sanne Willems, Leiden University
  53. Don van Ravenzwaaij, University of Groningen
  54. Femmy Admiraal, Leiden University Libraries
  55. Anne Scheel, Utrecht University
  56. Katharina Krüsselmann, Leiden University
  57. Chris Hartgerink, Liberate Science GmbH
  58. Flavio Azevedo, Framework for Open and Reproducible Research Training (FORRT)
  59. Richard Grimes, Delft University of Technology
  60. Anonymous, Utrecht University
  61. Ron Hol, KB ❭ National Library of the Netherlands
  62. Louise Otting, Delft University of Technology
  63. Dietsje Jolles, Leiden University
  64. Egon Willighagen, Maastricht University
  65. Anonymous, University of Amsterdam
  66. Esther Plomp, Delft University of Technology
  67. Anonymous, Leiden University Libraries
  68. Marijn van ‘t Veer, University of Amsterdam
  69. Laurens Witter, UMC Utrecht
  70. Anonymous, University of Amsterdam
  71. Ana Parrón Cabañero, CWTS, Leiden University
  72. Naomi Truan, Leiden University
  73. Mishko Bozhinoski, University of Ghent
  74. Anonymous, Delft University of Technology
  75. Bjørn Peare Bartholdy, Leiden University, Delft University of Technology
  76. Anne Urai, Leiden University
  77. Deepak Tunuguntla, Saxion University of Applied Science
  78. Z. Sjoerds, Leiden University
  79. Ileana Grama, University of Amsterdam
  80. L. Breemer, Leiden University
  81. Martijn Kingma, Universiteit van Amsterdam & Fryske Akademy
  82. Rene Bekkers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  83. Ronald Snijder, OAPEN Foundation
  84. Sarah de Rijcke, Leiden University
  85. Anonymous, University of Amsterdam
  86. Caspar van Lissa, Open Science Community Tilburg
  87. Philippa Johnson, Leiden University
  88. Theo de Nooij, KB ❭ National Library of the Netherlands
  89. Charlotte Rönnau, Leiden University
  90. Juan Claramunt, Leiden University
  91. Willem Scholten, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  92. Rüya G. Koçer, Leiden University
  93. Anne Marie Meijer, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
  94. Julian Karch, Leiden University
  95. Anonymous, Leiden University
  96. Benjamin Storme, Leiden University
  97. Niklas Hohmann, Utrecht University
  98. Cristina Del Real, Leiden University
  99. Bogdana Huma, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  100. Eva Michaels, Leiden University
  101. James Louis Smith, Leiden University
  102. Olaf Janssen, KB ❭ national library of the Netherlands
  103. Marieke Liem, Leiden University
  104. Anonymous
  105. Sarah Carthy, Leiden University
  106. Bastián González-Bustamante, Leiden University
  107. Anonymous, Utrecht University
  108. David Kühling-Romero, Leiden University
  109. Sara Perlstein, Leiden University
  110. Natalia Rivera-Vera, Utrecht University/University of Amsterdam
  111. Xinyan Fan, Delft University of Technology
  112. Djoerd Hiemstra, Radboud University
  113. Willemijn Plomp, Leiden University
  114. Dennie Hebels, Maastricht University
  115. Carlo Schuengel, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  116. Hanneke Hulst, Leiden University
  117. Dmitry Kochetkov, Leiden University
  118. Bryan Lougheed, Uppsala University
  119. Peter Bos, Leiden University
  120. Marijke ten Brinke, NIOO-KNAW
  121. Aad Blok, International Institute of Social History
  122. Femke Reidsma, Leiden University
  123. Nami Sunami, Eindhoven University of Technology
  124. Anonymous
  125. Alice Fleerackers, University of Amsterdam
  126. Brittany N. Ikner, Wayne State University
  127. Anonymous
  128. Anonymous, Erasmus MC
  129. Johannes Lehmann, UMC Utrecht
  130. Jaap-Henk Hoepman, Radboud University
  131. Moritz Negwer, Radboudumc Nijmegen
  132. Dorien Huijser, Utrecht University
  133. Alex Rushforth, Leiden University
  134. Jeroen Bosman, Utrecht University Library
  135. Rebecca Hewett, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  136. Armel Lefebvre, Leiden University
  137. Ronald Visser, Saxion University of Applied Sciences
  138. Anonymous
  139. Anikó Lovik, Leiden University
  140. Birke Benedikter, Maastricht University
  141. Andres Ramos, RIVM
  142. Yu Fang Yang, Freie Universität Berlin
  143. Marlon Domingus, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  144. Lotte van Dillen, Leiden University
  145. Monika Barget, Maastricht University
  146. Maximiliano Cenci, Radboudumc
  147. Roman Briker, Maastricht University
  148. Mutaleni Nadimi, Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision
  149. Anonymous, KB ❭ National Library of the Netherlands
  150. Maša Galič, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  151. Sanne Steens, Maastricht University
  152. Barbara Vermaas, Fontys University of Applied Sciences
  153. Anonymous
  154. Isabel Beirigo, Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision
  155. Jacqueline Zadelaar, Leiden University
  156. Anita Eerland, Radboud University
  157. Oscar Koeroo, independent
  158. Tom Barbereau, TNO
  159. Johan van der Knijff, KB ❭ national library of the Netherlands
  160. J. Hadaschik, Maastricht University
  161. Anonymous
  162. Mathieu Paapst, University of Groningen
  163. Scott Jacques, CrimRxiv Consortium
  164. Monique Grenier, University of Victoria
  165. Davide Nardi, Eindhoven University of Technology
  166. Anonymous
  167. Ad Notten, Maastricht University
  168. Michel de Gruijter, KB ❭ National Library of the Netherlands
  169. Dirk van Gorp, Radboud University
  170. Julia Menon, Utrecht University
  171. Anonymous
  172. Richard de Waard, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  173. H. Vriend, independent
  174. Bonne van Dijk, independent
  175. Liz Guzman Ramirez,  Eindhoven University of Technology
  176. Anonymous
  177. Sam Nooij, Leiden University Medical Center
  178. Eduard de Jong, semi-retired
  179. Angela Aleksovska, Eindhoven University of Technology
  180. Anonymous, KB ❭ national library of the Netherlands
  181. Katie Hudson, Leiden University
  182. Lucia Forrova, Eindhoven University of Technology
  183. Steven Verheyen, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  184. Silvie van Dam, Eindhoven University of Technology
  185. Sarah Coombs, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, DCC-PO
  186. Gerben ter Riet, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam UMC
  187. Anonymous
  188. Christine Hedde-von Westernhagen, Eindhoven University of Technology
  189. Wolfgang Kaltenbrunner, Leiden University
  190. Jochem Zuijderwijk, Radboud University Nijmegen
  191. Jan Melissen, Leiden University, University of Antwerp
  192. Ingrid van Gorkum, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
  193. Barbara Malheiros, Eindhoven University of Technology
  194. Luca Cerina, Eindhoven University of Technology
  195. Bert N. Bakker, University of Amsterdam
  196. Mira Stanic, TDCC-NES
  197. Anonymous, Eindhoven University of Technology
  198. Pepe Vera Campello, corporate user
  199. Christopher Steven Marcum, independent
  200. Jörg Henseler, University of Twente
  201. Xi Yu, University of Twente
  202. Anonymous
  203. Michel Saive, Maastricht University
  204. Dan Rudmann, Utrecht University
  205. Eveline van Zeeland, University of Twente
  206. Maaike Verburg, Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS)
  207. Leo de Lange
  208. Harm Veling, Wageningen University and Research
  209. Mercedes Almela Zamorano, Tilburg University
  210. Leander van der Meij, Eindhoven University of Technology
  211. Beatriz Barrocas Ferreira, Tilburg University
  212. Marian Beekman, Leiden UMC
  213. Marjolein Nieboer, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
  214. Anonymous
  215. Armagan Karahanoglu, University of Twente
  216. René van Horik, Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS)
  217. Anonymous, University of Amsterdam
  218. Wouter Grouve, University of Twente
  219. Sible Andringa, University of Amsterdam
  220. Rachel Plak, Leiden University
  221. Lars Eijssen, Maastricht University
  222. Peter Reniers, Open Universiteit
  223. Ben Excell, Wageningen University & Research
  224. Arent Kievits, Delft University of Technology
  225. Frank Ostermann, University of Twente
  226. Salomé Sanchez, University of Twente
  227. Björn Brembs, Universität Regensburg, Germany
  228. Stuart Cooper – ScienceOpen GmbH
  229. Anonymous, Thematic Digital Competence Centre Social Sciences and Humanities
  230. Leen Liefsoens, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences
  231. Ruud Steltenpool, Saxion UAS, OSC-Twente, DCC-PO
  232. Paola Galimberti, University of Milan
  233. Anonymous
  234. Eliana Vassena, Radboud University
  235. Neda Norouzi, Eindhoven University of Technology
  236. John Mills, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  237. Asier Moneva, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement
  238. Simon Belgers, Eindhoven University of Technology
  239. Anonymous
  240. Julian Lopez Gordillo, Naturalis Biodiversity Center
  241. Stijn Ruiter, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement
  242. Beate Volker, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement
  243. Susaiyah, Eindhoven University of Technology
  244. Danielle Stibbe, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement
  245. Janina Schaumann, University of Twente
  246. Afreen Khalid, Radboud University
  247. Giulia Trentacosti, University of Groningen
  248. Simon Bothof, Vrije Universiteit Brussels
  249. Marta Kargól, The Hague University of Applied Sciences
  250. Antoinette Beumer, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences
  251. Andrea Tarchi, Erasmus University Rotterdam

(Images can be used without mention to promote the Call to Commitment Petition)

  1. Transformative agreements are those contracts negotiated between institutions and publishers that aimed to transform the business model underlying scholarly journal publishing ↩︎
  2. Safeguarding Dutch Universities Against Big Tech Dominance: Risks and Mitigations https://communities.surf.nl/files/Artikel/download/Safeguarding_Dutch_Universities_Against_Big_Tech_Dominance_0.pdf ↩︎
  3. See eg. cOAlitionS Towards Responsible publishing https://www.coalition-s.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Towards_Responsible_Publishing_web.pdf and UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science https://doi.org/10.54677/MNMH8546 ↩︎
  4. APC stands for Article Processing Charge. Also known as a publication fee, it is a fee charged to authors to publish their articles open access. Some journals charge APCs that only cover the real costs of publishing. However, most of the publishers in the current transformative deals charge higher APCs, that also cover (large) profit margins. Therefore, APCs can range from 300 euros to over 10.000 euros for some prestige journals. ↩︎
  5. The UKB Consortium is a partnership of the Dutch University Libraries and the National Library of the Netherlands (KB) ↩︎
  6. List of Publishers Deals in NL https://www.openaccess.nl/en/in-the-netherlands/publisher-deals ↩︎
  7. See the National Covenant Open Science NL https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/regieorgaan-open-science-officially-launched-open-science-nl and the NPOS Ambition Document https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7433767 ↩︎
  8. UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science https://doi.org/10.54677/MNMH8546 ↩︎
  9. Like for instance the Swiss Universities https://www.swissuniversities.ch/fileadmin/swissuniversities/Dokumente/Hochschulpolitik/Open_Science/PgB_OpenScience_-_Implementation_Phase_A_2021-2024_v6.4.pdf ,Sweden https://suhf.se/app/uploads/2023/10/Charting-Swedens-path-beyond-transformative-agreements-%E2%80%93-analysis-and-proposals-for-strategic-direction-October-2023.pdf and MIT https://libraries.mit.edu/scholarly/publishing/framework/ ↩︎
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