Institutional waiver programmes formalise APC reductions for defined categories of authors: corresponding authors based at Research4Life-eligible institutions, authors from specific low- and middle-income countries, authors funded by partner organisations, or authors otherwise unable to pay. Best practice includes automatic application (no application form required), published eligibility criteria, transparent reporting of waivers granted and refused, and integration with consortium-level transformative or pure publish agreements. Programmes that require authors to apply, justify or negotiate are documented to have low uptake.
References
- Plan S Price Transparency Framework. Research4Life eligibility lists. COPE guidance on waivers.