Knowledge Unlatched (KU), part of Annual Reviews, has formalized a partnership with the University of Michigan Press (UMP) through its Fund to Mission initiative. The collaboration strengthens the network of publishers, librarians, and scholarly organizations working to expand global access to research.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to transparency and collaboration in open access publishing. KU and UMP continue to work with librarians to support sustainable models and encourage collective participation. By aligning institutions around common objectives, the organizations aim to reinforce the global infrastructure supporting open scholarship.
Fund to Mission, developed by UMP in collaboration with Lyrasis, is a collective funding model that enables most newly published monographs to be made openly available without author publication fees. Supported by participating libraries and institutions, the model enhances the discoverability of humanities and social sciences research worldwide.
Since its launch five years ago, Fund to Mission has supported more than 1,000 authors, whose open access books have been used 12 million times across 240 countries and territories. Participating libraries have received unlimited multiuser access to UMP’s scholarly works, including classroom texts and frontlist perpetual access.
Charles Watkinson, Director of the University of Michigan Press, noted that the collaboration with KU and Annual Reviews complements existing partnerships with Lyrasis and Jisc, extending support opportunities beyond North America and the UK. He explained that by supporting Fund to Mission and investing in the UMP Ebook Collection (UMP EBC), libraries can provide access to scholarship for their patrons while contributing to diamond open access and community‑owned infrastructure.
Richard Gallagher, President and Editor‑in‑Chief of Annual Reviews, stated that KU has demonstrated the scalability of open access for books and monographs. He added that KU is eager to assist more publishers, including UMP, in advancing diamond open access worldwide, emphasizing the importance of building a more open and sustainable future for scholarly publishing.
Both organizations expressed their intention to continue working with librarians and partners globally to strengthen collective support for innovative open access initiatives such as Fund to Mission.
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