Affordable access to research in North Africa and the Middle East, following new Taylor & Francis and Zendy partnership
Nov 2, 2020 |
7 Mins Read
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, 2nd November, 2020: Readers in 39 countries across North Africa and the Middle East will have a new affordable option for accessing the latest research, following a new partnership between leading academic publisher Taylor & Francis Group and the information services experts at Knowledge E.
Almost 2,500 Taylor & Francis journals, representing every research area from Anthropology to Zoology, are now available through Knowledge E’s Zendy platform. Developed for regions where research publications can be less affordable, especially for individuals not affiliated with an academic institution, Zendy gives subscribers access to a world of knowledge from the brightest minds.
Zendy is an online platform that enables individual subscribers to navigate based on subject, material type, date, and more. Users can discover content from their favorite publishers, now including Taylor & Francis, save search results, and enjoy unlimited article downloads.
Kamran R. Kardan, Founder and CEO of Knowledge E which developed Zendy, says this collaboration with Taylor & Francis is an “important step” towards Zendy’s goal of further increasing the visibility and dissemination of research.
He added: “We’re very excited to be extending our relationship with Taylor & Francis. The addition of their collection to our expanding portfolio is fantastic and it is sure to bring incredible value to Zendy’s community.”
Enabling access to research in the Global South is a key driver for Taylor & Francis’ partnership with Zendy, and this initiative sits alongside others which support affordable and free access to academic research. Zendy, which puts access choice in the hands of individual readers, complements these activities and offers a new opportunity to connect practitioners and the public with cutting-edge knowledge.
Christoph Chesher, Chief Commercial Officer, Taylor & Francis Group, states: “At Taylor & Francis we’re committed to reaching the widest readership possible with the research we publish. Ensuring there are affordable choices for readers in every part of the world is vital for achieving this goal, which is why we’re so excited by the potential of this partnership with Zendy.”
About Zendy
Zendy is an online platform created to provide individuals with access to scholarly research and literature. Zendy originates from the notion of building a more knowledgeable world, as there has never been a time where easy, affordable access to content has been more needed. Access to scientific publications is particularly troublesome in developing countries, where many universities cannot afford the subscription databases required for advancing research and studies. Zendy is working to remove barriers from scholarly discovery to make academic literature affordable and accessible to everyone, all academic and non-academic professionals, students, and knowledge enthusiasts.
Zendy is developed by Knowledge E in a growing collaboration with researchers, students, institutions, and publishers to facilitate the democratization of knowledge.
About Knowledge E
Established in 2012, Knowledge E’s name was fast to become synonymous with collaboration, professionalism and innovation. Head-quartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and supported by a team of over 40 highly engaged professionals, Knowledge E works closely with over 200 clients world-wide from various types of organizations and government entities within the research and education sector to support their continued innovation and development. This is achieved by providing leading expertise, information resources and software solutions. Since its inception, Knowledge E has prudently expanded its expertise, services and technology in line with its vision of developing ‘a more knowledgeable world’.
Knowledge E’s three core offerings are the 3D’s; ‘Discover’, ‘Develop’ and ‘Disseminate’. ‘Discover’ powered by Zendy, through the KnE Digital Library Solutions for research literature discovery, as well as tailored content packages; ‘Develop’ through the KnE Training Programmes, supporting capacity building and skills development within academia as well as the KnE Consulting Projects, serving universities on their mission to become ‘world-class universities’; and ‘Disseminate’ through the KnE Publishing Services and the platform for Open Access publishing of regional journals and conference proceedings.
About Taylor & Francis Group
Taylor & Francis Group partners with researchers, scholarly societies, universities and libraries worldwide to bring knowledge to life. As one of the world’s leading publishers of scholarly journals, books, e-books and reference works our content spans all areas of humanities, social sciences, behavioral sciences, science, technology and medicine.
Zendy and e-Marefa Partner to Expand Access to Arabic Academic Content
Dubai, UAE – May, 2025 – Zendy, the AI-powered research library, and e-Marefa, the leading digital Arabic database, have signed a partnership agreement to expand access to high-quality Arabic academic resources for researchers, students, and professionals worldwide. This strategic collaboration will make e-Marefa’s extensive collection of Arabic-language journals, theses, conference proceedings, and statistical reports available on Zendy’s platform, supporting scholars in the Arab world and beyond, to enhance global access to Arabic scholarship. With over 770,000 users in 191 countries and territories, Zendy continues to grow as a trusted platform for discovering academic knowledge. By integrating e-Marefa’s content, Zendy reinforces its mission to ensure that critical regional knowledge is not only preserved but also made accessible and discoverable to a wider audience. e-Marefa’s database spans a diverse range of disciplines including humanities, social sciences, economics, education, and medicine. Through this partnership, these valuable Arabic-language resources will be more discoverable and searchable by a global Arabic academic audience, bridging language and accessibility gaps that have historically limited the visibility of Arab scholarship. The partnership also reflects Zendy’s commitment to linguistic diversity and cultural representation in research. In a global knowledge ecosystem dominated by English-language publications, ensuring the inclusion of Arabic content is key to fostering a more balanced, inclusive academic landscape. Zendy users will now be able to explore and benefit from e-Marefa’s content seamlessly, supporting regional research, curriculum development, and policy work rooted in the local context. Together, Zendy and e-Marefa aim to empower Arabic-speaking researchers and increase the global impact of their work. For more information, please contact:Lisette van KesselHead of MarketingEmail: l.vankessel@knowledgee.com About ZendyZendy is an AI-powered research library dedicated to increasing the accessibility and discoverability of scholarly literature, particularly in the global south and underserved regions. The platform currently serves over 770,000 users across 191 countries and territories, offering a comprehensive collection of academic journals, articles, and reports to empower researchers, educators, and students around the world. About e-Marefae-Marefa is the leading digital Arabic academic database, providing access to thousands of peer-reviewed journals, dissertations, statistical data, and specialised resources across a broad range of disciplines. Serving universities, research institutions, and libraries throughout the Arab world and beyond, e-Marefa is committed to advancing academic research in Arabic and increasing the visibility of Arab scholarship on the global stage. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
Wiley and IEEE Collaborate with Zendy to Drive Ethical AI Through RAG-Based Innovation
Today, we announced that Wiley and IEEE have joined Zendy’s RAG-based revenue-sharing model, exemplifying a positive move toward ethical AI collaboration within the academic publishing industry. This news builds on our March announcement of a new Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)-based revenue share model, created to ensure publishers are proportionately compensated when their licensed content is cited or referenced by AI. Publishers Indicate a Shift Toward Ethical AI Partnerships The addition of Wiley and IEEE signals growing momentum behind Zendy’s RAG-based model. They join other publishers including IT Governance, Lived Places Publishing, Lexxion, British Online Archives, Bentham Press, and e-Marefa—reflecting a shared commitment to transparency, research integrity, and publisher-supported innovation at a time when such values are critically needed. Supported by these publishers, Zendy’s AI assistant, ZAIA, can now reference an even broader base of peer-reviewed content, ensuring that researchers receive high-quality, accurate, and fully attributed responses powered by our domain-specific large language model. Zendy Co-founder Kamran Kardan commented:“We’re seeing a turning point in how academic publishers view AI, we can sense an active shift from threat to partner. The inclusion of Wiley, IEEE and our other partners sends a powerful message that transparent and fair licensing and ethical AI models are the way forward.” A Transparent Model Grounded in Attribution and Licensing ZAIA uses RAG to retrieve data from a combination of open access and licensed paywalled sources. References generated by the model are attributed, enabling Zendy to calculate compensation per citation. This ensures AI can reach its full potential without overlooking the critical questions publishers are asking. We’re building this model together with collaboration at its core. This model is not just a technical solution, it’s a statement about the future of knowledge dissemination, where publishers are part of the AI value chain, not left behind by it. We also see a future where attribution goes beyond paywalled content, recognising the pivotal contributions of Open Access publishers and, ultimately, individual authors. Our model is designed to be scalable across the entire scholarly communication ecosystem, ensuring that the benefits of AI reach every stakeholder in the research value chain. Why Ethical Attribution Matters for Researchers and Institutions For the global scholarly community, this means unrestricted access to quality, reference-backed information. With trusted sources powering responses, researchers can confidently explore new ideas. For institutions, it creates a more defined path to AI adoption with publisher-approved, ethically referenced data, supporting academic integrity and compliance at every step. Get Involved in the Future of AI Collaboration We invite all stakeholders, including academic publishers, libraries, and research institutions to join us in shaping a future where AI collaboratively supports, not replaces, the foundations of scholarly communication. For more information or to book a demo of the capabilities of Zendy’s AI solutions, please visit our website. About Zendy We are an AI-powered research library with over 780,000 users across over 190 countries. Designed to accelerate the research process, we provide access to millions of journals, articles, and e-books, while offering a range of AI-driven tools, including ZAIA, an AI assistant that helps researchers expedite their research journey. We collaborate with leading academic publishers to make scholarly content more accessible and affordable, ensuring that users can explore high-quality research with ease. Zendy is a product of Knowledge E and is developed in collaboration with researchers, students, institutions, and publishers. Our mission is to democratise access to content by making it more affordable and accessible. There are no limitations on reading, just simple access to scholarly resources. For more information, visit zendy.io. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
We Are Exhibiting UKSG 2025 Annual Conference & Exhibition in Brighton!
We're thrilled to announce that we will be exhibiting at the 48th UKSG Conference from March 31 to April 2, 2025, in Brighton, UK. Visit us at booth #79 to experience: Live Demonstrations: See how Zendy’s AI-powered tools, like ZAIA and AI Summarisation, can streamline your research with reference-backed answers to all your research questions and concise summaries of complex academic papers Personalised Consultations: Meet our team to discuss how Zendy can support your library’s digital transformation. Interactive Sessions: Learn about our affordable subscription models and global accessibility initiatives. Meet Kamran Kardan, Sara Crowley Vigneau and Lisette van Kessel to learn how Zendy is making knowledge more accessible and affordable for researchers, students, and professionals worldwide. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the future of scholarly communication. To schedule a meeting with our team, please email us at info@zendy.io About UKSG Annual Conference: The UKSG Conference is a premier event in scholarly communications, attracting global delegates including librarians, publishers, researchers, and students. It offers an excellent platform for networking and exploring the latest trends in the research and publishing community. To learn more visit: https://www.uksg.org/events/conference25/ .wp-block-image img { max-width: 50% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }