UMCG participates in national open access agreement with publisher PLOS

The UMCG participates in a national open access agreement with the publisher PLOS. The agreement applies to seven journals. All publication types are covered under the agreement.

• PLOS ONE
• PLOS Complex Systems
• PLOS Computational Biology
• PLOS Digital Health
• PLOS Genetics
• PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• PLOS Pathogens

Research funders NWO and ZonMW are also contributing financially to the agreement.

Financial implications for UMCG authors

Although both UG and UMCG participate in the deal, it has different financial implications for UG and UMCG authors:

• UMCG-affiliated authors receive a 50% discount
• UMCG-affiliated authors receive a 100% discount when project research funding by NWO or ZonMW is acknowledged in the article.

Please read the Medical Library Guide Act On Submission during submission for details and how to make use of the deal.

What are the conditions for using this agreement?

You can benefit from the agreement if you submit your article and list the UMCG as your primary affiliation. NB: Acknowledging NWO and/or ZonMW project funding (when applicable) in the manuscript and during the submission process is essential to obtaining a 100% discount.
Please follow these guidelines during the submission process.

When is the agreement valid?

The contract takes effect as of 1 January 2025, and will be valid for two years. The date of editorial acceptance determines eligibility. In December 2025, the discount percentage for 2026 will be announced.

What should I do if I receive an invoice?

No APC payment is required at the time of publication. If your article is accepted in 2025, you should not receive an invoice for publishing in any of the eligible PLOS journals listed above. If you still receive an invoice from PLOS, please contact openaccess umcg.nl and attach the invoice).

Who finances the publication costs and how are they handled?

• UMCG researchers will receive a 50% discount. The remainder of the APC has to be financed by the authors/departments, as usual. You will not receive an invoice from the publisher. Internal reimbursement goes via the Medical Library and your department/project controller.
• NWO and/or ZonMW participate in this deal and cover part of the costs. Thanks to their contributions, for articles acknowledging project funding from NWO and/or ZonMW, a 100% discount applies. Publication costs will not be internally charged to your department or project. Hence, authors cannot submit claims for reimbursement to ZonMW or NWO budgets.
• For all publications: researchers will receive a message from the Medical Library informing them whether or not their publication will be charged, depending on whether their project was funded by NWO/ZonMw.