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.

ACCESS

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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Latest policy updates from around the globe

CLA welcomes new CEO

The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) shared that Simon Hutson has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of CLA.  With over 20 years of experience across publishing, media and technology, including leadership roles at the BBC, Reuters and Cision, Hutson brings a powerful blend of commercial insight, strategic innovation and a deep commitment to creators and publishers. Read…

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Congress rejects cuts to science funding

To kick off the new year, Congress agreed to a “minibus” spending package that rejects the Administration’s draconian cuts to federal science funding. The package includes several key science agencies, with only slight reductions for NSF, NASA, USGS, and NOAA, and modest increases for the DOE Office of Science and NIST. While these numbers might ordinarily disappoint the…

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NIH approves hundreds of previously rejected grants

Last year, NIH abruptly cancelled or rejected thousands of grants based on their alleged non-alignment with Administration priorities. This included the unilateral rejection of projects addressing disfavored topics such as diversity, equity, and inclusion. In response to legal challenges — though without admitting wrongdoing — NIH has agreed to reconsider more than 5,000 grants. According…

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STM comments on DOE’s plan for scientific AI

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) last year issued a Request for Information (RFI) on “how DOE should best structure and enable partnerships to curate DOE scientific data across the National Laboratory complex for use in artificial intelligence (AI) models.” In response, STM highlighted the importance of clear licensing frameworks, the value of high-quality and validated information,…

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