As conversations about equity and sustainability reshape open access, the diamond model offers a path truer to academic values.

More than two decades of Open Access

It has been over twenty years since the Budapest Open Access Initiative set out a vision of freely available scholarly research. In that time, open access (OA) has grown from a bold idea into an expectation across much of the academic world. And yet, the promise of equal access has not been fully realised.

High article processing charges mean that publishing openly is often only possible for those at well-funded institutions or projects, leaving researchers in less-resourced settings at a disadvantage. The question is simple but profound: what if openness did not come at a cost to authors? What if the academic community could reclaim publishing as a shared, mission-driven endeavour rather than a commercial transaction? Diamond Open Access provides an answer.

What Diamond Open Access means

At its core, diamond OA is straightforward: research is free to read and free to publish. Journals are community owned and costs are covered collectively by universities, libraries, or consortia rather than individual authors.

Unlike the more familiar gold OA model, which relies on authors paying fees to make their work open, diamond OA prioritises the academic mission above market incentives. Its guiding principle is that knowledge should belong to everyone, removing barriers for both readers and authors and creating truly inclusive scholarship.

Why the moment for diamond OA is now

There are several reasons why diamond OA is gaining attention today. First, there is fatigue with the rising costs of article processing charges (APCs) and the inequities they create. Researchers without generous funding are often excluded from publishing in high-profile journals, restricting the diversity and reach of scholarship.

Second, funders are increasingly insisting on inclusive models of open access. UNESCO, cOAlition S, and the Diamond OA Action Plan are highlighting the need for systems that allow scholars everywhere to participate. Open access only matters if it is accessible to all.

Finally, sustainability remains a key focus. Communities are looking for publishing models that do not rely on individual author fees but instead invest in shared infrastructure that can support high-quality work over the long term. Diamond OA answers that call.

UCL Press: putting Diamond OA into practice

UCL Press has been pioneering this approach with its journals since it launched as the UK's first fully open access university press. Over the years, it has shown that diamond OA can operate at scale, publishing journals without charging authors.

The Press’s work is guided by a simple principle: knowledge should be freely available to all. With institutional support, efficient workflows and strong partnerships, UCL Press journals have made high-quality, freely accessible publishing viable and sustainable.

Beyond practical success, UCL Press offers a proof of concept for what diamond OA can achieve. Its model shows that removing financial barriers does not mean compromising on quality or reach. Instead, it demonstrates that publishing can remain true to the values of academia while extending access globally.

A shift in values

Diamond open access is more than a funding mechanism. It represents a realignment of priorities, placing equity, inclusivity, and mission at the centre of scholarly publishing.

For researchers, institutions and funders exploring the future of open access, diamond OA offers a model that is both principled and practical. In our next post, we will explore how this approach can be operationally sustainable, proving that diamond OA is not only desirable but achievable.

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