Breaking the Paywall: Reclaiming Knowledge for the Public Good in the Era of Digital Transformation

This policy brief critiques the profit-driven dominance of academic publishing by corporations like Elsevier and Wiley, which impose high subscription fees and article processing charges (APCs) that marginalize researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These inequities limit access to critical research and exclude Global South contributions from global discourse. While open access (OA) offers a solution, the commercialization of "gold OA" models perpetuates exclusivity, while the equitable diamond OA model remains underfunded. Prestige-driven academic culture further entrenches this system by prioritizing high-impact journals tied to commercial publishers. Emerging technologies like blockchain and AI offer potential solutions but are hindered by limited adoption and governance frameworks. To address these disparities, the brief aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, advocating for investment in not-for-profit OA platforms, reformed academic incentives emphasizing societal impact, mandated OA for publicly funded research, and increased support for LMIC researchers. Transformative action is essential to prioritize public good over corporate profit, democratize access to knowledge, and create a more inclusive global research ecosystem. 

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