STM APAC Conference – Advancing Open Science in the Region

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On June 17, 2025, STM co-hosted its inaugural APAC Conference in Beijing in partnership with CNPIEC and supported by Society of China University Journals. Themed “Open Driven by Innovation,” the event brought together over 300 leaders in research, publishing, and library services to chart a collaborative, innovative future for open science in the Asia-Pacific region.

Held immediately after PubTech and in the lead-up to the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF)—the world’s second-largest book fair—the STM APAC Conference is part of a joint initiative to foster international exchange and advance innovation in academic publishing.

This milestone marked STM’s first regional event dedicated entirely to APAC—a region recognized for its innovation and growing global engagement. The conference emphasized the importance of regional strategies tailored to local contexts, and the value of international partnerships in building a more open, equitable research ecosystem.

Here are a few highlights shared by CNPIEC:

The event was opened by CEO Lin Liying of CNPIEC and hosted by Wu Shangzhi, President of the China Periodicals Association, who highlighted China’s commitment to contributing to global open science.

Professor Yang Wei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences called for affordable OA models for the Global South and emphasized the need for local publishing platforms to safeguard academic integrity and diversity.

STM CEO Caroline Sutton shared an overview of the global policy context outside of Asia and urged APAC stakeholders to develop regional solutions driven by technology and cooperation.

Panels, moderated by Mark Robertson (STM) and Zhang Tieming (CUJS), brought together global experts including representatives from Springer Nature, SAGE, DOAJ, ACS, and others. Discussions focused on sustainable open science, infrastructure development, and cross-border policy alignment.