How we are reimagining academic publishing.
RePublish will transform academic publishing from a linear process with a singular output (such as a monograph or journal article) to one that is holistic and circular. Why publish a book alone when the same research and ideas can be communicated through online courses, video interviews, and a variety of other formats? Through an online platform, we address the two most significant challenges faced by researchers and organisations today: the need for timely research publication and the development of an equitable revenue model. RePublish offers researchers and organisations the tools to make this happen and share their work widely.
In essence, RePublish provides academics and research organisations the ability to cultivate a community of engaged followers, the tools to publish in a variety of formats, and, notably, the ability to monetise ideas through subscription fees, pay-per-access models, and commission payments.
What is academia?
Academia is crucial for human growth, encompassing the study and research necessary to advance knowledge. It forms a vital pillar of society, with publishing as the means to record, share and communicate ideas. The research journey spans from student to professor, marked by a shift from consuming knowledge to producing it. Students immerse themselves in learning, acquiring foundational skills, and engaging with existing research. Over time, this evolves into critical thinking and inquiry, resulting in the generation of original ideas and insights. Advanced researchers transition from participants to leaders, producing impactful work, mentoring others, and driving innovation.
The research process is dynamic, encompassing data collection, analysis, and dissemination. It begins with identifying a question or problem, followed by rigorous data gathering and interpretation to generate new insights. Peer review ensures credibility and integrity through expert evaluation. Community input enriches research by fostering collaboration, diverse perspectives, and constructive feedback. RePublish will combine the rigour of traditional academic publishing with the freedom and availability of open-access platforms, as well as the diversity of communication offered by different multimedia formats.
Challenges in academic publishing
Despite its importance, academic publishing is currently in stasis, complicated by competing legislation and dominated by a few large publishers. Open-access initiatives often shift financial burdens onto authors through high article processing charges (APCs), disadvantaging researchers with limited funding and reinforcing structural inequalities. We believe that traditional publishers have deprioritised authors, disincentivising the publishing process, particularly for early-career academics.
Beyond the financial barriers, academic publishing suffers from a disconnect between research and public engagement. Much published work remains confined within an academic ‘bubble’, reaching a narrow audience of specialists rather than the broader public or policymaker community who could enact or learn from the research. Current structures fail to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, limiting the real-world impact of research. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence also challenged the notion of who is a ‘researcher’ and will disrupt traditional publishing models, which often resist innovation and maintain outdated, gatekept structures.
Our solution
RePublish offers a transformative solution by focusing on the author's journey rather than the final product. As a software platform, RePublish provides digital publishing tools for thinkers centred around dynamic, interactive profiles for each academic or research organisation. This space evolves with their work, enabling authors to publish a diverse range of content types, from articles and datasets to videos and podcasts. The platform supports sharing pre-published work freely, breaking down information silos and accelerating knowledge dissemination.
Equitable remuneration is central to this model, ensuring academics and institutions are fairly compensated for their hard-earned contributions. RePublish introduces multiple revenue streams for authors, including subscription payments, on-demand transactions and commission-based earnings. The subscription model allows researchers to create a base of supporters who pay for ongoing access to their work and community interactions. By diversifying income streams through on-demand and commission opportunities, RePublish also increases financial sustainability for creators and unlocks new pathways for funding innovative work.
Beyond publishing and monetisation, RePublish fosters genuine community engagement through communication tools that facilitate direct messaging, networking, and collaboration across disciplines. Researchers can engage their audience with newsletters, updates, and interactive discussions, transforming passive readers into active participants. These tools bridge the gap between academia and society. It enables researchers to share insights with policymakers, industry professionals, and the public in a format that is digestible and does not impact the academic integrity of the work.
How are we supporting the academic community?
We aim to encourage research to be published as open-access (preferably a diamond standard) while offering the means to generate revenue by providing community and publishing tools that broaden how academic work is engaged with. As an example, an open-access journal can continue to publish its articles for free fulfilling its legislative requirements, but allow readers to continue their engagement journey by offering a paid newsletter and weekly event series.
Anybody can join for free, with a profile available to any academic or research organisation. This accessible approach enables researchers to establish their presence, share pre-published work, and build communities without financial barriers. We ensure a fair and predictable revenue model while keeping the majority of income in the hands of academics. Subscriptions enable researchers to build a loyal base of supporters who contribute regularly, providing financial stability and encouraging long-term engagement. RePublish supports the development of the platform by taking a share only when creators earn; hence, we ensure our incentives remain aligned with the community’s success.
In addition to subscriptions, on-demand payments cover one-off transactions for individual pieces of content, such as courses, audiobooks, or data models. This approach accommodates audiences who may not want to commit to a recurring subscription but still value specific content, offering creators flexibility in monetising their work. We will also facilitate commission payment for academics to conduct bespoke work, such as directed reports, consulting, or collaborative projects. We provide a guarantee and resolution service to protect both parties. By acting as an intermediary, the platform reduces friction and risk, making it easier for external organisations to engage with academics.
We believe that publishing is a journey, rather a singular activity. This White Paper is just the start! We want to enable academics to share their research across multiple content formats, enabling wider dissemination and to reach to new audiences.
For more information on our memberships, visit our page here. If you are an academic interested in joining or a research organisation looking to partner, get in touch with us.