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The KFG builds open infrastructure for a more effective, equitable, and sustainable knowledge economy. In our view, there’s no way to achieve this mission without partners like AfricArXiv. The work of African researchers and its broader reach is part of a larger push to improve our current, extractive knowledge-creation ecosystem into a healthier one led directly by researchers in service of the public good. We believe preprints and the openness, greater collaboration, and faster time frames that often accompany them and the associated publish, review, curate (PRC) model mark a helpful cultural shift that will support the work of African researchers and which we hope our open infrastructure can help facilitate.

Catherine Ahearn, Knowledge Futures Group
figshare

I started Figshare a decade ago, as a place to make my research openly available in a way that wasnt supported by the traditional publication system. We have since seen an explosion in non traditional research outputs being published, from preprints to data (nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00402-1). What this all boils down to is a need for researchers to be credited for their work in an efficient manner, with no barriers to entry globally. Post COVID, the whole world understands the need for ‘fast but good’ publication of research. Africarxiv is in a unique position to foster this approach across Africa through preprints. The researchers get their credit, and humanity gets rapid, quality research.”

Mark Hahnel, Figshare

In an academic landscape where gateways abound, preprints are a way for African researchers to publish their ideas early, fast, and open access. Their voices can be heard even while the important process of peer review and the less important sorting by impact factors is underway. We are therefore very proud to be working with AfricArXiv to increase the discoverability of these important contributions.

Stephanie Dawson, Science Open