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17 October 2023

cOAlition S is delighted to announce the successful completion of the tender process for selecting a contractor to facilitate the consultation with the research community regarding our “Towards Responsible Publishing” proposal. The tender has been awarded to Research Consulting Limited, a UK-based specialist consultancy firm focused on research and scholarly communication. Research Consulting will deliver the work in partnership with the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), an interdisciplinary research institute at Leiden University specialising in the study of scientific research and its intersections with technology, innovation, and society. 

To enable the research community to express their opinions on our proposal and thus play a role in shaping a strategy that serves their needs, Research Consulting and CWTS will implement various feedback channels, such as focus groups and surveys, ensuring an inclusive and participatory approach. Further details on this – along with the full proposal – will be published at the end of October.  

The outcomes of this consultation, and the consequent recommendations from the consulting team, expected in spring 2024, will help us refine our proposal to successfully deliver an open, scholar-led communication ecosystem that removes barriers to participation for the benefit of science and society. 

Bodo Stern, Chief of Strategic Initiatives at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Chair of the cOAlition S Steering Group overseeing this work, commented: “Our proposal to facilitate the transition to an open, scholar-led communication ecosystem will need broad support from the research community. We are delighted to be working with Research Consulting and CWTS to help understand how the proposal resonates with the research community, whilst giving them the opportunity to contribute to its development to ensure that it serves their needs and aspirations.” 

Rob Johnson, Managing Director of Research Consulting, stated: “We are delighted to embark on this journey with cOAlition S, working in partnership with CWTS. Our vision is to create a future where knowledge is valued and used to benefit society. Through this project, we aim to bring that vision one step closer to reality. We are confident that our team’s expertise and experience will enable us to engage deeply with the international scholarly community and look forward to the outcomes that will result from this work.”  

Ludo Waltman, Professor of Quantitative Science Studies and Deputy Director at the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) at Leiden University, noted: “We are looking forward to collaborating with Research Consulting on this important project for cOAlition S. Our aim is to ensure that the ‘Towards Responsible Publishing’ proposal not only enhances open scholarly communication but also reflects the diverse needs and perspectives of researchers around the world.”