AI Insight
European research funders are providing significant support for a "publish, review, curate" model that prioritizes preprints as the primary form of scholarly communication. This approach would shift the traditional publishing sequence by making preprints the central publication format, with peer review and curation occurring after initial publication rather than before. The model represents a departure from conventional journal-based publishing where peer review precedes publication.
Why it matters
This shift could fundamentally transform how scientific research is disseminated and validated, potentially accelerating the speed at which findings reach the scientific community and public. The change may reduce the gatekeeping role of traditional journals and make research more immediately accessible, though it raises questions about quality control and the timing of peer review in the publication process.
Understand the Science
Nature, Published online: 28 October 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-03445-w
European funders put weight behind controversial ‘publish, review, curate’ model for preprints.
Source: Preprint-centric publishing approach gets major boost