Cambridge University Press has released a report calling for coordinated global reform to ensure that academic publishing becomes more open, equitable, and sustainable.
The report, titled ‘Publishing futures: Working together to deliver radical change in academic publishing’, warns that without urgent sector-wide action, the global academic publishing ecosystem could face collapse due to increasing structural pressures. The study draws on a global survey and review involving more than 3,000 researchers, funders, librarians, publishers, and publishing partners from 120 countries.
The report indicates that while open access publishing has advanced, long-standing systemic barriers remain and threaten to stall or reverse progress toward openness and equity.
Mandy Hill, Managing Director, Cambridge University Press, has stated that the publishing system is under growing strain from rising article volumes and incentive structures that prioritize quantity. Hill has also noted that these pressures are likely to be intensified by artificial intelligence and has emphasized the need for collective commitment and creative approaches to reform.
Key findings highlight that although 86% of respondents support open access, only 32% believe the current system is equipped to meet future challenges. The report identifies four interconnected areas requiring urgent attention. Rising publishing volumes have created pressure on peer review, with 81% of respondents agreeing that the system is under strain.
Between 2016 and 2022, approximately 897,000 additional indexed articles were published, with an increase in low-quality and AI-generated content as well as papermill activity. The financial model is described as unsustainable, as libraries face escalating costs under both pay-to-read and pay-to-publish frameworks. Equity gaps persist, particularly affecting researchers in low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, 64% of participants believe that the current academic reward system promotes quantity over quality in publishing outputs, and only 33% think existing recognition mechanisms function effectively.
Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge, has noted that systemic reform will require cooperation among institutions, funders, publishers, and professional societies to build a more equitable and sustainable model.
The report recommends adapting reward systems to prioritize quality, making equity a central principle of open access, supporting alternative platforms such as preprint servers, community platforms and diamond open access models, and recognizing peer review as a key scholarly contribution. It calls for increased publisher transparency on costs, improved reviewer training, and responsible use of technology to manage large-scale peer review.
Monica Westin, Director of Open Policy Development, Cambridge University Press, has emphasized that despite challenges, global research communities remain committed to open research and that emerging models across disciplines demonstrate the potential for systemic change. She has urged stakeholders across the research ecosystem to collaborate on comprehensive, coordinated reforms that advance equity, quality, and transparency.
Westin presented the report’s findings alongside Jane Powell from Shift Insight at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The report is scheduled to be featured at additional industry events, including the Charleston Library Conference on November 5.
Click here to read the original press release.
