Zendy celebrates International Open Access Week 2018
Oct 22, 2018 |
4 Mins ReadThe week of 22–28 October is the International Open Access Week (#OAweek), which Zendy and Knowledge E will celebrate with you by highlighting different Open Access initiatives and perspectives.
Open Access has stepwise gained significance and momentum since its inception in the 1990s as a model for publishing research findings in a barrier-free way. Over the last few years, Open Access has been accelerated by global government initiatives to increase public accessibility to publicly funded research. The European Commission is pursuing an ambitious plan to move publicly funded research into a culture of Open Science as laid out in several initiatives, for example, as part of the Work Programme ‘Science with and for Society’ of Horizon 2020, and the lately taken ground-breaking step through ‘Plan S’.
However, the Open Access initiatives don’t stop at Europe’s borders, and the benefits to openly accessible data to stimulate collaboration and discovery are globally known, and perhaps most felt in developing countries where paid content commonly is not affordable to institutions.
Several scholarly, diamond Open Access journals and over 1,500 conference papers are now available on Knowledge E’s ‘KnE Publishing Platform’, which is a significant contribution to the developing countries’ knowledge infrastructure, and is benefitting the academic community worldwide by ensuring visibility of regional findings.
This month, Knowledge E has gone a step further in democratising access to knowledge by announcing the beta release of Zendy with the aim to provide academic literature at your fingertips. Zendy already provides access to an impressive 20,000 peer-reviewed journals and over 100 million publication records available as Open Access.
The beta-release almost coincides with the International Open Access Week, a reminder of the importance of free-for-all data of high value. The Open Access Week initiative offers a video archive, which gives glimpses into the merits of Open Access globally: www.openaccessweek.org/video
Knowledge E celebrates the International Open Access Week through daily social media feeds showcasing the company’s Open Access initiatives through a prism of vantage points.
Zendy Sponsors the 4th Annual Forum for Open Research in MENA
This October, American University of Sharjah will host the 4th Annual Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM), a leading regional event dedicated to advancing open access, collaboration, and community capacity building across the Arab world. Zendy is proud to be among the official sponsors of this year’s Forum, reinforcing our ongoing commitment to making research more accessible and equitable for all. Organised by the non-profit Forum for Open Research in MENA, the fourth edition will bring together: 26 sessions across four days 88 expert speakers Representation from 60 global institutions Delegates from 27 countries Dozens of formal and informal networking opportunities, connecting thought leaders, practitioners, and advocates throughout the MENA region Participants will explore strategies to strengthen open science practices, build sustainable infrastructures, and promote shared learning across borders. A Shared Vision for Accessible Knowledge Zendy’s mission to make academic knowledge affordable and accessible worldwide aligns closely with FORM’s goal of fostering open, collaborative research communities in the region. As a sponsor, Zendy supports initiatives that not only expand access to scholarly literature but also empower researchers, educators, and students to participate in a more transparent and connected research ecosystem. Hosted by the American University of Sharjah This year’s Forum, hosted by the American University of Sharjah, arrives in the UAE under the national theme, “The Year of Community.” The theme underscores the importance of collective progress and shared learning—values that sit at the heart of both open science and Zendy’s approach to research discovery. Theme Spotlight: “Becoming Open—Capacity Building and Community Collaboration” The 2025 theme, “Becoming Open,” highlights the human side of open science: community collaboration, capacity building, and sustainable growth. Through workshops, panels, and discussions, the Annual Forum will address how regional institutions can implement open research policies, share resources effectively, and strengthen local research infrastructures. Join us in Sharjah from October 20–23, 2025, as we celebrate and support the growing movement toward open science across the Arab world. The registration is now open, visit https://forumforopenresearch.com/registration/ .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
We’re heading back to Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025
We’re excited to return to Frankfurt this October for the world’s largest book fair, and this year, we’re stepping onto the Innovation Stage with a timely conversation on how artificial intelligence can bring ethical, lasting value to scholarly publishing. Join us on October 15 at 12:30 p.m. (CEST), Hall 4.0 Innovation StageOur Co-Founder, Kamran Kardan, will be joined by Josh Nicholson (Scite) and Julie Atkins (Bristol University Press & Policy Press) for a panel discussion on: “AI and Ethical Innovation in Publishing: Driving Value for Publishers” The session will explore how AI can strengthen collaboration between publishers, platforms, librarians and researchers, ensuring research is more transparent, trustworthy, and accessible worldwide. Some of the themes include: How publishers can benefit from Zendy’s Revenue-Share Model, which compensates them whenever their content is referenced by AI assistants. The role of Scite’s smart citation system in helping users evaluate whether a paper supports, contradicts, or builds upon previous work. Why responsible use of technologies like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) can combat misinformation and provide more reliable insights. How global equity and inclusivity can remain at the center of AI adoption in research. Together, these discussions will also link to broader goals, from advancing quality education to supporting sustainable innovation and global partnerships. Speakers Kamran Kardan, Founder & CEO Knowledge E, Co-Founder Zendy Josh Nicholson, Co-founder of Scite, CSO at Research Solutions Moderator: Sara Crowley Vigneau, Partnership Relations Manager, Zendy And of course, the Zendy team will be around throughout the fair! Find us at Stand G97, Hall 4.0, where Kamran Kardan, Lisette van Kessel (Head of Marketing), and Sara Crowley Vigneau (Partnership Manager) will be happy to talk about our ethical AI tools for research, open access publishing, and higher education librarynesp programs. Want to set up a one-on-one meeting? Reach out to l.vankessel@knowledgee.com. For more details about the fair, visit Frankfurter Buchmesse. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
Zendy and Liverpool University Press Partner to Expand Global Access to Academic Research
Oxford, UK – August 19, 2025 – Zendy, the digital research library, has signed a partnership agreement with Liverpool University Press (LUP), one of the UK’s oldest and most respected academic publishers. This collaboration will make a curated collection of Liverpool University Press’ books available on Zendy platform, extending access to high-quality scholarship for students, researchers, and independent learners worldwide. As part of this initiative, Zendy users will gain access to titles across a range of disciplines, including history, literature, politics, cultural studies, postcolonial studies, international development, and Hispanic and Francophone studies. The partnership also includes works from the prestigious British Academy publishing portfolio, following Liverpool’s recent appointment as the Academy’s publishing partner for its academic books programme. This partnership strengthens Zendy’s offering in the humanities and social sciences, providing users with valuable perspectives on human experience and society. It reflects the shared mission of both organisations to break down access barriers and promote educational equity across underserved regions. About Zendy Zendy is an AI-powered, mission-driven 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 780,000 users across 200+ countries and territories, offering a comprehensive collection of academic journals, books, and reports to empower researchers, educators, and students. Zendy also provides AI tools, including its research assistant ZAIA, to help users read, analyse, and summarise academic content more efficiently.Website: https://zendy.io About Liverpool University Press Founded in 1899, Liverpool University Press (LUP) is the UK’s third oldest university press and has built a reputation for publishing exceptional scholarship across the humanities and social sciences. LUP publishes around 200 books annually, alongside 50 journals and more than a dozen digital collections. It also operates Liverpool Distribution Services and Liverpool Subscription Services, supporting the dissemination of scholarly research on behalf of university presses, foundations, and non-profits.Website: www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk For more information, please contact: Lisette van KesselHead of Marketing, Zendyl.vankessel@knowledgee.com Catherine DuttonHead of Books Marketing, Liverpool University Presscatherine.dutton@liverpool.ac.uk .wp-block-image img { max-width: 75% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
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