STM Trends: a Scholarly Communications Futurecast

In the scholarly publishing world, spring brings the annual return of STM Trends, a future-forward look at the entire ecosystem of scholarly communications by members of the STM Association. STM Trends captures the most impactful changes in research and publishing in a single themed image. Its aim is to: 

  • inspire broad thinking,
  • spark conversations,
  • catalyze ideas and solutions — and
  • galvanize those of us working to advance trusted science together.

 


Access the latest Trends here

How are STM Trends created?

STM’s Trends is created annually by members from our STEC Committee and the Future Lab, a discussion forum of over 30 STM members: senior staff in innovations, technology, strategy, business development, platforms, IT. In a group discussion, participants identify key technology-driven trends that are likely to impact the STM publishing industry in the next three to five years. Our methodology is based on the Delphi-method for technology forecasting. The outcome of this is translated every year into an infographic that looks up to 5 years ahead.

The Latest from STM

STM grows its team: two new appointments

STM is pleased to welcome two new colleagues who joined the team in spring 2026. Georgiana Svensmark-Baciu joins as Senior Manager, Public Affairs EU, based in Brussels. She brings a strong background in publishing, open science, and strategic communications, most recently at Elsevier where she led the global launch of AI products for researchers and coordinated…

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STM supports transparency in AI training

STM has expressed support for Congressional efforts to legislate on AI transparency, with several bills proposed to require AI developers to disclose the use of copyrighted material. The TRAIN Act grants rightsholders the ability to petition courts to subpoena developers to release generative AI training data. The CLEAR Act would require generative AI developers to disclose, available via a…

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EU Commission releases report on ERA Act consultation

Following the call for evidence on the ERA Act open between 6 August and 10 September 2025, the EU Commission released a summary of stakeholders’ responses. A fragmented copyright landscape, the lack of standardised metadata and interoperable data infrastructures, inequities arising from APCs, dominance of English in scientific publishing, reliance on commercial publishers and restrictive contractual practices…

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ICYMI: Our comments on copyright and AI in India

Last month we joined other publishing organisations and rightsholders in submitting comments to India’s Working Paper on Generative Artificial Intelligence and Copyright, which proposed a statutory licensing scheme for AI. STM will continue to monitor this issue and engage with stakeholders in India. View the working paper here.

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