This is our October #RoadToOpen article in celebration of Open Access Week 2024, themed “Community over Commercialisation.” EDP Sciences reflects on our learnings and the progress of our Subscribe to Open (S2O) journey, which has followed a community-driven path rooted in equity and transparency.

As an early adopter of the Subscribe to Open model, we have faced our share of early challenges, but we recognise that these early obstacles are valuable learning opportunities. In her recent piece, “Here’s to Risk Takers,” Laura Kane of BioOne pointed out: “We are punishing negative results… those who come forward with unsuccessful attempts should be applauded for their transparency… this is an incredible learning opportunity for us all.” This message resonates strongly with us at EDP Sciences, where transparency and experimentation are central to our efforts to advance open access in collaboration with the academic community.

Since launching our first S2O journals in 2020, EDP Sciences has steadily grown its S2O program to include eight journals across disciplines in Mathematics, Astronomy, and Radioprotection. This success reflects our strong commitment to our “Road to Open” and the continued support of the communities we publish in, who believe in the potential of this model.

A key driver behind the sustainability and expansion of S2O is the S2O Community of Practice —a collaborative network of librarians, scholarly publishers, funders, scholars, and other stakeholders from all countries. This unique coalition showcases the collective commitment to fostering equitable and sustainable scholarly communication, providing critical support and guidance for organisations using the S2O model.

One of the key advantages of S2O is its ability to address the integrity challenges facing academic publishing today. In an era of concerns about paper mills and compromised publishing standards, S2O stands apart as an OA model by not incentivising volume over quality. By avoiding reliance on article processing charges (APCs), S2O removes the financial motivation to increase published article numbers, which sometimes comes at the expense of rigour, helping to maintain the integrity of research outputs.

Moreover, S2O does not require a radical redistribution of costs. Unlike other open access models that shift the financial burden from libraries to authors, S2O maintains a balanced structure that allows global participation. All institutions, regardless of their financial situation, can engage with S2O without relying on waivers or other patronage mechanisms. We recognise that our journey has not been without its challenges, and we’ve been transparent about these.

We have pioneered the publication of influential S2O Transparency Reports. Last month, we published our 2024 transparency report for the mathematics S2O program, marking the fourth consecutive year of open access publication for the six journals involved under the S2O model – and the fourth transparency report. We have been transparent about the financial deficit of the mathematics portfolio, a challenge that existed before the S2O transition. In fact, thanks to the strong engagement of the mathematics community towards S2O, financial sustainability has improved for these journals since the transition.

We have been commended for making public the challenges to transition the journal Radioprotection to open access. In 2023, efforts to move the journal to OA under the S2O model did not meet the necessary subscription and financial thresholds. However, financial backing from the Société Française de Radioprotection and renewed support from our subscribers has enabled us to achieve our target in the second year, ensuring that all articles from the start of 2024 are freely accessible in open access.

Finally, Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) has experienced a 40% increase in submissions since competitor journals have moved to Gold APC-based models, making A&A under S2O a cheaper and more attractive option for authors. This rapid growth has unfortunately led to higher publication costs and has necessitated a larger than usual increase in the subscription price for 2025. This has made the subscription base more precarious.

However, these challenges have not deterred us. We continue to experiment with ways to make the model work for our portfolio and remain fully committed to transparency in sharing both successes and setbacks.

S2O is not a silver bullet, but it offers a flexible and equitable pathway to open access—one that adapts to the unique needs of each publisher and community. Our transparency in sharing the realities of our journey, paired with the enthusiasm of our colleagues in the Community of Practice, demonstrates the model’s capacity to evolve and thrive.

EDP Sciences remains optimistic, buoyed by a community that believes in this innovative route. While subscriptions in some areas remain precarious, others are stable or on the rise. Through partnerships, grants, and continued experimentation, we are bridging the financial gap. S2O is about more than financial success; it is about empowering a community of risk takers and innovators committed to advancing open access.

So here’s to the pioneers who challenge the status quo and push against the limits of existing models. EDP Sciences is proud to be part of this movement, and as we look ahead, we remain committed to creating a more open, equitable, and sustainable future for scholarly publishing.

This year, OASPA introduced its ‘Wayfinders’ series—a series of online webinars showcasing how publishers are advancing equity in open access and exploring more inclusive approaches to delivering OA. The fourth event in the series, taking place in November, will focus on the Subscribe to Open (S2O) model. Anne Ruimy, Publishing Director for Journals at EDP Sciences, has been invited as a panelist to discuss the role of transparent reporting in S2O.