New funding collective supports equitable access to global acoustics research

Paris, 15, January 2025 — The European Acoustics Association (EAA) and EDP Sciences are pleased to announce that Acta Acustica, a key journal in the field of acoustics, transitioned to Diamond Open Access on 1 January 2025. This development continues the journal’s open access journey, which began with its transition from a subscription model to Gold Open Access in 2020, and now to Diamond Open Access in 2025, removing all costs for both readers and authors.

By eliminating Article Processing Charges (APCs), transforming financial support that was previously limited to certain authors, and removing the authentication step for eligibility under negotiated financial agreements, Acta Acustica aims to broaden participation in acoustics research, particularly for underfunded researchers and institutions, and foster a more diverse and equitable academic landscape.

The transition is supported by a collaborative funding model that exemplifies European cooperation and success. The French National Center for Scientific Research CNRS, Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB), the French Acoustics Society (SFA) and the EAA have provided a financial foundation for the journal’s transition to Diamond OA over an initial three-year period (2025–2027). While this funding guarantees full Diamond OA publication for the first year, additional support is urgently needed to sustain this equitable model and expand its global reach.

This initiative also aligns with growing political and institutional support for Diamond Open Access, as exemplified by the Action Plan for Diamond Open Access, a collaborative framework endorsed by key players including the European University Association (EUA), cOAlition S, Science Europe, as well as CNRS and TIB, both signatories to the plan. The plan aims to strengthen and sustain the Diamond OA ecosystem by promoting equitable access and inclusivity in scholarly publishing. As Professor Manfred Kaltenbacher, Editor-in-Chief of Acta Acustica, stated: “Diamond Open Access not only ensures free access to scientific knowledge but also reinforces our commitment to inclusivity and quality in acoustics research. We are excited to lead the way in demonstrating how society-owned journals can adopt sustainable and equitable publishing models.”

The funders collectively emphasised the importance of their collaboration in realising this initiative:
Nicola Bieg, Licensing Officer at Leibniz Information Center for Science & Technology (TIB), commented: “We are thrilled to support Acta Acustica’s transition to Diamond Open Access by coordinating a consortium of German, Swiss and Austrian institutions. This project not only supports open science but also sets an example for international collaboration in funding sustainable publishing models.” Sylvie Rousset, Director, Open Research Data Department, CNRS added: “Acta Acustica’s move to Diamond OA aligns perfectly with the CNRS’s commitment to open science, as outlined in our Roadmap for Open Science. We are proud to contribute to this important initiative enabling a historic, society-owned journal to transition to Diamond OA.” Jean-Dominique Polack, President of the SFA, said: “Acta Acustica is a leading journal for French acousticians to showcase their research. We are proud to support their ability to publish in the journal without financial or administrative barriers”. Finally, Dick Bottledooren, President of the European Acoustics Association remarked: “Supporting Acta Acustica’s transition to Diamond Open Access reflects our association’s mission to make acoustics research widely available to the global community. We believe this model will enhance the journal’s impact and strengthen its role as a leading publication in the field.”

Anne Ruimy, Editorial Director at EDP Sciences, further remarked: “This transition represents a significant milestone for Acta Acustica. While the long-term financial sustainability of the transition is not guaranteed, I trust that the collaboration between societies, publishers, and funders that has been established will contribute to an equitable and accessible future for scientific publishing.”

The transition to Diamond OA will take effect for articles accepted from 1 January 2025. Articles accepted from this date and throughout 2025 will be published in open access without APCs, regardless of their origin. This marks the beginning of a pilot project running through 2027, during which the journal will assess the model’s sustainability and impact on submissions, readership, and global reach.

Although funding for 2025 is guaranteed, additional contributions are critical to maintain the Diamond OA model through 2026 and 2027. It is also important that funding is fairly distributed among the institutions and countries publishing in the journal and accessing the content. Without further support, the journal may face challenges in continuing to provide free access and publication without APCs. Potential funders are invited to join this transformative effort to ensure the future of equitable publishing in acoustics.

The Acta Acustica team welcomes partnerships with institutions, organisations, and individuals committed to advancing open science. Supporting this initiative will not only benefit the global acoustics community by ensuring equitable access to high-quality research but also showcase a commitment to sustainable and inclusive publishing practices.


For further information, contact: 

Charlotte Van Rooyen
Director of Marketing and Communications, EDP Sciences
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About CNRS

The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) is a world leader in scientific research, fostering innovation across disciplines. CNRS champions open access to promote knowledge sharing and equitable access to scientific advances.

About EAA

The European Acoustics Association (EAA) founded in 1992, is a non-profit organization representing 33 national societies and over 9,000 members across Europe. Dedicated to advancing acoustics in all its facets, the EAA promotes collaboration, research, education, and open-access initiatives to benefit the global community.

About EDP Sciences

EDP Sciences was established in 1920 by a prestigious academic community of French learned societies seeking to inspire, innovate and inform others by sharing their knowledge. Today, EDP Sciences continues to be dedicated to advancing scientific communication. With a strong commitment to transparency and innovation, EDP Sciences partners with organisations to develop sustainable open access publishing models.

About SFA

The aim of the French Acoustics Society is to promote the circulation of scientific and technical information between the various players in the acoustics field, as well as contacts between research laboratories and industry. It currently has 860 individual members (researchers, teachers, engineers, musicians, audiologists, architects, etc.), as well as 25 institutional members (industrial companies and laboratories specializing in acoustics).

About TIB

The German National Library of Science and Technology (TIB) is a leading institution dedicated to providing comprehensive access to scientific and technical information. As the world’s largest specialised library in its subject areas, TIB offers a vast collection of resources, including literature, patents, and audiovisual materials, serving the needs of researchers, industry professionals, and the public. Committed to advancing open science, TIB actively engages in research and development projects, focusing on areas such as digital preservation, data management, and the promotion of open access initiatives.

TIB institutions included in Consortium

RWTH Aachen, Universitaetsbibliothek
Staatliches Institut fuer Musikforschung
Technischen Universitaet Berlin, Universitaetsbibliothek
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Braunschweig, Bibliothek
Technische Universitaet Dresden, Saechsische Landesbibliothek – Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden (SLUB)
Goethe Universitaet Frankfurt, Universitaetsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Technische Universitaet Graz
Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB)*
Leibniz Universitaet Hannover (LUH), Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB)
Universitaet Oldenburg, BIS – Bibliotheks- und Informationssystem
Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR)
Universitaet Stuttgart, Universitaetsbibliothek
Oesterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften / Institut fuer Schallforschung
Technische Universitaet Wien
mdw – Universitaet fuer Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien
Jade Hochschule Wilhelmshaven/Oldenburg/Elsfleth
ETH Zuerich, Bibliothek