Now in its third year (building on the legacy of STM Week), this year’s Innovation & Integrity Days reflected a noticeable shift: more dialogue across traditional boundaries, more urgency around shared challenges, and a stronger sense of common purpose in shaping the future of research integrity and innovation — priorities that reflect this year’s theme “Building Tomorrow’s Research Integrity Framework”.

For those unable to join us in London, here are some of the key takeaways and highlights:

Day 1 Recap

Day 2 Recap

Day One: the STM Innovator Fair

The first day of STM’s Innovation & Integrity Days focused on practical progress in innovation — with a keynote, lightning talks, startup pitches and a panel that explored how technology, infrastructure and collaboration are reshaping research integrity.

In the opening keynote, Professor Rachael Gooberman-Hill (UK Committee on Research Integrity; University of Bristol) set the tone by drawing on her extensive experience to frame research integrity not as a checklist, but as the long-term work of building and maintaining trust — informed by context, relationships, and values.

The lightning talks that followed showcased a wave of innovation already underway — not just isolated tools, but signals of how the ecosystem is adapting. Key themes included:

• Workflow integration: Platforms like KGL’s Smart Publish, Proofig’s PubShield, Enago Reports, ReviewerZero and Hum’s Alchemist Review demonstrated how multiple integrity signals can be brought together in a single editorial interface. DataSeer’s SnapShot tool demonstrated how agentic LLM technology can be leveraged to support the editorial process and Scitility, a Vesalius Innovation Award finalist, added to the picture with article-level risk scoring based on co-authorship patterns and retractions.
• Upstream provenance: Solutions like Veridat’s Bench and VeriMe are moving trust signals earlier in the process — capturing the when, where and how of data creation, and validating researcher identity in a privacy-preserving way. This was echoed in Thesify AI’s pitch — using structured feedback and journal matching to support quality at submission.
• Reviewer capacity and quality: ReviewerOne, Global Campus and SinoScholar (MPS) explored ways to strengthen reviewer pools through better matching, recognition and AI-assisted support. Profectus Academy, the Vesalius Award winner, connects here too — using real-world examples to build reviewer-like feedback into the research grant writing process.
• AI-readiness, risk awareness and trust: From Cashmere’s work on preparing trusted content for LLMs to Otto-SR’s systematic review support and Dandelion’s visual literature mapping, the ecosystem is thinking ahead. AuthentiSci, another Vesalius finalist, approached this from the public trust angle — enabling ORCID-verified researchers to rate and contextualise science reporting.

The innovations on display reflected a shared aim: to embed trust earlier, deeper and more systematically into the research process — supporting not just editors and research integrity staff, but researchers, reviewers and the public.

The day also featured Karger’s Vesalius Innovation Award, spotlighting early‑stage innovation focused on trust and researcher support. Five finalists pitched from more than 100 applications worldwide; you can learn more about the winner Profectus Academy and the other finalists here.

A five-year retrospective on GetFTR offered a compelling testimony of cross-industry collaboration delivering results. Originally launched to streamline access to the version of record from discovery services, GetFTR has evolved into critical infrastructure supporting the discoverability and use of trusted scholarly content in a multitude of ways.

The Fair also created space for practical exchange. Between sessions, attendees connected with exhibitors, explored prototypes and surfaced shared challenges. In parallel, in-person Research Integrity Workshops provided case-based learning in a confidential setting — not covered in this report, but an important part of the day’s impact.

The final session, From Pitch to Partnership, explored how stakeholders assess new ventures. Investors, infrastructure leaders and acquirers shared frank insights: what works, what doesn’t, and how mission-aligned startups can grow without compromising their values.

Taken together, the Innovator Fair pointed to a clear direction of travel: innovation that embeds trust throughout the research lifecycle — supported by smart tools, shared infrastructure, and steady collaboration.

Day Two: Research Integrity Day

Held under the Chatham House Rule, Day Two of the programme was framed as a multi-stakeholder dialogue — to surface shared concerns, test one another’s assumptions, and discuss practical pathways forward. The day kicked off with an update on the STM Integrity Hub, highlighting the progress that has been made in 2025, and then featured a series of panel discussions that explored various aspects of the “Building Tomorrow’s Research Integrity Framework” theme. 

Bringing together publishers, researchers, funders, institutional integrity offices, infrastructure providers and volunteer sleuths, the day focused on how to strengthen trust in research amid evolving threats and expectations. Discussions focused on research integrity, governance and operational practice, and did not cover competitively sensitive topics such as commercial terms. Three key themes emerged:

1/ Shared Responsibility, Misaligned Incentives
Participants acknowledged that every part of the research ecosystem plays a role in upholding integrity — but also faces different incentives and pressures. From grant cycles and publication demands to institutional risk management and business models, aligning integrity incentives emerged as a long-term priority. The discussion pointed to the need for collaboration, not just isolated efforts.

2/ Shift Left: Trust Starts Earlier
There was strong support for moving integrity checks earlier in the research lifecycle. By the time a publisher’s integrity team gets involved, behaviours are already entrenched and corrections are very cumbersome. Funders and institutional representatives described very low numbers of formal complaints relative to portfolio size, with only a fraction upheld, and pointed to weak whistleblower protections, fear of reprisals and unclear reporting routes as key barriers. Suggested directions included treating role-modelling and local culture as central (not just formal training), exploring continuing professional development requirements for integrity awareness, and tightening channels and protections so that raising concerns is not perceived as a risk to one’s career. Funders described extending grant periods, building in generous leave extensions and placing greater weight on environment and process rather than on publication counts alone. Participants, including sleuths, also called for better protections for those who raise concerns, and for local research cultures that treat integrity as a shared value embedded in everyday practice, rather than a box-ticking exercise.

3/ Upstream Provenance and Workflow Integrity
Several sessions carried forward last year’s Innovation & Integrity days theme of going “beyond the manuscript”. New safeguards, in addition to checking manuscripts at the point of submission for indications of integrity concerns, are required to establish the veracity and authenticity of research outputs, especially in the age of (Gen)AI. Two options were discussed specifically: strengthening researcher identity verification, and establishing the authenticity of images and data through new technologies. Participants agreed that it will be increasingly challenging for detection to keep pace with manipulation as tools evolve, which requires us to focus our attention on provenance — capturing how and where data and images are created, and embedding that information into research workflows from the outset. Ideas included trusted research environments, data-focused peer review, and stronger signalling of provenance quality, aligned with Open Science principles. In other words, a shift from publishers investigating if something is false or fabricated, to researchers demonstrating that something is real and genuine through trustworthy workflows – requiring collaboration and new workflows throughout the research ecosystem.

A Way Forward
One clear takeaway from both days: technology can support integrity, as proven by the success of the STM Integrity Hub and the many innovators presenting their work, but it cannot guarantee it. Lasting trust depends on governance, incentives, new technologies, workflows, and especially collaboration.

STM remains committed to supporting that progress — convening dialogue, connecting expertise, and championing efforts that protect and enhance the integrity of the scholarly record.

Special thanks to Lynsey Haire, Academic Publishing Operations Consultant, for her expert summary and contribution to this post following STM’s I&I Days in London.

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Want to be sure you don’t miss next year’s event? (Hint: it will be in early December 2026 at the BMA House again!) Sign up for our newsletter so you can be the first to know when registration opens — and when virtual learning opportunities emerge. 

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This year’s STM Rewind is a brief, four-minute look at some of the highlights: bold action, global collaboration, and shared purpose from across our community.

From all of us at STM around the world, thank you to all of you across the globe who joined us in discussion, debate, collaboration, and innovation.

Note >> Stick around to the end for a touch of holiday cheer from our team — and here’s to all we’ll build together in 2026.

Happy Holidays!

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In early November, STM CEO Caroline Sutton spent several days in Tokyo meeting with funders, government leaders, research agencies, and publishing groups — alongside delegates from STM’s Japan Chapter. As in last year’s visit, the conversations were productive, wide-ranging, and grounded in strong local partnerships. And while open science dominated the agenda in 2024, this year the spotlight had clearly shifted to AI, research integrity, and the evolving policy landscape in Japan. 

Government: A New Five-Year Plan and a Changing Landscape 

One of the most important conversations took place with Professor Kohei Miyazono, the new Chief Executive Member of Japan’s Council for Science, Technology and Innovation. With his background as a journal editor and society president, he brings a nuanced understanding of scholarly publishing to the table. 

Japan’s next Five-Year Plan is expected in early 2026 and may include efforts to reverse the country’s relative decline in research output — potentially with an increase in national research investment. 

Discussions also touched on rising political tensions with China, including a growing concern: inter-governmental research co-funded by China may require that 50% of resulting publications appear in Chinese domestic journals. 

Open science, which dominated last year’s visit, received only brief attention — a sign that, with the national policy now launched, ministries have turned their focus to newer priorities. 

Funders: Open Access Progress & AI Guidance 

Meetings with AMED, JSPS, and JST remained warm and constructive. 

• AMED sees open access expanding gradually under the national policy and is now considering how to guide researchers on use of AI — both in research practice and in grant evaluations.

• JSPS anticipates possible increases to Kakenhi grant funding and has recently issued guidance on AI use.

• JST is introducing GrantsData, a new dataset repository that joins a growing ecosystem: J-STAGE, Jxiv, ResearchMap, and JBM. JST also reported increasing requests from LLM developers seeking access to J-STAGE content for training.

The annual JST/STM Seminar drew its largest audience yet (217 attendees), with a strong slate of talks focused on AI’s impact on publishing, research workflows, and data integrity. 

Copyright & Rights Management: New Conversations and a Broader Table 

This year’s agenda expanded to include both the Agency for Cultural Affairs (ACA) and the Japan Book Publishers Association (JBPA). 

ACA reaffirmed that any AI use of copyrighted works that risks harming commercial rights requires licensing under Japanese law. They are now convening creative industries and rights-holder groups across three working groups to develop a Code of Conduct for AI and copyright — an area where STM has offered continued support. 

Discussions also included updates on: 

• SATRAS, which collects and distributes compensation for educational copying (roughly ¥4.8 billion annually), and

• SARLIB, the new system overseeing library transmissions under Article 31 of the Copyright Act, where publishers may opt their titles out of transmission.

Open Access & National Policy Momentum 

With the April 2025 launch of Japan’s national open science policy, agencies signaled they are now turning attention to other pressing issues such as AI governance and research integrity. 

At the same time, STM data presented during the visit showed an interesting trend: the share of subscription articles is increasing while open access output is tapering, despite a growing number of read-and-publish agreements. 

Factors contributing to this include: 

• Institutions asking researchers to pay additional fees even under existing agreements 

• Restrictions at some universities on publishing in non-Q1/Q2 journals 

• Policy flexibility allowing non-immediate OA when a reason is provided

As a result, many articles may continue to appear in subscription journals for the foreseeable future. 

Meanwhile, NII continues its work on metadata integration and infrastructure development through CiNII Research, connecting institutional repositories across Japan. 

Local Publishing Community & Outreach 

Caroline and the STM delegation also met with JBPA leadership for the first time in over a decade — a meaningful step toward deeper collaboration on copyright, AI, and shared challenges facing publishers globally. 

An STM Japan Chapter meeting was held at Wiley’s offices, and Caroline also gave an interview to Science News, reaching 40,000 readers across Japan’s research community. 

In Summary 

Caroline’s 2025 visit to Japan underscored a clear shift in national and institutional priorities: 

• AI is now the central topic of concern across government, funders, and publishers.

• Open science policy implementation is underway, but attention is moving toward research integrity, infrastructure, and practical impact.

• Copyright and rights management are entering a new phase, with Japan taking proactive steps to clarify how AI and copyrighted content can coexist.

• Engagement with Japan’s publishing ecosystem remains strong, with new bridges being built between STM and national associations.

Overall, this year’s meetings reinforced Japan’s importance as a thoughtful, collaborative partner in shaping the global future of scholarly communication. 

The post Inside STM’s November visit to Japan: key themes, takeaways & what’s next appeared first on STM Association.

Hosted by IFRRO member Luxorr, the sessions featured forward-thinking dialogue on some of the most pressing copyright issues facing the publishing ecosystem today. Among the highlights was a special session dedicated to recent copyright cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), with presentations from First Advocate General Maciej Szpunar (photographed here) and renowned copyright scholar Professor Dr. Eleonora Rosati.

Throughout the meetings—including a dedicated Publisher Meeting—participants addressed a diverse range of topics critical to the future of copyright, including:

• The intersection of copyright and artificial intelligence;
• Developments in the originality requirement in domestic copyright law;
• Emerging trends and challenges in copyright licensing practices.

These discussions underscore the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement in sustaining a copyright framework that fosters innovation, rewards rights holders, and ensures equitable access to content.

STM remains committed to representing our members’ interests in global forums and collaborating with partners like IFRRO to support high-quality, trustworthy research and a sustainable knowledge ecosystem.

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As we count down to the STM Annual US Conference, we’re highlighting some of the expert voices shaping the conversations at this year’s event. One such voice is Simon Holt, Head of Content Accessibility at Elsevier, who brings deep insight into the evolving landscape of accessible publishing.

Simon will be part of the panel “Accelerating the adoption of accessible publishing laws and standards”—a session that explores how technology and legislation intersect to drive more inclusive practices in scholarly communication. In this brief Q&A, Simon challenges common misconceptions about accessibility, shares the promise of multi-modal learning, and offers a compelling case for why collaboration is key to success.

Join us in DC at the STM US Conference 2025 to further this conversation in person — seats still remain!

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Thank you to everyone who contributed to this incredible momentum. And so much more to come in 2025. Happy holidays, STM.

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At-a-glance: a packed itinerary 

Caroline’s itinerary included high-level external meetings with key government bodies like the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT), as well as the National Institute of Informatics (NII). Discussions also took place with Japan’s three major research funders—JSPS, JST, and AMED—as well as a prominent librarian from one of Japan’s largest universities and Igaku-Shoin, STM’s largest local publishing member. 

Additionally, an in-person meeting with 16 STM Chapter members was followed by a team dinner. Representatives from several STM publisher members in Japan accompanied Caroline as part of the STM delegation. 

Finalizing Japan’s national open access policy: key insights and implications 

The visit coincided with the finalization of Japan’s national open access (OA) policy, a significant milestone discussed during a joint meeting with the Cabinet Office and MEXT. 

What the policy entails: 

• Starting in 2025, research funded by JSPS Kakenhi grants, certain JST grants, and one AMED grant must be published open access. This can be achieved either via immediate gold or hybrid journal OA, or by depositing the manuscript in a repository. 

• If immediate OA isn’t feasible (e.g., due to embargo periods), authors must provide justification and make articles openly available as soon as possible. 

• Research data must also be made publicly accessible. 

Responsibilities and Implementation: 

• Authors and their institutions bear primary responsibility for compliance, with reporting coordinated by NII on behalf of the Cabinet Office. 

• A new consortium, OASE, has begun negotiations with major publishers to facilitate compliance for research-intensive universities. 

While the policy is expected to boost OA publication rates, longer-term challenges include duplicative efforts in institutional repositories and addressing Japanese-language outputs. Stakeholders hold varying opinions on the policy’s impact, particularly regarding potential compliance burdens for researchers and institutions. Notably, while no penalties or rewards are currently tied to compliance, the policy’s success will depend on sustained institutional and author engagement. 

Advancing scholarly communications: key events and engagements 

Caroline also participated in pivotal events during her visit: 

• JST/STM Annual Seminar
  Alongside Anders Karlsson (Elsevier) and Katsu Arai (Wiley), Caroline co-hosted the seventh annual JST/STM seminar, held virtually. Directed at societies and editors using JST’s J-STAGE platform, the seminar focused on Machine Readability in Scholarly Communications, featuring presentations from STM’s Geoff Bilder and Heather Staines, as well as two Japanese speakers. The event attracted ~140 attendees, underlining its importance in advancing publishing standards. 

• STM Trends at NISTEP Seminar
  Prior to her visit, Caroline presented the STM Trends Report at a virtual seminar hosted by NISTEP, a division of MEXT. This marked the first in a series of quarterly webinars co-organized by STM and NISTEP, reflecting a shared commitment to knowledge exchange and innovation. 

A yearly tradition of outreach and collaboration

Caroline’s annual visits to Japan continue to strengthen STM’s connections on a high level; fostering mutual respect and collaboration with government agencies, research funders, and the scholarly communications community. These visits also underscore STM’s support for a vibrant and participatory local chapter.  

At this year’s chapter meeting, Caroline expressed gratitude to outgoing Chair Anders Karlsson for his significant contributions (photographed, see right), and welcomed Katsu Arai (Wiley) as the new Chair, supported by Deputy Chair Tomoko Yamanojo-Childress (Taylor & Francis). This leadership transition ensures the chapter’s ongoing success and alignment with STM’s global mission. 

STM remains committed to supporting the Japanese research community in embracing innovation, openness, and excellence in scholarly communications. 

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Flourishing in a Machine-intermediated World: The STM Trends Report

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Hosted by the National Academy of Sciences last week, we heard about the impressive work of our R4L ‘Country Connectors’ – library representatives from the Republic of Tanzania, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Bhutan and Ghana. Start up funding has been provided by the Elsevier Foundation, recently joined by Springer. Led by Blessing Mawire, our team is building a community of evidence users in country, assisting with researcher and librarian training, understanding blockers to access, routes to publishing and taking action. By 2024 we will have 15 Country Connectors including the State Scientific and Technical Library of Ukraine with support from the Ministry of Education & Science.

The power of local community building is clear: to engage with lapsed institutions, to aid password to IP transition, to set up new access in smaller institutions, to run writing-up workshops, deliver subject-based research skills training. The longer term goal is to develop an ambassador network to future-proof the Connector model, working successfully in Kenya. Many of our Connectors are setting up WhatsApp groups to engage with user queries and communicate training, but equally they are building south-south collaborations — for example, Tanzania and Bhutan sharing repository set-up knowledge. Opportunities to stimulate local publishing are kicking off too with publisher workshops assessing local needs in Ghana and Tanzania.

Working in a home office environment means you can sometimes miss the deeper level of connection to your work. Meeting everyone last week was a wonderful reminder that R4L is doing work rich with meaning and purpose. We’d love more publishers to get involved beyond your generous donation of content. Contact Sarah@stm-assoc.org.

STM R4L DC July 2023

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