As part of EDP Sciences’ ongoing commitment to advancing open science, this news update is the eighth in our “Road to Open” series. This focuses on how EDP Sciences is supporting sustainable development through our open access initiatives. Alongside our Diamond Open Access efforts, we showcase the success of our UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Research collection, hosted on ScienceOpen, which is contributing to global sustainability efforts. Through these initiatives, EDP Sciences is playing a role in making critical research more accessible and impactful in addressing the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Join the conversation on social media with #RoadToOpen.

The global push towards sustainable development has increasingly recognised the critical role of open access (OA) in disseminating knowledge and fostering innovation. Within this context, ScienceOpen’s Sustainable Development collection provides a valuable resource, offering researchers and policymakers access to important research that supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The EDP Sciences UN SDGs Research collection, hosted on ScienceOpen’s platform, features several journals and conference proceedings, including EPJ Photovoltaics (EPJ PV), which has emerged as a particularly successful example within this thematic area.

Success for EPJ PV

EPJ PV has received significant attention due to its contributions to the field of photovoltaic energy, a cornerstone of sustainable development. The journal’s open access model ensures that its research is freely available to scientists, engineers, and policymakers worldwide, facilitating the global exchange of ideas necessary to advance renewable energy technologies. The success of EPJ PV is not only reflected in its wide readership but also in the impact of its top articles, which consistently address important issues in photovoltaic research, including efficiency improvements, new material discoveries, and innovative applications.

The journal’s success within the ScienceOpen collection demonstrates the importance of open access in accelerating progress towards clean and affordable energy solutions, directly contributing to the achievement of SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.

EDP Sciences’ broader contribution to sustainable development on ScienceOpen

Beyond EPJ PV, the EDP Sciences’ UN Sustainable Development collection on ScienceOpen features a range of our journals and conference proceedings titles that address various aspects of sustainability. This collection is designed to promote interdisciplinary research and support the integration of sustainable practices across different sectors. By making key research accessible to a global audience, this collection empowers researchers and practitioners to implement sustainable solutions more effectively.

Supporting sustainable development with Diamond OA

The transition to Diamond OA—a model that provides equitable access to critical research without the financial barriers of traditional publishing—has been an important part of EDP Sciences’ “Road to Open” journey. This approach has been successfully applied to journals within the EDP Sciences portfolio, such as Aquatic Living Resources, which focuses on sustainable practices in marine biology, and Science and Technology for Energy Transition (STET), which drives progress in energy transition technologies.

Both journals show how Open Diamond OA models can democratise access to vital research, ensuring that scientists and practitioners in developing and developed countries alike can contribute to and benefit from the latest scientific advancements. For instance, Aquatic Living Resources has shown how OA can support the equitable dissemination of research in growing disciplines, enhancing the global response to environmental challenges. Similarly, STET has demonstrated how open access can power progress in energy technologies crucial for the energy transition, aligning closely with the goals of sustainable development.

EDP Sciences’ commitment to open access and sustainability

The continued success of EDP Sciences’ UN Sustainable Development collection, particularly journals like EPJ PV, demonstrates the critical role of open access in advancing global sustainability efforts. As the world increasingly turns to research-driven solutions to address environmental challenges, the importance of freely accessible, high-impact research cannot be overstated. Combined with a strategic commitment to Diamond OA, EDP Sciences is making sustainable development research more inclusive, collaborative, and impactful.