Open access is working – but researchers in lower-income countries enjoy fewer benefits

Open-access publishing facilitates the flow of academic research, particularly benefiting researchers in resource-poor settings. However, scientists in low-income countries face challenges, such as power imbalances and limited visibility, which prevent them from fully benefiting from open access. A study showed that while open-access papers generally receive more citations, researchers in low-income countries gain fewer additional citations compared to those in higher-income regions. To ensure that researchers in these regions fully benefit from open access, deep-seated local research systems and inequalities need to be addressed. This article highlights the importance of reforming local research structures and practices to enable equitable access to the benefits of open-access publishing for all researchers.

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Nature. 2024 Jun 11. doi: 10.1038/d41586-024-01748-4.

Recommended on behalf of EASE by Silvia Maina, Italy