Dutch research institutions and Elsevier announce new agreements

Dutch universities, research institutes and Elsevier, a global leader in scientific information and analytics, have signed new agreements to support Dutch research, starting 1 January 2025 and running for two years with an optional extension for a third year.

Commitment to open access

The new read and publish agreement reaffirms the commitment of the research community in the Netherlands to open access. The agreement continues to provide Dutch researchers with reading rights to the peer-reviewed content from Elsevier’s portfolio of journals via ScienceDirect opens in new tab/window. The new agreement additionally provides 100% open access publishing in eligible journals for all participating institutions*. It is also a step forward in transparency in the areas of privacy, AI, text and data mining and user rights. A separate agreement provides access to Scopus opens in new tab/window, the world’s largest multidisciplinary, trusted abstract and citations database.

Anton Pijpers, representing the Universities of the Netherlands, said: “We are pleased with the renewal of the agreement with Elsevier for Dutch institutions. The collaboration with Elsevier in the past years has led to an efficient process for researchers to publish and we are working towards a better understanding on how to deal with privacy, AI, text and data mining and user rights. The major cutbacks in higher education in the Netherlands are putting pressure on these types of agreements and this deal with Elsevier allows us to proceed with sharing the results of Dutch research as open as possible, while working towards new models in the future.”

Supporting research ambitions

Laura Hassink, Elsevier Managing Director for Elsevier’s Scientific, Technical and Medical Journals, said: “The aim of the new agreement is to further support the Netherlands’ research ambitions and maintain the trusted relationship we have built with the research community over many years. Open access is an integral part of how Elsevier supports researchers in advancing knowledge and our agreement reflects the objectives of Dutch research, the current economic landscape and represents fair value for both parties. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership in the Netherlands, helping to advance science and improve health outcomes.”

As the Netherlands continues to advance its open access ambitions, these new agreements promise to deliver substantial benefits to the research community while fostering collaboration and innovation in the years to come.

The contract will be made publicly available and registered on the ESAC Registry.

* Dutch research performing organisations

66 Dutch research performing organisations are covered by these agreements:

14 universities (UNL, Universities of the Netherlands opens in new tab/window)

7 university medical centres (NFU, Netherlands Federation of University Medical Centres opens in new tab/window)

23 universities of applied science

10 National Research Institutes (NWO-I, Foundation for Dutch Scientific Research Institutes opens in new tab/window)

12 Academy Institutes (KNAW, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences opens in new tab/window)

The University Libraries and National Library (UKB) acted on behalf of these research performing organizations to reach these new agreements. Our shared main ambition is to invest in an inclusive, sustainable and just scholarly communication system while striving for a more open and publicly steered approach to scientific outputs and processes (see Open Science 2030 in the Netherlands opens in new tab/window). During the coming years, we are committed to developing a collective publication strategy based on the shared principles while furthering transparency on privacy, AI, text and data mining and user rights.

As a global leader in scientific information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making with innovative solutions based on trusted, evidence-based content and advanced AI-enabled digital technologies.

We have supported the work of our research and healthcare communities for more than 140 years. Our 9,500 employees around the world, including 2,500 technologists, are dedicated to supporting researchers, librarians, academic leaders, funders, governments, R&D-intensive companies, doctors, nurses, future healthcare professionals and educators in their critical work. Our 2,900 scientific journals and iconic reference books include the foremost titles in their fields, including Cell Press, The Lancet and Gray’s Anatomy.

Together with the Elsevier Foundation opens in new tab/window, we work in partnership with the communities we serve to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world.

Elsevier is part of RELX opens in new tab/window, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information on our work, digital solutions and content, visit www.elsevier.com.