The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 2025 Open Access policy introduces significant changes that will reshape how research funded by the foundation is published and shared. As one of the largest open-access funders globally, this new policy continues their long-standing commitment to equitable, free access to scientific knowledge. Below is a detailed breakdown of the policy changes, the reasons for these changes, and the potential impacts on the academic publishing landscape.
A history of open access leadership
Since 2015, the Gates Foundation has required all research funded by the foundation to be openly accessible. This early adoption of open access was a critical move, aligning the foundation with the global push for democratizing research. Over the years, the Gates Foundation has grown into one of the largest proponents of open access, with billions of dollars funneled into research across global health, education, and development. As a member of cOAlition S, the foundation was also an early adopter of Plan S principles, which aimed to ensure that all publicly funded research is made freely available (gatesfoundation.org/openaccess).
Key changes in the 2025 policy
1. Preprints requirement: The 2025 policy introduces a mandatory requirement that all research funded by the Gates Foundation must be published as a preprint on recognized servers before peer review. This will enable rapid dissemination of research findings, allowing the broader community to access and critique research at the earliest possible stage (openaccess.gatesfoundation.org).
2. End of APC funding: In a significant shift, the foundation will no longer fund Article Processing Charges (APCs), which are traditionally used to make articles open access in subscription journals. This move addresses a key inequity in academic publishing—pay-to-publish models that disproportionately affect researchers from lower-income countries.
3. CC-BY Licensing: All research outputs must be published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license. This ensures that anyone can reuse, redistribute, or build upon the research, provided proper attribution is given (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
What led to the 2025 changes
The refreshed open-access policy was driven by the Gates Foundation’s recognition of systemic inequities in the current publishing landscape. APCs, while helpful in some ways, created financial barriers for researchers, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries. By removing APC funding, the foundation aims to encourage more equitable access to publishing opportunities and foster the growth of open-access infrastructure that doesn’t rely on individual payments (gatesfoundationoa.zendesk.com).
The rise of preprint platforms and their acceptance in the academic community also played a key role. Preprints offer a cost-free way to disseminate research findings quickly, allowing researchers to share their work with the public and their peers without waiting for the often lengthy peer-review process. This approach aligns with the foundation’s mission to ensure that the knowledge generated from its funding is accessible as early as possible (gatesopenresearch.org).
Potential impacts of the 2025 policy
- For researchers: The transition to preprints and the elimination of APC funding will require researchers to adapt their publication strategies. Researchers will need to embrace preprints as a primary method of sharing their work while seeking out new funding models for publishing in open-access journals if desired.
- For publishers: Traditional journals, particularly those reliant on APCs, may face a shift in their business models. The policy could lead to a rethinking of revenue structures as researchers opt for preprints over pay-to-publish options.
- Global open access: The Gates Foundation’s leadership in ending APC funding could influence other major funders to follow suit, potentially reshaping the global open-access ecosystem. This shift may encourage the development of more inclusive, non-commercial models for research dissemination.
Integrating advanced peer review models
In response to evolving open-access policies, platforms like PeerReviewMe.org are leading the way in enhancing the peer review process. PeerReviewMe.org offers a professionalized, multi-step commercial peer review model that integrates advanced verification techniques and robust incentive programs. The platform provides portable peer review certifications, allowing reviewers to showcase their expertise across different journals and publishers, thereby ensuring greater transparency and recognition for their contributions. This approach aligns with the Gates Foundation’s goals of increasing accessibility and equity in research dissemination by fostering an environment where peer review is both rigorous and universally recognized.
Conclusion
The Gates Foundation’s 2025 Open Access policy represents a transformative step in the evolution of global research dissemination. By mandating preprints, discontinuing APC funding, and requiring open licensing, the foundation is pushing for a future where research is free, accessible, and equitable for all. As one of the largest open-access funders in the world, the Gates Foundation continues to lead by example, challenging the traditional models of scholarly publishing and pushing for a future where research is open, accessible, and impactful for everyone (gatesfoundation.org). PeerReviewMe.org complements these efforts by ensuring that peer review practices are transparent, efficient, and portable, further supporting the foundation’s vision of equitable knowledge dissemination.
For further details, visit the Gates Foundation’s Open Access Policy at openaccess.gatesfoundation.org. Learn more:
Website https://www.scholarlyoa.org
Twitter https://x.com/ScholarlyOA
SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/scholarly-open-access
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