Gold Open Access Publishing in ASEAN Countries: A Comparative Study

Open Access publishing offers increased visibility, accessibility and quality assurance, promoting transparency in research. Governments worldwide are increasingly promoting open access to research findings, recognizing its importance in advancing knowledge and innovation. They are mandating open access publication of research findings, often funding Article Processing Charges (APCs) on behalf of authors. The study aims to examine the impact of Gold Open Access in ASEAN countries, analyzing research output and OA publishing culture across all fields of knowledge. It has investigated funding sources for APCs, average APCs in different fields and top journals for ASEAN researchers. This research will provide valuable insights for policymakers, funding agencies and institutions, supporting evidence-based strategies for a more equitable and sustainable open access landscape in ASEAN. Gold open access publishing, by providing unrestricted access to scientific research, fosters knowledge dissemination, accessibility, visibility, transparency and inclusivity and collaboration within the National Innovation System. This accessibility accelerates the exchange of ideas, promotes interdisciplinary research and facilitates innovation across academia, industry and government. The present study analyzed 1303 articles published under the Gold Open Access publishing model. The University of Putra, Malaysia, was the top contributor; the journal Sustainability, with an Impact Factor (IF) of 3.9, published 233 articles that accrued 3563 citations. The published research focused on various themes and subthemes pertaining to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2023.