Trio of OA agreements in Asia mark a first for IOP Publishing

NISO Member News

IOP Publishing (IOPP) has secured its first transformative agreements (TAs) in Asia, reflecting the society publisher’s ambition to deliver open access (OA) at scale globally.   

The three-year read and publish agreements with the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) will deliver a range of benefits, including:  

• No article publication charges for authors publishing in all IOPP journals and almost all partner journals 
• Publications in both hybrid and gold OA journals are covered 
• Publishing under an open licence (CC-BY), allowing authors to retain copyright 
• Reading access to all IOPP research published over the last 10 years 

The three agreements come as the Research Grants Council (RGC) in Hong Kong sets out its guiding principles in support of OA recognising that ‘since open access is a mindset-shifting process that involves the participation of stakeholders including researchers, university administrators, the RGC and the public, it should be implemented at a measured pace and with concerted efforts.’  

Julian Wilson, Chief Sales Officer at IOPP said: “Reaching agreements with three prestigious institutions from Hong Kong demonstrates that OA is gaining momentum globally. What’s more, it’s exciting to see OA efforts advancing in Asia, given the region’s significant contribution to the world of research. We see TAs as the most effective way to accelerate the transition to a more open future at scale which is why we’ll continue to proactively secure them across the globe.”  

The three new agreements are the most recent in a series of TAs that IOPP has reached with research institutions and consortia around the world. IOPP has now TAs with 900 institutions in 33 countries.  

Open access publishing increases the visibility of research. This is reflected in IOPP user data which shows that articles published OA receive 81% more downloads and 31% more citations. 

About IOP Publishing   
IOP Publishing is a society-owned scientific publisher, delivering impact, recognition, and value to the scientific community. Its purpose is to expand the world of physics, offering a portfolio of journals, eBooks, conference proceedings and science news resources globally. As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Institute of Physics, a not-for-profit society, IOP Publishing supports the Institute’s work to inspire people to develop their knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of physics. Go to http://ioppublishing.org or follow us @IOPPublishing.   

About the University of Hong Kong 
Founded in 1911, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) is a comprehensive research-intensive institution comprising ten faculties. It delivers impact through internationalisation, innovation and interdisciplinarity. It attracts and nurtures global scholars through excellence in research, teaching and learning, and knowledge exchange. HKU's high-calibre staff and students—recruited from around the region and the world—engage in innovative research with local, regional and global significance. It makes a positive social contribution through global presence, regional significance and engagement with the rest of China. Consistently ranking among the top universities in Asia and the world, HKU has gained international recognition for its high academic standards and research excellence.