Since the launch of Open Pharma in January 2017, groups of stakeholders have convened on a monthly basis to explore how to implement positive changes in scientific publishing across four key areas: open access; ORCID, CRediT and Convey; preprints and post-publication peer review; and layered publication platforms. The collated key insights and next steps from our workstream meetings in June can be found below. If you would like to get involved, please refer to our contacts page.
Workstream 1: Open access
| Key insights | Next steps |
| The language surrounding open access is vague and inconsistent across journals and publishers, regardless of their prestige | Clarify the terminology used by journals of interest as a starting point for the development of educational materials for academic authors |
| Academic authors are unfamiliar with novel journal and publishing options | Discuss the needs of pharma in relation to open access and to educating authors at our next meeting |
Workstream 2: ORCID, CRediT and Convey
| Key insights | Next steps |
| We need to understand how and whether ORCID and CRediT can/should be integrated into the publishing process to meet the needs of stakeholders | Develop and circulate a survey to assess the value of ORCID and/or CRediT to stakeholders from different organizations
Liaise with Laura Paglione (ORCID) and Liz Allen (F1000Research; CRediT) to discuss opportunities for collaborations |
| We need to learn more about Convey and other innovations | Invite speakers from Convey to present at the next workstream meeting |
Workstream 3: Preprints and post-publication peer review
| Key insights | Next steps |
| Preprints can increase the speed and transparency of publishing, but they are not always appropriate for pharma publications | Pharma participants to consider which types of papers could be published as preprints |
| Closer engagement with pharma participants is needed to move this workstream forward |
Oxford PharmaGenesis to promote closer and more varied collaboration with industry partners |
| Preprint platforms are starting to work more closely with journals to enable one-click submissions from preprint platforms to journals |
Workstream 4: Layered publication platforms
| Key insights | Next steps |
| The pharma perspective is of key importance in this area | Confirm buy-in from a broader group of pharma representatives |
| Stakeholder needs can be met by integrating existing platforms | Explore a wider range of existing platforms |
| Funder-driven platforms offer a new way to share all of the research outputs developed by an institution |
