Broadening global participation through open access agreements

T
The Link
By: Saskia Hoving, Tue Nov 4 2025
Saskia Hoving

Author: Saskia Hoving

Editor-in-Chief

Across the global research landscape, institutions are expanding how they share knowledge, support researchers, and contribute to a more inclusive scholarly environment. This blog takes a closer look at how transformative agreements (TAs), a type of open access (OA) agreement developed through collaborations between libraries, publishers and research communities, are being put into practice. Through real-world examples, it explores how TAs are helping to increase visibility, promote fair access, align with policy, and provide researchers with the clarity and support they need to publish openly.

OA is gaining momentum globally, with libraries playing a central role in this transformation. In just a few years, the share of OA content has grown from 16% to over 50% of global published output, an impressive shift driven by new agreements, evolving policies, and innovative strategies. While OA is already well-established in Europe, it is gaining traction in other regions where adoption is still maturing. Recent examples from institutions such as Rutgers University, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Miami, participants in the Springer NERL TA in the United States, illustrate this growing engagement. Similarly, Tata Memorial Hospital in India, part of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) TA, showcases how OA is being embraced to enhance visibility, empower researchers and develop publishing models that align with both global ambitions and local needs.

Global reach, local relevance

Institutions are embracing OA in ways that reflect their unique missions and communities. At Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, OA is viewed to ensure that critical cancer research reaches the clinicians, researchers and patients who need it most. Their participation in the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) TA supports the hospital’s goal of making life-saving knowledge more accessible, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

In the US, universities such as the University of Miami, University of Notre Dame and Rutgers University are embedding OA into broader institutional strategies. These institutions are using TAs to expand access, increase research visibility and align with values around equity and inclusion. Librarians at these universities are playing a key role developing tools, offering guidance and proactively supporting researchers to publish openly and with confidence.

Librarians as strategic partners and providing clarity

Across institutions, librarians are redefining their roles to meet the demands of OA becoming strategic partners in shaping publishing strategies, supporting faculty and preparing institutions for new mandates. These localized efforts are backed by a growing network of professionals balancing advocacy, education and infrastructure to support their communities. At Rutgers University, librarians are actively helping researchers navigate OA publishing with greater confidence. Faculty are increasingly engaged in conversations about access, showing a growing awareness of where their work is published and who can read it.

Clear communication and intuitive tools are also key to helping researchers engage with OA. As outlined in our blog How your researchers can easily identify their eligibility to publish OA, institutions are developing resources that simplify the publishing process and clarify authors' options.  At the University of Miami, librarians are taking a proactive approach, reaching out to researchers, offering guidance and ensuring they understand how to benefit from OA agreements.

These efforts are further reflected in the blogs Empowering research in the US through open access agreements and Facilitating the transition towards open access publishing, which highlight how institutions are supporting researchers through education, outreach and infrastructure, ensuring they have the clarity and support needed to publish openly.

Broadening global participation & inclusion at the core

Broadening global participation and inclusion are central to the mission of OA publishing. OA agreements are helping institutions remove traditional barriers, ensuring that all researchers, regardless of discipline, geography or funding, can share their work with the world.

These agreements are especially impactful for early-career researchers, those in underfunded disciplines, and institutions in regions where publishing costs have historically limited access. By covering article processing charges (APCs) and simplifying publishing workflows, OA agreements are creating more opportunities for diverse voices to be heard in the global research conversation. At the University of Notre Dame, this approach is reflected in efforts to support faculty in publishing in journals of their choice, without financial barriers. The institution’s strategy aligns with broader goals to promote inclusion, academic freedom and broaden access to publishing opportunities.

The blog “Increasing equity through open access agreements” further explores how these models are helping to build a more representative and inclusive scholarly ecosystem, one where access to publishing is based on merit and mission.

Aligning with policy & scaling access

As OA policies continue to evolve globally, institutions are actively aligning their publishing strategies to meet new expectations while expanding access to research. OA agreements are proving to be effective tools for building scalable, sustainable models that support long-term open publishing. In the US, the release of the Nelson Memo in 2022 inspired libraries to enhance their workflows and strengthen support systems. Many are introducing new tools to help researchers understand publishing requirements, retain rights and share their work more broadly. These efforts are helping institutions integrate OA into every stage of the research lifecycle from funding to publication.

Internationally, similar momentum is driving the adoption of comprehensive OA models. Institutions are embedding OA into their infrastructure, making it easier for researchers to publish openly and for readers to access knowledge without barriers. As highlighted in the case study “Accelerating open access at scale: A look at three transformative agreements.”, these strategies are helping institutions grow their OA output while maintaining quality, transparency and researcher autonomy.

Libraries driving OA forward

The stories emerging from these institutions reflect a shared vision: a research ecosystem that is open, inclusive and collaborative. OA agreements are one part of this transformation enabling institutions to support their researchers, expand access to knowledge and contribute to a more connected global community. As the OA landscape continues to grow, libraries remain at the heart of this movement shaping strategy, supporting scholarship and helping research reach its full potential.

To explore more stories and insights, consider subscribing to The Link Alerts. For tools, insights and resources that support librarians in advancing open research, visit the Open Research for Librarians hub.

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Saskia Hoving

Author: Saskia Hoving

Editor-in-Chief

In the Dordrecht office, Saskia Hoving is Editor-in-Chief of The Link Newsletter and The Link Blog, covering trends & insights for all facilitators of research. Focusing on the evolving role of libraries regarding SDGs, Open Science, and researcher support, she explores academia's intersection with societal progress. With a lifelong passion for sports and recent exploration into "Women's inclusion in today's science", Saskia brings dynamic insights to her work.