Zendy Sponsors the 4th Annual Forum for Open Research in MENA
Oct 8, 2025 |
4 Mins Read
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/
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; }
Introducing the Zendy App: Smarter Research in Your Pocket
We’re excited to announce the launch of the Zendy App, now available on iOS and Android. Accessing research just became easier and faster. With the power of ZAIA, your AI research assistant, within Zendy App, you can now carry 40+ million scholarly articles wherever you go. Easier Research - Anytime, Anywhere At Zendy, we’re on a mission to make academic content accessible, discoverable, and now mobile. The Zendy App takes that mission a step further, offering a seamless mobile experience that gives students, researchers, academics, and professionals the freedom to access powerful AI tools directly from a mobile phone. With the Zendy App, you can: Ask ZAIA your research Q&A and receive quick, insightful research-backed answers. Speed up literature reviews with summaries and keyphrase highlights Browse research from top journals and publishers Stay updated with a list of collections in your field With Zendy App, you don’t have to go through dense academic texts or search endlessly for the right paper. You can get quick answers, reliable insights, and curated knowledge—all with just a few taps. Flexible Plans for Every Researcher We understand researchers have different needs, so we’ve made Zendy App as accessible as possible. PlanPriceBenefitsRecommended ForZendy OpenFree- Access to essential features- Limited daily interactions with ZAIA - Free access to open-access contentBest for those just getting started with ZendyZendy ToolsUnder $10/month- Everything in Zendy Open, plus:- Unlimited use of ZAIA- Unlimited PDF Analysis- Unlimited Summarisation- Unlimited Keyphrase HighlightingBest for saving time for literature review, understanding complicated topicsZendy Plus$29.50/month- Everything in Zendy Tools, plus:- Full access to Zendy’s research library of over 40 million paywalled articles from world-leading publishers like EBSCO, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, IT Governance, De Gruyter, Bristol University Press and Lived Places PublishingBest for those seeking affordable alternatives to access paywalled content Whether you're working on a literature review, trying to understand a dense article, or just looking for quick answers, the Zendy App is here to make the process easier and smarter. Why Zendy App? Your research doesn’t have to wait until you’re at your desk. Whether you’re managing tight deadlines, moving between meetings, or studying late at night, the Zendy App is built to keep up. The clean, intuitive interface makes it easier to stay informed and make progress, even when life is busy. Mobility – Access research from anywhere Efficiency – Spend less time searching, more time learning Simplicity – Designed to be intuitive and user-friendly Support – With ZAIA, you’re never researching alone We developed the Zendy App to meet the evolving needs of research. It's clear that research is no longer confined to a single location, and it certainly doesn't pause when we step away from our desks. We recognise this shift and built an app to support it. Deadlines, ideas, and questions come up at random moments, during commutes, late at night, or between meetings. Having ZAIA’s feature in a mobile app means you can still get answers to tough research questions right when you need them. Experience the next level of research Download the Zendy App today Download for Android Download for iOS Research smarter. Anywhere, anytime. With Zendy App. Note: If you’re already a Zendy subscriber, there’s no need to pay twice; your plan works across both desktop and mobile. Simply sign in with your Zendy account and enjoy more value with one subscription. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
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