A transformative approach to sharing knowledge that is revolutionizing how research circulates across our planet.
Imagine a world where groundbreaking research is immediately available to doctors in Nairobi, educators in rural schools, and independent researchers everywhere without financial barriers.
This isn't a distant utopian vision—it's the reality being built today through open access consortia, a transformative approach to sharing knowledge that is quietly revolutionizing how research circulates across our planet.
Ensuring vital research on climate change, public health, and innovation reaches communities that need it most.
Universities, research institutions, libraries, and funders pooling resources for sustainable knowledge sharing.
Open access consortia function as collective bargaining units for knowledge. Instead of each institution negotiating individually with publishers, they join forces to secure better terms for open access publishing.
Consolidate subscription reading access and open access publishing into a single contract. The Dutch UKB consortium manages 16 such agreements covering over 11,000 journals 5 .
Institutions collectively support publishing infrastructure so neither readers nor authors pay fees. MIT Press's Direct to Open program is a prominent example 3 .
Continued subscription payments from libraries enable open access to all readers, creating a shared responsibility model used by societies like the American Society for Microbiology .
Increase in open access uptake
The UKB consortium increased their average open access uptake from approximately 80% to around 95% across their agreements through workflow interventions 5 .
In 2021, the MIT Press launched Direct to Open (D2O), an innovative approach to open access monographs. Rather than relying on individual book processing charges, the program pools library contributions to support open access publishing across the Press's entire monograph portfolio 3 .
The model works through a participation framework where libraries and consortia support the program through annual contributions. In return, participating institutions receive exclusive access to a backlist collection while enabling all new titles to be published open access.
Backlist titles available to participating institutions
Program has entered its fourth funding cycle for 2025
The MIT Press recently released its first impact report, providing compelling evidence of the program's success. The data reveals that open access books reach significantly larger audiences and have greater academic impact than their paywalled counterparts 3 .
more use than paywalled counterparts
more citations
more use than paywalled counterparts
more citations
"For the Indian market, MIT Press books are prohibitively expensive... Several people I met during my talks and at other events in India said they were able to access the book because it was open access."
Launch of Direct to Open program with inaugural cohort of open access titles
Growing consortium supporting the entire monograph portfolio with global readership across 6 continents
SCOAP3 partnership has made entire scientific disciplines open access, supporting thousands of physics articles without individual APCs 7 .
Jisc consortium has established multiple read and publish agreements, including with The Company of Biologists and MDPI 8 4 .
2022 OSTP "Nelson Memo" requires federal agencies to update public access policies, sparking conversations about equitable implementation .
| Term | Definition | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Article Processing Charge (APC) | Fee paid to publish an article open access | Traditional funding mechanism; can create equity concerns |
| Transformative Agreements | Contracts that transition subscription funds to open access publishing | Bridge strategy from subscription to open access models 5 |
| Diamond Open Access | Model where no fees are charged to readers or authors | Eliminates financial barriers for both authors and readers 3 |
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Updated 2025 policy requires immediate open access 6American Society for Microbiology
Uses Subscribe to Open approachOpen access consortia represent more than just a new business model for academic publishing—they embody a fundamental shift in how we view knowledge itself.
By treating research as a common good rather than a commercial commodity, these collaborations are building infrastructure for a more inclusive and efficient system of knowledge sharing. The success of initiatives like MIT's Direct to Open program demonstrates that viable alternatives to the traditional publishing model are not only possible but already working.
More usage for open access humanities books
Open access uptake achieved through consortium interventions
Titles in MIT Press backlist available through D2O
The journey from 50% to 100% open access will be more challenging than the first half of this transition, requiring continued innovation, global collaboration, and commitment to equity 9 . Yet the evidence is clear: when knowledge is freely shared, it reaches broader audiences, generates more citations, and ultimately accelerates human progress.