We are thrilled to announce that the Knowledge Rights 21 Programme has been extended for a further five years thanks to the generous support of Arcadia. This continued funding, amounting to €5.5 million, will allow us to further invest in building capacity for reforms that enhance 21st-century access to research, education and culture.

Since its launch in 2021, the Knowledge Rights 21 Programme (KR21) has been dedicated to reforming legislation and practices to ensure open access to research, education, and cultural resources in the digital age. IFLA is a partner in the project, which it also administers.

Our mission is to level the playing field between researchers, institutions, and publishers by building confidence and capacity for policy change. We collaborate with European and international library organizations (IFLA, LIBER, and SPARC Europe) along with independent experts and a network of national coordinators.

This crucial work has been made possible by Arcadia. Arcadia helps people to record cultural heritage, to conserve and restore nature, and to promote open access to knowledge. Since 2002 Arcadia has awarded more than $1.2 billion to organizations around the world

During the first phase of Knowledge Rights 21, we’ve made significant progress, including:

  • Bringing research into the spotlight on the political agenda in Brussels.
  • Supporting proposals for dedicated legislation and promoting the idea of a “fifth freedom” – the freedom of movement of knowledge.
  • Helping pass best-practice reforms at the national level through the work of KR21 national coordinators.
  • Publishing ground-breaking research on critical issues like secondary publishing rights, rights retention and open licensing, and flexibility in copyright laws for research.
  • Developing and mobilising networks of researchers, librarians, digital rights activists and more at national level.

Accelerating Change: Focus for the Next Five Years

With the very welcome announcement of Arcadia’s continued support, we are entering the second phase of the Knowledge Rights 21 Programme. Our key priorities include:

  • Leveraging opportunities for positive reform under the new European Commission and Parliament.
  • Promoting national legislation, regulation and practices that enable and support the work of European researchers, educators, learners, readers and the libraries that support them.
  • Expanding and strengthening national networks to amplify the voice for change.
  • Ensuring that the research, education and reading community and the libraries that support them are best able to realise the potential of any reforms passed as well as take the lead in promoting openness and local policy change. 

Stay Updated and Get Involved

We are excited about the future and invite you to join us on this journey. Already, library associations and libraries across Europe have benefited from engagement with Knowledge Rights 21 National Coordinators, with some also successfully applying for grants to support initiatives that contribute their advocacy for better laws for libraries.

Follow the Knowledge Rights 21 website and sign up to our Newsletter to stay informed about our work, new developments, and opportunities to engage.

Together, we can ensure that access to knowledge continues to grow and thrive in the digital age.