Strengthening open access infrastructure together: “PKP Open Journal Systems Germany 2026–2028” launched with 14 German academic institutions

In January 2026, the new consortium “PKP Open Journal Systems Deutschland 2026–2028” has been launched. 14 institutions from Germany have jointly declared their support for the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) and committed to membership fees for the next three years. In this way, they are contributing to the sustainable and joint financing of relevant open-access infrastructure.

In autumn 2025, PKP and TIB called on academic organisations in Germany to join this initiative. Open Journal Systems (OJS)is the world’s most widely used software for scholarly publishing. It is an essential prerequisite for numerous academia-owned publishing services in Germany and thus enables a very large number of diamond open access publications. The consortium’s goal is to secure the development of this software and other relevant activities of PKP.

The following institutions have declared their membership at the outset:

• BIS – Bibliotheks- und Informationssystem der Universität Oldenburg
• Hochschulbibliothekszentrum des Landes NRW
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin – Universitätsbibliothek
• Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB). Leibniz-Informationszentrum Technik und Naturwissenschaften und Universitätsbibliothek
• Universität Heidelberg – Universitätsbibliothek
• Universität Konstanz, Kommunikations-, Informations-, Medienzentrum (KIM) IT- und Bibliotheksdienste
• Universitäts- und Stadtbibliothek Köln
• Universitätsbibliothek Braunschweig
• Universitätsbibliothek Clausthal
• Universitätsbibliothek der Technischen Universität Berlin
• Universitätsbibliothek Koblenz
• Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig
• Universitätsbibliothek Mannheim
• Universitätsbibliothek Potsdam

All participating institutions become PKP members and can contribute to the PKP community and discussions. TIB organised the agreement, takes care of providing regular information to the consortium members, and enables German institutions to pay their contributions to TIB in a stable amount and in EUR.

In the current discussions about open access infrastructures, there are many calls for the operation of scholar-led, academia-owned publishing services. At the same time, there are few approaches for broadly supported and thus more secure financing of such infrastructure. With the new consortium, we are creating a good opportunity for institutions to provide support as easily as possible. It is still possible to join the consortium. We look forward to welcoming new members.

We would like to thank PKP and all members of this new consortium. Our joint efforts not only benefit our own institutions, but also help open access publishing throughout Germany and internationally. In this way, it also contributes to improving the supply of information to German academic institutions.

See PKP’s post here: https://pkp.sfu.ca/news/

Strengthening open scholarly infrastructure: PKP Open Journal Systems Deutschland 2026–2028

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Building on TIB’s longstanding relationship with the Public Knowledge Project (PKP), a new consortium has been established to support PKP’s mission: collaborating with a global community to develop research-informed, free and open-source software, and to enhance the quality, diversity, and accessibility of scholarly publishing. TIB and PKP are asking academic organisations from Germany to become members of this consortium.

Sustaining OJS together by becoming a PKP member

Open Journal Systems (OJS) is the most widely used open infrastructure for scholarly publishing worldwide. Its development remains core to the Public Knowledge Project’s (PKP) activities. Being a free and open source software and research project, PKP enables open-access publishing without any license costs and is not dependent on commercial publishers.

Even free software needs reliable support. With the backing of a large and active community, PKP maintains and continuously develops the software. A stable financial basis enables PKP to continue this essential work.

PKP is financially supported by institutional members–universities and other organisations that contribute an annual membership fee. A new consortium, PKP Open Journal Systems Deutschland 2026–2028, has been established to enable easier memberships for Germany’s academic institutions.

A national consortium supporting an international open infrastructure

This new initiative is now open to all publicly funded German universities and research institutions. Through the consortium, organisations can become PKP members via a German infrastructure–in Euros, with clear processes and minimal administrative effort. TIB then forwards the membership fees to PKP. Together with contributions from members around the world, this support flows into PKP’s work and enables further development of OJS and the rest of PKP’s software suite (i.e., OMP and OPS).

This consortium is a strong example of the benefits that come from PKP’s distributed yet interconnected network of journals, institutions, and communities. TIB is ideally positioned to lead this effort, not only as a longtime user of the PKP software suite, but also thanks to its extensive experience managing and coordinating consortial agreements.

Why joining the consortium makes sense

• Ensuring long-term sustainability: Your contribution to PKP helps guarantee the ongoing development of OJS, OMP, and OPS, thus safeguarding an important open access infrastructure. More than half of all Diamond Open Access journals use OJS. By supporting PKP, you help sustain a system that provides free, high-quality scholarship to researchers.
• Investing in cost-efficient and fiscally responsible infrastructure: Your institution already benefits from OJS being freely available. If you host OJS—e.g., for university publishing activities—you do not have to pay any license fees. Your researchers publish in OJS-driven journals across the globe, almost all of which do not charge any fees partly because they themselves do not pay any licence fees.
• PKP membership: Your institution will become a PKP member in its own right and will have full membership benefits. Your membership will be acknowledged on the PKP website.
• Simple route to membership: By joining the consortium, you can easily become a PKP member through a German membership model. TIB will be prepared to help with your questions.
• Stable costs in euros: Membership fees are charged by TIB in euros, not Canadian dollars, and remain for the full duration of the agreement (2026–2028)
• Information and networking: You will receive information about PKP activities and can participate in member and community events. TIB will organise an annual consortium meeting to coordinate community needs and provide updates on PKP developments, typically with participation of PKP representatives. Consortium members will also receive regular digital updates on current PKP activities, including software development.

Sharing responsibility

PKP software and services are a central and crucial element of the German and international open access landscape. Open Journal Systems accounts for the huge majority of all Diamond Open Access journals. Without broad participation from institutions that benefit from OJS, its continued development is unnecessarily at risk. The German consortium offers a clear and practical way to take shared responsibility—with visible benefits for all participating organisations.

Information on joining

The consortium is interested in gaining as many publicly funded academic institutions from Germany as possible as members. If you are interested in participating, please submit your details using this form:

Interest in participating in the consortium PKP Open Journal Systems Deutschland 2026–2028

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