Optica Publishing Group Announces Subscribe to Open Pilot for JOSA B

Strategic Insights -

Optica Publishing Group has announced that the Journal of the Optical Society of America B (JOSA B) will pilot the Subscribe to Open (S2O) model in 2026. This innovative approach aims to make high-quality optics and photonics research openly available without shifting publishing costs to authors. Under the S2O model, current JOSA B institutional subscribers renew their subscriptions as usual. If enough renewals are received, all content published in the 2026 volume of JOSA B will be made open access and freely available to all readers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Subscribe to Open (S2O) model will be piloted by the Journal of the Optical Society of America B (JOSA B) in 2026.
  • The S2O model will leverage the existing subscription framework to make research articles freely available to readers worldwide without author fees.
  • Current JOSA B institutional subscribers will renew their subscriptions as usual, and if enough renewals are received, all content published in the 2026 volume of JOSA B will be made open access and freely available.
  • If the subscription target is not met, the journal will remain subscription-only for 2026 and subscribers will retain full access to the content.
  • The S2O model offers libraries a cost-neutral way to support open access, as the volume year's content becomes freely available worldwide without changing existing subscription payment processes.
  • For authors, the S2O model ensures equitable open access participation regardless of funding availability, as articles will be published open access without article processing charges (APCs) when the S2O threshold is achieved.
  • For readers, the model expands global access and visibility of JOSA B's content, advancing the dissemination and impact of optics and photonics research.
  • Alison Taylor, Chief Publishing Officer at Optica Publishing Group, stated that the S2O pilot aims to advance open science and expand access to high-quality research in optics and photonics.
  • The S2O pilot is part of Optica Publishing Group's exploration of sustainable approaches to open access that balance the needs of authors, libraries, and the broader scientific community.

Statistics:

  • 505,000: The number of journal articles, conference papers, and videos available to search, discover, and access in Optica Publishing Group's publication portfolio.
  • 19: The number of prestigious journals published by Optica Publishing Group.
  • Over 1200: The number of conferences from which papers and videos are published in Optica Publishing Group's journals and online platform.

Sources:

  • Optica Publishing Group. (2025, October). Optica Publishing Group Announces Subscribe to Open Pilot for the Journal of the Optical Society of America B (JOSA B). Retrieved from