(21 Jan 2025) A transformative step towards equitable scholarly publishing was taken with the launch of the European Diamond Capacity Hub (EDCH) in Madrid. This pioneering initiative aims to advance Diamond Open Access (OA) publishing across Europe, fostering inclusivity and collaboration in academic publishing. The launch event was hosted at the Museo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (MUNCYT) by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT). OPERAS, a leading research infrastructure for open scholarly communication in the social sciences and humanities, will serve as the fiscal host of the EDCH.
Diamond OA represents an equitable publishing model that eliminates fees for both authors and readers while maintaining ownership and control within scholarly communities. With the EDCH, six essential services will now be available to publishing service providers and technology developers to support and enhance Diamond OA:
- Registry & Forum: Virtual spaces for networking and collaboration among the Diamond OA community.
- DOAS and Self-Assessment Tools: Instruments ensuring quality assurance in Diamond OA publishing.
- Diamond Discovery Hub (DDH): A curated directory of Diamond OA journals in Europe, increasing their visibility.
- Resources & Guidelines: Tools to assist publishers transitioning to Diamond OA.
- Training Platform: Capacity-building and skill-enhancement for publishing service and technology providers.
- Publishing Tools: Technical advancements to streamline publishing workflows and platforms.
The launch of the EDCH is a critical step in shaping the future of academic publishing in Europe. By fostering capacity building, enhancing collaboration, and promoting the Diamond OA model, the EDCH is set to revolutionize how scholarly knowledge is shared, ensuring that it remains open, equitable, and accessible to all.
The press release is here.
