ALPSP in partnership with Wellcome and UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) is seeking to engage the services of a consultant to explore a range of potential strategies and business models through which learned societies could adopt and thrive under Plan S.

Overview

Plan S developed by the European Commission in partnership with Science Europe, seeks to move to a world where all research findings are made Open Access (OA). The funder signatories to Plan S will no longer fund Article Processing Charges for hybrid OA journals. The only way a researcher can publish in such a journal would be if the journal allowed them to deposit their accepted manuscripts in a suitable repository at the time of publication, without embargo, under a CCBY licence. As the number of researchers covered by Plan S-compliant funding increases, it will, in time, put pressure on the business models of many learned societies, which rely on hybrid journal publishing not only to cover their own costs, but to generate revenue for other activities they undertake, such as hosting meetings/conferences and awarding fellowships and other grants.

ALPSP, Wellcome & UKRI recognise the value learned societies play in supporting researchers and contributing to a vibrant research ecosystem. As such, we are engaging the services of a consultant to explore a range of potential strategies and business models through which learned societies could adapt and thrive under Plan S. A small Steering Group comprising representatives from ALPSP, Wellcome, UKRI and representatives from learned socities will oversee the project. 

Further Details

Full details may be found on the Wellcome website here.

The closing date for responses to the brief is Monday 14 January 2019 0900.

Categories: open access, research