Canadian Science Publishing has renewed its Read and Publish agreement with ETH Zürich, ensuring continued seamless access to open access publishing for researchers at the Swiss institution through the end of 2028. The renewal, which took effect on January 1, 2026, builds on an existing partnership and reflects growing momentum toward sustainable open science models that benefit authors, institutions, and the broader research community.

Understanding Canadian Science Publishing and Its Role in Scholarly Communication

Canadian Science Publishing operates as a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Ottawa. It publishes a portfolio of respected peer-reviewed journals with deep roots in Canadian research traditions. Many of these titles originated under the National Research Council of Canada and continue to serve as key outlets for work in fields such as botany, chemistry, civil engineering, fisheries and aquatic sciences, forest research, geotechnical engineering, microbiology, physics, physiology and pharmacology, and zoology. The publisher maintains a commitment to advancing open access and open science initiatives both within Canada and internationally.

Its journals include a mix of hybrid titles that offer subscription access alongside optional open access options and a smaller set of fully gold open access journals. This structure allows flexibility for authors while supporting the transition to more open models of dissemination. Canadian Science Publishing actively partners with library consortia and research institutions to reduce barriers for authors seeking to make their work freely available.

Details of the Renewed Agreement with ETH Zürich

Under the renewed terms, corresponding authors affiliated with ETH Zürich receive unlimited open access publishing rights in the publisher’s hybrid journals at no additional cost to the individual researcher. They also gain full reading access to the entire journal portfolio. For certain gold open access journals, authors qualify for a 15 percent discount on article processing charges. The agreement covers the period from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, providing three years of stability for planning research outputs and compliance with institutional or funder open access requirements.

This arrangement exemplifies the Read and Publish model, in which institutional payments cover both subscription access and open access publishing fees in a single agreement. Such models aim to shift costs from individual authors or departments toward centralized library or consortium funding, thereby removing financial hurdles that can otherwise limit open dissemination.

Broader Context of Open Access Partnerships in Canada

Canadian Science Publishing maintains several domestic partnerships that align with national priorities around open science. These include arrangements with the Canadian Research Knowledge Network and the Federal Science Libraries Network. Through these collaborations, researchers at participating Canadian universities and federal agencies can publish open access in select journals without incurring article processing charges, while retaining read access across the portfolio. Discounts apply to additional titles, supporting a gradual but meaningful expansion of open content.

These Canadian-focused agreements complement international ones like the renewed ETH Zürich deal. Together they demonstrate how a Canadian publisher can serve both domestic needs and global research networks. Open access policies from Canadian funding agencies, such as the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications, encourage researchers to make outputs freely available, and agreements like these help fulfill those expectations without shifting costs onto individual investigators.

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Benefits for Researchers at ETH Zürich

For corresponding authors at ETH Zürich, the renewal removes uncertainty around publication costs and access. Researchers can choose open access routes in hybrid journals without worrying about article processing charges, which supports compliance with Swiss or European funder mandates. The read component ensures uninterrupted access to the full back catalog and new issues, aiding literature reviews and collaborative work.

Early career researchers and doctoral candidates particularly benefit. Publication in respected journals strengthens CVs and visibility, while open access increases the likelihood of citations and engagement from a wider audience. The discounted options in gold open access journals provide additional pathways for work that aligns with fully open models.

Implications for Canadian Higher Education Institutions

Although the agreement centers on ETH Zürich, it carries relevance for Canadian universities and colleges. Canadian Science Publishing’s domestic partnerships already support researchers across the country through consortia arrangements. The international renewal highlights the publisher’s capacity to sustain viable open access offerings, which in turn supports Canadian libraries negotiating similar deals.

University administrators and librarians in Canada monitor these models closely. Successful Read and Publish agreements can help manage rising subscription costs while advancing institutional open access goals. They also position Canadian institutions competitively in global research rankings, as open outputs tend to achieve broader reach. PhD-track job seekers and early career academics benefit indirectly when their home institutions participate in such arrangements, as publication support becomes more predictable.

Challenges in Transitioning to Sustainable Open Access

Despite the advantages, Read and Publish agreements present ongoing considerations. Institutions must balance the costs of these transformative deals against traditional subscription budgets. Not all journals or disciplines transition at the same pace, and hybrid models can sometimes create complexity in tracking compliance.

Canadian higher education stakeholders continue to explore complementary approaches, including diamond open access journals that charge neither authors nor readers and investments in institutional repositories. The goal remains a diversified ecosystem that supports rigorous peer review, equitable access, and long-term preservation of the scholarly record.

Future Outlook for Scholarly Publishing and Open Science

The renewal signals continued confidence in collaborative models that link publishers, libraries, and research institutions across borders. As open science policies evolve in Canada and internationally, publishers like Canadian Science Publishing play a constructive role by offering practical pathways for authors. Future agreements may incorporate additional elements such as open data requirements or support for preprint servers.

For Canadian academics, these developments reinforce the importance of staying informed about available publishing options. University libraries often maintain up-to-date lists of participating institutions and eligible journals, helping researchers navigate choices that align with both career goals and funder expectations.

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Practical Steps for Researchers and Administrators

Researchers affiliated with participating institutions should verify eligibility using institutional email addresses when submitting manuscripts. Library staff can provide guidance on workflow and any institutional reporting requirements. Administrators may wish to review how such agreements integrate with broader research support services, including workshops on open access publishing and copyright management.

PhD students and postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to discuss open access options with supervisors early in the writing process. Planning ahead ensures that publication strategies support both immediate dissemination needs and longer-term career objectives in an increasingly open research environment.