Transform2Open – Cost Monitoring, Criteria, Competencies, and Processes of Open Access Transformation

• Applicants: Roland Bertelmann; Dr. Peter Kostädt; Dr. Bernhard Mittermaier
• Subject Area: Data Management, Data-Intensive Systems, Computer Science Methods in Business Informatics
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 505575192

The project Transform2Open is dedicated to the further development of budgets, criteria, competencies, and related processes concerning the financial dimension of the Open Access transformation at academic institutions. While the development towards more Open Access publications is positive, there is a fragmentation of implementation measures – especially in terms of application and funding opportunities –, which currently hinders the transformation and makes it difficult, for example, to reach the federal target of 70% open access publications by 2015. A particular focus of Transfom2Open is placed on methods to promote cost transparency at the local, national, and international levels. Thus, the project promotes the formation of structures for the Open Access transformation in Germany. The core of the project is formed by dialogue forums in which strategies, concepts, and measures for shaping the Open Access transformation at universities and non-university research institutions are developed under the motto "think globally, act locally". The project Transform2Open supports transformation activities at research institutions in Germany through the following activities: Improving cost monitoring and its further development; promoting the interaction of library budgets, third-party funding, and other financial resources at scientific institutions towards the creation of information budgets; further development and internationalization of criteria for contracts with commercial publication service providers; optimization of workflows around the handling of publications as well as the associated metadata and invoices; promotion of transparency around the financial framework conditions of the Open Access transformation; as well as the investigation of organizational structures and competence profiles for persons involved in the Open Access transformation at scientific institutions. In doing so, the project ensures the successful interaction with various transformative endeavors, including Project DEAL, the Open Access strategy of the Alliance of Science Organizations, other initiatives and projects in Germany (e.g., Forum 13+ and GASCO) and with the international OA2020 initiative.

• DFG Programme: Science Communication, Research Data, eResearch (Scientific Library Services and Information Systems)
• Co-Investigators: Irene Barbers; Tobias Höhnow; Professor Dr. Heinz Pampel