Redefining Publishing:
PLOS, supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation & Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is launching an important new initiative
PLOS believes in a better future where science is open to all, for all. We are redefining publishing by demonstrating that new solutions are feasible and deliver tangible benefits for the entire research enterprise.
PLOS’s continued dedication to advancing Open Science, coupled with its groundbreaking innovation in publishing business models, reinforces its commitment to fostering research communication that is sustainable, accessible, and impactful for all. With support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, PLOS is embarking on a pioneering 18 month research and design project to address two significant barriers in Open Science:
1. Lack of recognition for contributions beyond the article—such as data, code, and methods.
2. Lack of affordability—current article processing charges (APCs) prevent many researchers from participating in Open Access.
Our project seeks to transform publishing models to ensure that science is open, recognized, and accessible to all, delivering meaningful change to the research community.
We will explore innovative solutions that go
Beyond the Article and Beyond the APC.
Why we must go Beyond the Article
Despite the digital revolution, the journal article remains the central measure of academic merit, often undervaluing key research outputs such as data, code, and methods. Researchers who embrace Open Science principles and share these resources receive little recognition, creating a gap in the current system. While journal articles remain a critical part of scientific communication, their status as the primary output of merit leads to a narrow evaluation of scientific contributions, stifling innovation, collaboration, and transparency.
Building on its leadership in open access publishing PLOS is committed to designing a new model of research publication that recognizes all forms of scholarly contribution to create a more inclusive and equitable system for assessing scientific work.
Why we must go Beyond the APC
Article processing charges (APC), introduced early in the Open Access movement to cover publishing costs, create financial barriers that restrict who can publish research—especially those in resource-limited settings, early career scientists and underfunded fields. They shift focus away from other critical elements of research, including data, methods, and software and by tying publication opportunities to financial resources, APCs reduce inclusivity and transparency, ultimately slowing scientific progress and collaboration.
PLOS will develop an equitable, non ‘APC’ business model designed to foster a more inclusive, transparent, and collaborative system, while upholding the core principles of the Open Science ecosystem.
Research and Design
This ambitious exploratory 18 month project will provide the building blocks to enable system-level change and redefine publishing. It consists of three concurrent streams:
Knowledge stack design
PLOS will develop a new, integrated solution that enhances the visibility and discoverability of non-article research outputs, including data, code, and methods. The goal is to ensure that these contributions are recognized alongside traditional articles without disrupting the current publishing workflow. We will work with repositories and indexing services to ensure that these outputs are hosted in the best possible venues, making them easily accessible and reusable.
Upon completion, we will have a fully tested, scalable solution design that can integrate with the existing digital infrastructure and publishing processes, helping researchers showcase their complete body of work.
Business models
PLOS will conduct a comprehensive economic analysis to explore how transitioning to a digital knowledge stack impacts funding flows across different global markets. Grounded in equity and price transparency, our goal is to develop a sustainable, non-APC business model for all research outputs in collaboration with funders, libraries, and scientific institutions.
This business model aims to be a catalyst for a global shift away from APCs, enabling greater participation in Open Science and paving the way toward long-term sustainability.
Building solutions with our communities
Driving meaningful change in Open Science requires collaboration across the research ecosystem. We are committed to working closely with a diverse array of stakeholders—researchers, funders, institutional leaders, and librarians—to ensure that their needs and voices are central to the development and implementation of this initiative.
By engaging directly with our communities, PLOS will ensure that the solutions we build are inclusive, effective, and widely adopted.
Get involved. PLOS is seeking partners and participants to shape
the future of Open Science.
If you’re interested in contributing to our User Panel Research or staying updated on our progress, we’d like to hear from you:
Find out more about our supporters
Support for this program was provided by the foundations above. The views here do not necessarily reflect the views of the foundations.