D6.2 "Recommendations and Implementation Guidelines for Institutions, for FSDs (Funders, Sponsors, and Donors) and Policymakers"
Creators: name: Arasteh-Roodsary, Sona Lisa
name: Gaillard, Vinciane
name: Garbuglia, Federica
name: Mounier, Pierre
name: Pölönen, Janne
name: Proudman, Vanessa
name: Rooryck, Johan
name: Saenen, Bregt
name: Stone, Graham
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Diamond OA
Diamond Open Access
scholarly publishing
Institutions
Funders
Sponsors
Donors
Policymakers
Recommendations
Implementation guidelines
Diamond Open Access publishing
Diamond OA scholarly publishing
scholarly communication
Institutional Publishing Service Providers
Institutional Publisher
Service Provider
European Diamond Capacity Hub
Diamond Capacity Centres
Diamond OA eosystem

description: This report presents a comprehensive and flexible framework to support Diamond OpenAccess (OA) in scholarly publishing. Developed as Deliverable 6.2 of the DIAMAS project,funded by the European Union’s Horizon WIDERA-2021-ERA-01 research and innovationprogramme, the report offers recommendations and guidelines tailored to institutions,funders, sponsors, and donors, and policymakers.

The recommendations and guidelines have been co-designed with stakeholdersthrough an extensive collaborative process led by the European University Association(EUA), Science Europe, and OPERAS between December 2023 and November 2024. Thisco-design approach ensures that the proposed measures address the diverse needs,concerns, and opportunities within the evolving Diamond OA ecosystem.

Collective responsibility and collaboration

Supporting Diamond OA is a shared responsibility among institutions, funders,sponsors, and donors, and policymakers. While each plays a distinct role, theircoordinated efforts are essential for the long-term sustainability of this publishingmodel. The report underscores the importance of collaboration, emphasising that:

● Institutions act as ‘parent organisations’ by providing staff, infrastructure, andacademic resources to maintain Diamond OA platforms and repositories.● Funders, sponsors, and donors ensure financial sustainability through policiesand investments that enable the continued development of Diamond OA.● Policymakers at regional, national, and EU levels create frameworks thatfacilitate and incentivise Diamond OA adoption.

Pathways for supporting Diamond OA

To foster a thriving Diamond OA ecosystem, the report outlines strategic pathways forengagement, including:

● Identify reasons and motivations to support Diamond OA and promote itsbenefits● Enhance recognition and reward systems● Invest in the development of monitoring systems and evidence-gatheringinitiatives● Sign the Action Plan for Diamond OA● Support local, national, and community Diamond Capacity Centres● Engage in the European Diamond Capacity Hub● Engage in the Global Diamond Open Access Framework

Recommendations and guidelines 

The framework aims to guide institutions, funders, sponsors, and donors, and policymakers in their support of Diamond OA. The report organises its recommendations and guidelines in separate, but related categories that reflect the main reasons for research actors to support Diamond OA, including: 

● Positive research cultures: Institutions, funders, sponsors, and donors, and policymakers share a responsibility to strengthen positive research cultures that reflect core values such as autonomy, freedom, care, collegiality, collaboration, equality, diversity, inclusion, integrity, ethics, openness, and transparency. ● Economic and financial responsibilities: Institutions, funders, sponsors, and donors, and policymakers must address economic and financial responsibilities to ensure that scholarly publishing is sustainable and provides societal value. ● Dynamics of authority, patronage, and legitimacy: When supporting Diamond OA, institutions, funders, sponsors, and donors, and policymakers must take into account the dynamics of authority, patronage, and legitimacy. This includes both top-down support and bottom-up initiatives. 

While comprehensive, the framework remains flexible, allowing different organisations to prioritise actions based on their unique contexts, governance structures, operational models, and available resources. Stakeholders, for instance, may implement recommendations at varied timelines, depending on national policies and institutional readiness. 

Conclusion:

This report serves as a foundational document for institutions, funders, sponsors, donors, and policymakers committed to supporting Diamond OA. By providing a structured yet adaptable set of recommendations and guidelines, it lays the groundwork for a collaborative effort to reshape scholarly publishing. The continued evolution of Diamond OA will require ongoing dialogue, policy alignment, and resource allocation to ensure its long-term success. 
description: This deliverable is currently under review by the European Commission.