The Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut (IAI) warmly congratulates Rômulo Lima from the Special Collections (IAI) on receiving second place in the poster competition at BiblioCon 2026. The award was presented during the closing ceremony on 22 May 2026 and recognizes his scientific poster on Diamond Open Access journals in Brazil.
Recognition for research on open-access publishing
The award-winning poster is based on Lima’s final thesis at the Institute for Library and Information Science at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Titled “Diamond Open Access Journals in Germany and Brazil: Funding Models, Publication Profiles and Incentives for Scholar-led Publishing,” the study examines key aspects of scholarly communication, in particular funding models, publication profiles, and incentives for scholar-led publishing.
The focus is on the so-called Diamond Open Access model, a publishing format in which scholarly articles are available free of charge to both authors and readers. This model is widely regarded as a particularly public-interest-oriented alternative to established, often commercially driven publishing structures.
Brazil as a leader in Diamond Open Access
The study clearly shows that Latin America—and Brazil in particular—plays a leading international role in the field of Diamond Open Access. A large proportion of open-access journals in Brazil are published without article processing charges and are often supported by universities and academic institutions.
At the same time, the analysis highlights that, despite its wide adoption, the model faces structural challenges. Many journals operate with limited financial resources and rely heavily on voluntary work. Nevertheless, the Brazilian model serves as an important reference point in the international open-access debate.
Relevance for the IAI and its work
The research is closely linked to the core areas of the IAI. As a non-university institution with a focus on Latin America, the IAI is actively engaged in issues related to scholarly information provision, open access, and sustainable knowledge infrastructures.
The analysis of Diamond Open Access models makes a valuable contribution here, offering perspectives for a freely accessible, scholar-led publishing culture and addressing key issues relevant to the institute’s collections and digital services.
BiblioCon as a forum for professional exchange
The BiblioCon is the central congress for library and information science in the German-speaking world and provides a platform for exchange on current developments in the field. Poster contributions play a key role in showcasing ongoing research projects and in generating practical impulses for both academia and library practice.
At the 114th BiblioCon, a total of 35 posters were presented, with the best contributions receiving awards in the competition. The distinction awarded to Rômulo Lima highlights the relevance of his research topic and further strengthens the visibility of the IAI’s expertise in open access and scholarly communication.