Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) and society publisher IOP Publishing (IOPP) have established a transformative agreement that empowers researchers to publish their work openly, allowing unrestricted access to readers worldwide at no cost. This landmark agreement marks IOPP's first unlimited publishing arrangement in Oman and aligns with the university's mission to make scientific research widely accessible.
The three-year agreement grants SQU researchers unlimited open access publishing privileges across all journals owned by IOP Publishing, as well as most partner journals, while retaining their copyright. Furthermore, the contract provides unrestricted reading access to IOPP's extensive journal portfolio.
Transformative agreements, led by top universities, are gaining momentum across the Middle East and North Africa. These agreements streamline the publishing process for scientists, as their institutions cover the costs of both reading access and open access publishing, thereby removing financial barriers.
A recent global survey conducted by IOP Publishing in collaboration with other physical societies revealed that 32% of physical science researchers based in Africa and the Middle East desire to publish their work openly, but 77% cite a lack of funding from agencies as a hindrance.
To determine if their institution is covered by a transformative agreement or to ensure compliance with funder requirements, researchers can utilize the IOPP Journal Finder tool.
The advantages of open access publishing are evident in IOPP's research, indicating that open access content is downloaded 80% more frequently and cited 30% more than paywalled content.
Sultan Qaboos University joins over 900 institutions in 33 countries that have also secured transformative agreements with IOP Publishing, underscoring the publisher's dedication to advancing open access initiatives globally.
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