[IP-OA_Forum] Showcasing OASPA2026 interactive panels

[bernie.folan@oaspa.org]

OASPA 2026 takes place in a few weeks in Zagreb.The programme will tackle pressing challenges in open scholarly communication with a focus on interactivity and interchange. 

Secure your place now and join representatives from more than 110 organisations already registered to exchange thoughts with a global network of experts and peers - and help shape the future of open scholarship.

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In the lead up we will showcase in a little more detail the sessions we have lined up. Today, we look at two interactive panels we have planned. If you missed the previous showcase emails you can find them here and here.

Coordinated Reform: linking “What Counts” within Research Assessment to the Future of Open Publishing

Moderators: Elizabeth (Lizzie) Gadd - University of Loughborough + CoARA and Ludo Waltman - CWTS, Leiden

Continuing conversations about ‘depressurising publishing’ at OASPA2025, and considering the Pisa workshop on coordinated reforms, this interactive session at OASPA2026 will examine the junction between research(er) assessment and publishing reform.

To what extent is reform in open scholarly communication reliant on assessment reform? And conversely, how can scholarly communication reform help advance reform in research assessment? What actions would move the dial on both reform agendas? How can we truly build a more transparent, open, accountable knowledge-exchange fit for the 21st century? From policy and priority shifts to preprints, publish-review-curate, trust markers and beyond - disparate efforts across geographies, disciplines and contexts are underway. But which ideas, actions, innovations and collaborations are most helpful? And is global coordination possible?

Using votes, workshopping and an open fishbowl, this radically interactive, forward-looking session will gather perspectives and distill views to build the foundations for actionable changes. Join us to share your thoughts and help address the need for systemic, co-ordinated (r)evolution across the academic incentives system and open, research communication.

Co-creating the next generation of open access agreements

Moderator: Moderators: Curtis Brundy - University of Massachusetts Amherst and Rod Cookson - Royal Society

Across models, scholarly disciplines, publishing formats and geographies, the need for libraries, research funders and publishers of all types to collaborate in support of open scholarly communication remains constant. How do we shift from negotiation to co-creation, and from transactions to sustainable partnerships around open knowledge that benefit scholarly communities?

This final session of OASPA2026, draws on all themes discussed throughout the conference to synthesise forward lessons about making full open access viable, equitable for all authors, fair for institutions, funders and publishers and beneficial to society at large.

After a ‘dialogue of tensions’ and perspectives exploring the values and principles that will shape future agreements, we invite your thoughts to help blueprint the basis for a shared, open access future. What pathways and principles, across varied approaches, will make it easier for more publishers and institutions to agree on a next generation of OA agreements? With an emphasis on co-creation, this interactive, collaborative session will collect your hard truths and key principles for negotiating agreements in support of open access.

Please join us to share your views in our democratic conference closing. This session will feed into a new OASPA working group evolving traditional negotiations into next-generation partnerships for OA agreements built on shared values.

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Learn about the full programme and networking opportunities - register today. Your perspective and expertise are valued in this critical conversation. With huge thanks to our 2026 sponsors. Get in touch to secure a remaining sponsor opportunity!

Note: Following OASPA2026, the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) will host an invitation-only, co-creation workshop for publishers and journals at the same venue on September 24. Although participation will be by invitation only, you can declare your interest to join when registering for the OASPA conference.

Bernie Folan

Communications, Engagement and Outreach Manager, OASPA

OASPA, Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association

bernie.folan@oaspa.org
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