Next Generation Open Access: Confronting Volume Growth and Redefining Sustainability

The transition to open access has delivered remarkable progress over the past decade, yet the current trajectory of article and journal volume growth threatens to undermine its sustainability. Between 2018 and 2023, global article output rose by 35%, straining institutional budgets and intensifying the burden on peer review systems. This presentation will explore the tensions between volume-driven publishing and research integrity. It will introduce Next Generation Open Access, a strategic initiative developed for and with UK institutions to address these challenges. It aims to reshape publisher business models through two core goals: supporting institutions through the financial crisis and enabling more inclusive, sustainable participation in research. Through sector-wide requirements and simultaneous negotiations with the five largest publishers the sector is pushing for commitments to non-article-based business models, cost control, and open research practices. We will share insights into how Jisc are working with publishers on research integrity and open research practices.

Panel Session