Policy & Advocacy

STM works in partnership across the research ecosystem to advocate for policies which advance trusted research. In dialogue with governments, funders, institutions, researchers, and beyond, we aim to enable and drive openness, innovation and sustainability through the following activities:

Representation & voice

Serving as the collective voice for our members, representing their interests to government bodies, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders. 

Policy development & analysis

Developing policy positions and recommendations that align with the interests of our members. We analyze current and proposed legislation to understand its impact on the industry and provide expert insights.

Advocacy and lobbying

Actively engaging with lawmakers, regulators, and other decision-makers to advocate for policies that support the industry’s growth and sustainability. This can involve direct lobbying, participating in public consultations, and submitting formal comments on proposed regulations.

Stakeholder engagement

Building and maintaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, industry partners, and the public. 

Policy updates

Ensuring that members are informed about relevant policy developments, regulatory changes, and other critical issues that could affect their strategies and operations. 

Education and training

Providing educational resources and training to members on compliance with regulations, best practices in advocacy, and understanding the policy landscape.

Research and data analysis

Conducting and commissioning research to support advocacy efforts, providing data and evidence to back policy positions and demonstrate the industry’s value and impact. 

Coalition building

Forming coalitions with other organizations and industries to strengthen advocacy efforts and present a united front on common issues.

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EXPLORE STM POLICY & ADVOCACY POSITIONS, STATEMENTS, GUIDELINES & MORE

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Drill deeper

Meet the STM Chapters

STM Chapters connect regional members with STM leadership, support local needs, and ensure strategies reflect cultural and regional contexts.

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Our work protecting author rights and IP

View this collection of resources and positions around intellectual property.

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Our work on AI

STM explores AI’s impact on scholarly communication, providing insights and resources to help members navigate opportunities and challenges in this evolving era.

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The Latest from STM

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What is next for AI and copyright in Europe?

The European Commission will soon launch a study to evaluate the 2019 EU Copyright Directive—examining its benefits, implementation challenges, and unresolved issues, particularly around text and data mining (TDM) exceptions for commercial and scientific research. Beyond the evaluation, the Commission will explore potential new measures to support the development of a licensing market that enables…

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EU AI Act’s Code of Practice and summary of training content

Updates remain limited on the Code of Practice for General-Purpose AI and the accompanying template for a sufficiently detailed summary of training content. Both documents are currently with the EU’s new AI Office, which will consult the AI Board (Member State representatives) during June. Latest reports suggest the Code, the summary template, and the General-Purpose…

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Consultation period on European Research Area Act opening soon

A call for evidence and a detailed questionnaire will be launched in the coming weeks on the official consultation page. In parallel, a new study will begin to assess the economic impact of proposed measures—such as an EU-wide Secondary Publication Right and changes to copyright exceptions for scientific research—on stakeholders including publishers. It will be…

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STM submits comment on Canada’s open access plan

STM, along with cOAlition S and library organisations across the globe, provided feedback on the new draft revised Tri-Agency Open Access (OA) Policy on Publications. Our comment supported the flexibility in the draft policy while making several suggestions for changes or clarifications: Maintain recognition of publisher investments in vetted, validated, peer-reviewed articles Find ways to…

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