The document presents a multifaceted discussion on the current landscape, challenges, and future directions of open access (OA) publishing from the perspective of publishers and leading figures in academic publishing. Key themes include the increasing momentum for open access, catalyzed by policy changes such as the 2022 OSTP "Nelson memo," which mandates immediate public availability of federally funded research and underlying data in the United States. Publishers like Springer Nature highlight the benefits of OA—increased research visibility, reuse, and impact—as well as their own roles in fostering open research through Gold OA models, transformative agreements, and partnerships for data and code sharing. These efforts aim to lower barriers for authors, ensure quality and integrity in publishing, and streamline the integration of research outputs into accessible, discoverable platforms.
Alongside these developments, the document raises important considerations around sustainability, funding models (notably APCs vs. subscriptions), and the need to balance researcher and institutional capacities. Attention is given to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, emphasizing the ongoing disparities and interventions in scholarly publishing. The example of eLife illustrates innovations in editorial practices and peer review that empower authors and promote transparency. The discussion recognizes the challenges researchers face with funded OA, reflecting mixed attitudes towards article processing charges and calls for collaborative solutions to promote equity, reduce administrative burdens, and maintain scholarly standards. Ultimately, the consensus among speakers is that open access and open science represent the future of scholarly communication, requiring coordinated efforts from publishers, institutions, funders, and the research community to address practical, ethical, and financial challenges.
