Moving OA Forward From Transformation to Collective Responsibility. [Report from the 17th Berlin OA conference.]

"Open access has crossed a historic threshold. By 2024, more than 50% of global scholarly articles are openly accessible—a dramatic transformation from just 20% in 2016. National research systems at the forefront of this transformation have achieved over 80% open access by integrating OA negotiations into their open science agendas and efforts to strengthen scientific integrity and public trust, demonstrating that the transition is not only feasible but well underway. Major research nations including the USA, India, and China are increasingly embracing this transformation, signaling a truly global momentum.

This milestone represents more than statistical progress—it marks a fundamental shift requiring new strategic thinking. The research community must now move from advocacy to stewardship, taking active control of the scholarly publishing transition rather than simply participating in it. ...

The transition to open access requires viewing publishing agreements as strategic investments rather than procurement transactions. Successful institutions have demonstrated that breaking from subscription logic and redirecting funds to follow author publishing patterns can achieve cost-neutral or cost-positive outcomes while dramatically increasing open access rates.

European pioneers have proven that institutions can “flip their investments” even when publishers haven’t yet flipped their portfolios, achieving stable budgets while eliminating double payments. The key is comprehensive analysis of publishing dynamics and diversified approaches that support the broader open access ecosystem, including diamond open access, Subscribe to Open models, and community-driven initiatives....

The ultimate goal is ensuring that financial barriers never determine who can publish and that investments in scholarly publishing reflect fair, transparent structures supporting an inclusive environment. As institutions shift from subscriptions to open access, publishers must adapt pricing accordingly—in many cases requiring revenue reductions to achieve fairer cost distribution.

Institutions with high research output must have confidence that their investments reflect genuine costs of responsible open access publishing, rooted in transparent cost structures and inclusivity rather than entrenched profit expectations."