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 Signs First US University Press Partnership with the University of Georgia Press
Oxford, UK – Nov, 2025 – Zendy, the AI-powered research library serving more than 800,000 readers globally, has entered into a new partnership with the University of Georgia Press (UGA Press) to broaden the international reach of its publications. This marks Zendy’s first partnership with a university press in the United States, further expanding the reach of UGA Press’s titles to a global audience. Founded in 1938, UGA Press publishes 70 new titles annually, with recognised strengths in literary studies, history, environmental studies, sociology, geography, Atlantic world studies, and regional scholarship. Through this agreement, a selection of its catalogue will become available to researchers, students, librarians and professionals across Zendy’s international markets. This partnership reflects a growing confidence among academic publishers in Zendy’s model of widening access, increasing visibility, and ensuring that scholarly work finds engaged global readers. Zendy currently works with several major UK university presses, including Oxford University Press, Bristol University Press, and Liverpool University Press, which also distributes British Academy content. These collaborations have shown that academic presses benefit from Zendy’s reach, predictable revenue model, and strong content discovery tools designed for both specialist and interdisciplinary research. The agreement with UGA Press also includes the option to integrate AI-supported discovery features that help researchers navigate publications more effectively. These capabilities range from enhanced metadata enrichment to responsible, context-aware summarisation and multilingual discovery. Recent commitments from Bristol University Press and Liverpool University Press to adopt elements of this approach reflect a wider trend across scholarly publishing: a growing demand for AI tools that improve discoverability and user experience while preserving the integrity and rights of academic content. “The UGA Press is excited to partner with Zendy on bringing our scholarship to a broader global audience with enhanced discovery tools. We especially value Zendy’s focus on reducing inequality in access to scholarship and development of ethical and transparent AI strategy.”—Lisa Bayer, Director, UGA Press With over 2,200 titles in print, the University of Georgia Press publishes innovative scholarship and compelling stories that inspire and inform the people of Georgia and the world. Learn more at ugapress.org. Zendy’s mission is rooted in supporting not-for-profit academic publishers by expanding the reach of their content and helping them connect with new international audiences. As academic presses continue to navigate changing reading habits, new technologies, and limited distribution channels outside their home markets, Zendy offers a sustainable and reader-centric way forward. For media inquiries, please contact:Lisette van KesselHead of MarketingEmail: l.vankessel@knowledgee.com
Zendy AI Assistant, ZAIA, Now Speaks Your Language
We’re excited to share a major milestone! As we grow, we want to make research easier for everyone. That’s why Zendy AI Assistant, ZAIA, now comes with a new multilingual feature: you can search and receive answers in your own language. Whether you’re exploring research in Arabic, English, French, or any other language, ZAIA understands you and delivers accurate, clear answers. This update is more than a feature, it’s part of our mission. At Zendy, we aim to make knowledge accessible and inclusive for all librarians, researchers, students, and academics, reaching users in ways that feel natural to them. By breaking language barriers, ZAIA helps more people discover, understand, and use research effectively. This is just one step in making ZAIA your personal research assistant, helping you discover knowledge in the language that feels natural to you.Try ZAIA now! .wp-block-video video { max-width: 65% !important; display: block !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; height: auto !important; }
Kamran Kardan, Co-Founder of Zendy, to Speak at QS Eurasia Forum 2025 in Tashkent
We are proud to announce that our Co-Founder, Kamran Kardan, will be a featured speaker at the QS Eurasia Forum 2025, taking place on 25–26 November at Central Asian University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This inaugural summit brings together university leaders, policymakers, and education experts from across the Eurasia region to explore collaboration, innovation, and the future of higher education. The forum’s theme, “Broadening Horizons: Building Global Bridges in Higher Education,” focuses on strengthening international partnerships, advancing research excellence, enhancing academic mobility, and shaping future-ready learning ecosystems. Kamran will join a distinguished panel in a session titled: “Building a Globally Recognised University from the Region: Strategies and Success Stories” During the session, Kamran will share insights and strategies on how universities in the region can achieve global recognition, highlighting practical approaches, real-world success stories, and lessons from Zendy’s journey supporting academic research and collaboration. Date & Time: Tuesday, 25 November at 13:30 UZT The QS Eurasia Forum 2025 promises a comprehensive program including keynote speeches, interactive panel discussions, masterclasses, workshops, and extensive networking opportunities. It serves as a pivotal platform for uniting East and West, showcasing best practices, and fostering strategic relationships that will shape the future of higher education in the region. Participation is open via the official QS Eurasia Forum website. We look forward to contributing to this landmark forum, sharing knowledge, and engaging with leaders committed to advancing higher education across Eurasia. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 75% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
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