France: €33M annual nationwide agreement with Elsevier for scientific publishing

The Abes (the French bibliographic agency for higher education), Couperin and the French Minister of Higher Education and Research have signed a nationwide contract with the publisher Elsevier worth €33M per annum, they say on 30/04/2024. The agreement, negotiated by Couperin and supported by Abes, has been signed for four years (2024-2027), with no change in the subscription price in 2024, and with an increase limited to 1% in subsequent years. The contract signed by Abes covers 241 subscribing institutions, 44 of which subscribe free of charge.

The nationwide contract between the Abes and Elsevier was signed as part of the negotiations conducted by the Couperin consortium of higher education and research establishments.

"This agreement, because it covers publication costs (APCs) and eliminates associated invoices, helps institutions who want to pursue that path to foster the goal of open access", declare the Abes, Couperin and the Ministry.

"The Couperin consortium has already negotiated reading and publishing agreements with other publishers, such as EDP Sciences in 2018 and 2022…