Equality and equity to advance trusted research

Ensuring everyone benefits from scholarship and scientific advancement

STM is commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by reconfirming our commitment to advancing trusted research worldwide that educates, inspires and benefits society.   

STM members are responsible for around two-thirds of the world’s published research output. Our members, together with the stakeholders we support, comprise a global community, one of the shining examples of what happens when all people, regardless of place or politics, have the opportunity to freely pursue knowledge together. STM members are committed to preserving this ideal and advocating for equity and equality.  

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In line with Article 19 and 27 of the Declaration, we play our part to:

Ensure everyone can enjoy the benefits of scientific advancement and its applications

STM members strive to foster trust in research through promoting the dependability, replicability and openness of research findings. 

STM members are committed to ensuring the outcomes of research are communicated with pinpoint accuracy, clarity and integrity.   

STM is committed to promoting publishers’ contributions to make progress on innovation, openness and sharing of knowledge needed to benefit society.  

Respect, protect and advocate for Academic freedom

STM members universally provide outlets where independent academic thought and scholarly discussion are cultivated and thrive. 

STM recognises there are inherent biases and inequities in the research ecosystem that must be addressed by all stakeholders. As publishers, STM members are committed to working collaboratively to close gaps across research and scholarly communication.  

Promote, encourage and foster internationalisation and cooperation across regions and disciplines

As a global organisation, STM is committed to fostering greater collaboration, ensuring that everyone benefits and is recognised for their contribution to the advancement of trusted research. We do this through establishing and promoting standards, sharing best practices and upskilling members across borders and disciplines. 

Our shared diversity, equity and inclusion agenda

Society is changing. We acknowledge that there are challenges and issues that need to be addressed collectively and by each member. STM members are committed to embedding the values of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and supporting participation from all voices to make the research ecosystem more dynamic.   

STM will lead a DEI agenda across our core committees and through collaborative partnerships.  Each committee will identify gaps and action areas to lead sustained and transformative change within our publishing organisations and indirectly with the researchers, institutions and academic and professional societies that we serve. 

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A United Call to Protect the Future of Research

*Announcements *In the media 07/08/25

STM has joined the Association of College and Research Libraries, the Association of Research Libraries, the Association of University Presses, and the Society for Scholarly Publishing in a unified call to safeguard the future of research. Published in The Scholarly Kitchen, our joint op-ed responds to escalating uncertainty in the United States, including sweeping federal…

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New Resources on Best Practices for Guest-Edited Collections

*Announcements *Research Integrity 07/06/25

Guest-edited collections, often published as special issues or themed volumes, curated by experts in a specific field, play an important role in scholarly publishing offering a focused exploration of contemporary topics, emerging trends, or specialised areas of study. However, guest-edited collections have been accompanied by increasing challenges, including coordinated attempts to manipulate the publishing record…

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STM APAC Conference – Advancing Open Science in the Region

*AI *Announcements *Policy & Advocacy China 07/01/25

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. …

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PubTech 2025 – Technology Driving the Future of Academic Publishing

*AI *Announcements *Policy & Advocacy China

On June 16, 2025, STM supported the 3rd PubTech Conference in Beijing, aligning with global partners to explore how technological innovation is reshaping scholarly publishing. Organized by China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Co., Ltd. (CNPIEC) and co-organized with the Society of China University Journals and APPA Key Laboratory, this year’s PubTech focused for…

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