New publishing collaboration between Stockholm University and two Norwegian universities

A Nordic collaboration for open publishing has been initiated between Stockholm University, the Arctic University of Norway (UiT), and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

Sigurd Eriksson, Library Director at NTNU, Annika Ullman, Chair of the Publishing Committe at SUP, Johanna Raade, Library Director at UiT, and Wilhelm Widmark, Library Director at Stockholm University Library. Photo: Cecilia Burman

The cooperation between SU, UiT and NTNU means that Stockholm University Press opens up for external parties to start their editorial advisory boards for book series and for editors to submit proposals for journals to be added to the Press platform. The Press office at Stockholm University Library was established in 2015 and publishes peer-reviewed journals and books with open access.

– It is essential that learned institutions begin to claim ownership of scientific publishing, and a strengthened collaboration via an established platform like SUP creates better conditions for that, says Wilhelm Widmark, Library Director at Stockholm University Library.

– Although SUP already publishes books in various languages, including Swedish, Norwegian, French and English, the collaboration provides more opportunities to find researchers who can review manuscripts in relevant languages. With a more extensive network of experts in each subject area, it becomes easier for the editorial boards to find reviewers who do not have a connection to the author, says Sofie Wennström, Managing Editor at Stockholm University Press.

What we have in common is that we want to be at the forefront of open science and open access.

Working collaboration between SU, NTNU AND UiT

Stockholm University will manage the collaboration and the new publishing projects they expect as an outcome within the already established organization. Though researchers from UiT and NTNU are invited to form new Editorial Advisory Boards and for their Library staff to participate regularly in operational meetings and planning of future projects at the Press office. The universities' Deputy Vice Presidents have signed the agreement that forms the basis of the collaboration. The agreement will be evaluated after one year. 

Read more about NTNU

Read more about UiT

 

"A relevant alternative for researchers"

Johanna Raade. Photo: Cecilia Burman

Representatives from UiT and NTNU visited Stockholm and the Press office recently to participate in a workshop to start planning the "how" of the collaboration.

Johanne Raade, Library Director at Norway's Arctic University Library in Tromsø (UiT), describes the collaboration as "a researcher-led and non-commercial initiative for open publishing".

What does this mean for you as an alternative to running a local publishing operation?

– It means a lot. Many minor languages in the Nordic countries need support to survive as academic languages. However, it would not be at scale with the academic communities if all universities hosted their own publishing house. Together, we can create a robust and relevant option for researchers who want to publish open access, says Johanne Raade.

Sigurd Eriksson: Photo: Cecilia Burman

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim does not have an established publishing house, but the library offers a platform for open access journals. 

– This collaboration is an opportunity for us to offer more professional services than we have today, says Sigurd Eriksson, Library Director at NTNU.

His approach to the publishing collaboration is "learning by doing" and is something he looks forward to beginning soon. He sees the universities' differences as an advantage, enabling a wide range of publications from many different research fields.

– What we have in common is that we want to be at the forefront of open science and open access. The fact that our universities have different academic profiles is one of the strengths of the collaboration, says Sigurd Eriksson.

Open access publishing since 2015

Stockholm University Press is researcher-led and publishes peer-reviewed books and journals with open access, which means that everything is available in digital format for free. Their peer-review policy follows international guidelines to guarantee a high academic standard.

The term' researcher-led publisher' means that researchers from Stockholm University and other institutions interested in publishing are organized in Editorial Advisory Boards responsible for the book series and journals. These academics are accountable for the scientific quality of the publications and run the peer-review process with support from the Press team. All publication decisions are made by a Publishing Committee of elected members representing all four faculties at Stockholm University.

Stockholm University Press

Text: Cecilia Burman