Plan S, Open Access and the potential roles for STS research

Abstract

The year 2020 plays a highly symbolic role in the world of academic publishing. As the beginning of a new decade, it featured prominently in various research programmes such as “Horizon 2020”, the framework programme for research and innovation of the European Commission, as well as in numerous roadmaps and development goals in various institutions across the globe. Yet, in the recent past, it has also become a target year in many strategic plans for shifting the business of academic publishing from the prevailing journal subscription model towards full and immediate Open Access.