INSPIRING ERA Exchange on Open Access Publications within the INSPIRING ERA: Overcoming Barriers in Open Access Publishing Towards a More Inclusive and Sustainable ERA
The ERA Policy Agenda prioritises strengthening Open Access (OA) publishing as a foundation for a more inclusive and sustainable European Research Area (ERA). This full-day workshop, organised by the INSPIRING ERA project, will convene a diverse group of stakeholders from across Europe—including policymakers, funding bodies, research organisations, infrastructure providers, scholarly publishers, and SSH researchers—to critically assess the current state of OA publishing, identify systemic challenges, and co-create actionable solutions for the future.
By fostering open dialogue and practical exchange, the workshop aims to directly inform policy development, amplify the voices of underrepresented actors (especially small publishers and SSH communities), and promote sustainable, community-driven OA models. Participants will reflect on the evolution of OA policy at both EU and national levels, engage in interactive breakout discussions to surface ground-level barriers and best practices, and contribute to a set of recommendations for improving OA policies, funding, and infrastructures.
Why Attend?
This INSPIRING ERA Workshop will:
- Present diverse perspectives on OA systems and models across the ERA.
- Facilitate cross-sector dialogue among policymakers, practitioners, and infrastructure providers.
- Identify practical actions to address funding inequities, infrastructure gaps, discoverability challenges, and multilingualism.
- Discuss issues of compliance, policy implementation, and the alignment of research assessment systems with Open Science principles.
- Enable co-creation of targeted recommendations for enhancing OA support and sustainability at EU and national levels.
Programme Highlights
- Welcome and Introduction
Opening remarks, ERA Policy Agenda overview, and INSPIRING ERA context.
- Session 1: State of Play in OA Publishing Across the ERA
Presentations on EU OA policy directions, current challenges, and ongoing initiatives.
- Session 2: Stakeholder Breakout Discussions
Interactive group sessions addressing barriers, solutions, and good practices related to OA funding, infrastructure, discoverability, and policy assessment.
- Session 3: Presentation of Breakout Results
Moderators share key breakout findings; reflections on policy integration and follow-up actions.
- Closure and Next Steps
Summary and compilation of recommendations for the European Commission and ERA Forum.
Target Audience
- Policymakers and European Commission representatives
- Research managers and open science officers
- Research funding organisations
- Scholarly publishers focused on Diamond OA and non-commercial models
- SSH researchers, including early-career researchers
- Librarians and repository managers
- Infrastructure providers
- Stakeholders involved in reforming research assessment
How to Participate?
Secure your place at The Staszic Palace – Maria Skłodowska-Curie Hall, 72 Nowy Świat St, Warsaw, Poland, on 28 October 2025 and join the collective effort to overcome barriers in Open Access publishing and shape the future of the ERA. Become part of a high-impact exchange that drives knowledge valorisation and inclusivity in European research policy.
For further information, please contact the INSPIRING ERA team.
Register now: REGISTRATION LINK
Contact
For further information, please contact:
Maciej Zdanowicz, EU Policy Advisor
NCBR
