In February 2022, the University of Groningen introduced an open access book fund. To mark the fund’s first anniversary, we share some information about the number of applications received and a list of published open access books sponsored by the fund. 

The fund in a nutshell

UG- and UMCG-affiliated authors can apply for a maximum of €8,000 to support the publication of their open access monographs or edited volumes. The fund will run until August 2023. The continuation of the fund beyond August 2023 is conditional on funding renewal by the UG/UMCG. 

Learn more about the eligibility criteria and application process

Applications received

At the time of publication, the fund has received 35 applications (since February 2022). So far, 7 books have been finalized and published (see list below), while one request has been rejected, one was withdrawn and the remaining 26 are still in progress or pending approval. 

As expected, applications are mostly coming from humanities and social sciences disciplines: 

Faculty of Arts (10 applications); Faculty of Law (4); Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies (4); Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences (4); Campus Fryslan (4); Faculty of Philosophy (2); University College Groningen (2); University Library (2); Faculty of Spatial Sciences (1); Faculty of Science and Engineering (1); UMCG (1). 

NB: It is possible to apply for the book fund even if a book has not been finalized yet - as long as it has been accepted for publication. If the application meets the criteria, it will be provisionally approved and the money will be earmarked in the budget. 

List of supported books (published as of February 2023) 

• Andrea Sangiacomo, An introduction to friendliness (mettā): Emotional intelligence and freedom in the Pāli discourses of the Buddha, University of Groningen Press

• Ruven Fleming, Kars de Graaf, Leigh Hancher, Edwin Woerdman (eds.), A Force of Energy: Essays in Energy Law in Honour of Professor Martha Roggenkamp, University of Groningen Press

• Michiel Van der Wolf (ed.), Safeguarding the Quality of Forensic Assessment in Sentencing, Routledge

• Nico van Yperen, Focus, vertrouwen, veerkracht: en andere mentale aspecten van sport en presteren, University of Groningen. Note: This book was originally published in print form by Uitgever Arko Sports Media. The digital version of the book has been made open access retroactively thanks to the OA book fund. 

• Marian Counihan, Willem van Winden (eds), Cities for talent: Good practices for internationalisation in medium-sized European cities, University of Groningen Press

• Phil Jones, Tess Osborne (with Calla Sullivan-Drage, Natasha Keen and Eleanor Gadsby), Virtual Reality Methods: A Guide for Researchers in the Social Sciences and Humanities, Policy Press (University of Bristol Press) 

• Author: Jacob van Sluis, François Hemsterhuis, Œuvres philosophiques Édition critique, Brill. Note: This book was originally published in 2015 and was made open access retroactively. 

What authors say about the book fund 

Prof Michiel van der Wolf, Associate Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Groningen

"I am very happy with the fact that the UG thinks open access is important and that they have introduced a dedicated fund. Given how expensive publishing a book open access is, it would not be possible otherwise. Therefore, I am thankful to be the first author whose book has been funded by the open access book fund. I thought it was a very easy process and the communication was excellent. I recommend it to anyone who would like to get their book out to a bigger audience."

Dr Marian Counihan, Lecturer at the University College Groningen

“The open access book fund financed a good portion of the open access fee (BPC) and the cover design. This certainly helped the publishing process. [...] It was a pleasant collaboration, with a short turnaround and clear agreements. Overall, it was a smooth and professional process throughout”.