Launch of the European Diamond Capacity Hub and the ALMASI Project

• November 27, 2024

Date: January 14–15, 2025
Location: Museo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (MUNCYT), Alcobendas, Madrid

The European Diamond Capacity Hub (EDCH) will publicly launch on January 15, 2025, at an event hosted by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) at MUNCYT in Madrid. The launch will introduce the EDCH’s mission to strengthen the Diamond Open Access (OA) community in Europe, alongside opportunities for collaboration and active engagement.

Empowering Diamond Open Access

The EDCH aims to support institutional, national, and disciplinary capacity centers, as well as Diamond OA publishers and service providers, through coordination, sustainability efforts, training modules, and technical tools. By doing so, it addresses the needs outlined in the Action Plan for Diamond Open Access, fostering growth in the Diamond OA community.

Positioning itself alongside regional hubs like Redalyc–Amelica and AJOL, the EDCH aspires to contribute to a global Diamond OA framework. This effort aligns with UNESCO’s ongoing consultations for global Open Access initiatives.

Policy Momentum and Support

The launch reflects increasing political support for equitable and transparent scholarly publishing. Key milestones include:

• May 2023 EU Council Conclusions: Commitment to high-quality and equitable publishing.
• June 2022 EU Council Conclusions: Linking Open Science to research assessment reform.
• November 2021 UNESCO Recommendations: Global support for Open Science principles.

The EDCH’s development was supported by the CRAFT-OA and DIAMAS projects and received initial funding from the French National Research Agency (ANR) and CNRS.

ALMASI Project: A Global Perspective

On January 14, 2025, the EDCH launch will coincide with the announcement of the EU-funded ALMASI project. Spanning three years and involving 15 partners from Africa, Latin America, and Europe, ALMASI aims to enhance understanding of non-profit OA publishing worldwide. It will co-develop measures for quality alignment, training materials, and policy frameworks tailored to different regions.

OPERAS Leading the Way

Hosting the EDCH reinforces OPERAS’ mission to promote equitable publishing models across Europe, advancing the broader vision of Open Science within the European Research Area.

The event will mark a significant step forward in fostering global collaboration and innovation in Diamond OA and scholarly communication.