Opening the doors to trusted research worldwide

At Oxford University Press, we share the University of Oxford’s mission to further excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. It’s important that we maximize the impact and reach of our research content, and that extends to how we support equitable access in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).  

To close that gap and help institutions access our content, we are proud to be a publisher partner of Research4Life.

Research4Life provides institutions in LMICs with free or heavily reduced rate online access to academic and professional peer-reviewed content, alongside research capacity development through an active Country Connectors programme, helping to bridge the knowledge gap and support sustainable development. This is crucial, as their 2024 Impact Report found that, while 85% of the world’s population reside in LMICs, only 0.2% of research comes from those same regions. 

Through this partnership, and our dedicated LMIC programme, researchers in eligible countries benefit from free or reduced rate access to our academic journals and online products. This applies to over 10,000 institutions in 100 countries either directly or through our partnerships with Research4Life and EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries).

We recently hosted the Research4Life General Partners Meeting to explore how the partnership can collectively advance equity in research throughout LMICs. Held over several days in Oxford, the meeting served as a platform for collaboration, learning, and action.

Here, we reaffirmed our commitment to reducing inequalities in access to knowledge and heard directly from user representatives, Country Connectors, and partners about the challenges they face, the impact they’ve made, and the opportunities ahead.

Discussions ranged from inclusive publishing and local content development to calls for sustainable funding and policy alignment—highlighting the transformative power of equitable access. It was a timely reminder that, while access is essential, true equity requires empowerment, visibility, and long-term investment. We were proud to host this global community and help shape the future of inclusive research.

Graham Grant, Director of Technical Sales & Delivery for EMEA and APAC within our Academic division, is also Co-Chair of Research4Life’s Eligibility Committee and a member of their Executive Council. He shared: 

“At OUP, our mission is to support excellence in research and education by publishing worldwide. But excellence cannot thrive without equity. That’s why our partnership with Research4Life is so vital in bridging the gap between access and participation in global research across LMICs.

Through its work, Research4Life have increased research output in LMICs by up to 75%. They empower researchers not just to consume knowledge, but to create it, as authors, editors, and leaders in their fields. Having served on its committees, I’ve seen first-hand the passion, commitment, and collaboration that drive this mission forward. It’s a privilege to contribute to a community that is reshaping the global research landscape for the better.” 

Lise McLeod, Chair of the Research4Life Executive Council, said: 

“The 2025 General Partners Meeting and Conference helped us reflect on what equity really means in practice—not just widening access but ensuring researchers everywhere can participate fully. It was encouraging to see how far Research4Life has come—and how committed the community is to the journey towards inclusion and capacity-building.” 

As part of our LMIC programme at OUP, we also support open access article processing charge (APC) waivers and discounts, enabling eligible researchers to publish their work open access in our journals without financial barriers.

Beginning in August 2025 we have extended this programme, and we now provide authors in 91 countries with a full waiver of open access charges, and authors from a further 38 countries with discounts of up to 75%.

Find out more about our LMIC programme here. You can also read the latest from Research4Life and sign up to their newsletter on their website.

Event photography by Keiko Ikeuchi.