In a notable initiative, IOP Publishing has demonstrated its commitment to supporting global research accessibility by directing a meaningful donation to Research4Life. What distinguishes this contribution is its origin – Article Publication Charges (APCs) from retracted papers.
Miriam Maus, Chief Publishing Officer at IOP Publishing, highlighted the ethical considerations behind the decision, stating that when articles are retracted due to misconduct, such as plagiarism or origin from a paper mill, refunding the money to authors is not feasible. Instead, IOP Publishing has chosen to donate these APCs to Research4Life.
Research4Life, serving over 15,000 institutions in lower- and middle-income countries, expressed gratitude for the support, emphasizing the importance of scaling up operations to enhance outreach programs, training activities, and critical infrastructure. Donations like this play a pivotal role in empowering researchers globally to address societal challenges.
Research4Life invites other organizations inspired by IOP Publishing's example to contribute and join the mission.
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