Challenging the Publishing Industry: Making a Diamond University Press Attractive to Researchers
Abstract
Founded in 2008 with just two HSS journals and a clear vision for a free and transparent publishing framework, Riviste Unimi now hosts over 70 journals across several disciplines and it has become the journals platform of Milano University Press, the Diamond Open Access publishing house of the University of Milan, established in 2020 and inspired by the success of its journals division. This achievement stems from a strategic focus on adopting best practices, ensuring quality, and providing continuous training to the academic community on the scientific, ethical, and economic benefits of Diamond Open Access. While editorial boards retain full autonomy over scientific workflows, a central office ensures editorial quality across all the journals with a series of tasks and promotes Open Science knowledge throughout the university. The attractiveness of Riviste Unimi is reflected in the constant joining of journals, from both commercial publishers and independent initiatives, seeking to join the platform.