Attending the PUBMET2024 conference in Zadar, Croatia, on September 12-13, was an enriching experience that delved deeply into pressing issues in scholarly communication. The conference, held at the II Palaces, gathered professionals from across Europe to discuss topics ranging from research integrity and ethical publishing practices to innovations in research assessment and open science.

The central theme of this year's conference, "Research Integrity - the Role of Editors and Publishers in Open Science," resonated deeply with attendees. The theme could not be more relevant in today’s landscape, where trust in scientific research is paramount, and the open access movement continues to grow in importance. Throughout the days, a diverse range of sessions covered critical aspects of scholarly publishing, from editorial processes to the ethics of data sharing, and from promoting transparency to fostering inclusivity in scientific communication. One of the standout features of PUBMET2024 was its emphasis on practical solutions and case studies from different publishing environments, both in academia and beyond.

The event kicked off on Thursday with a keynote from Bianca Kramer of Sesame Open Science. Her talk on the relationship between research assessment and openness set the tone for discussions on how to improve the visibility and recognition of Diamond Open Access journals. Arnaud Gingold presented tools developed by the DIAMAS project to enhance quality in Diamond OA publishing, while Ksenija Baždarić from the Croatian Medical Journal shared insights into attitudes toward open peer review in Croatian academia. The day ended with a panel on research integrity and ethics, chaired by Matt Hodgkinson, focusing on the challenges of maintaining high standards in research assessment, especially given the rise of fraudulent practices such as data falsification and the increasing role of AI tools.

Friday began with a PUBMET Run, providing a chance for informal networking, followed by a series of diverse talks on research assessment. Emanuel Kulczycki’s keynote on the Eastern European perspective in research assessment reform was particularly engaging, highlighting the region’s unique challenges and contributions to the global conversation. My own participation, as a representative of OpenAIRE, came during a joint presentation with other OpenAIRE colleagues, where we explored how the OpenAIRE Graph can support transparent and responsible research assessment.

- Maja Dolinar, User Engagement and EOSC Liaison at OpenAIRE

Our presentation emphasised the value of open infrastructures like the OpenAIRE Graph, which aggregates and enriches metadata from a variety of trusted sources. This infrastructure allows for a more nuanced assessment of research activities beyond traditional bibliometric indicators, incorporating outputs like data, software, and methods. We highlighted OpenAIRE’s role in providing tools for monitoring open science practices and how these can be used by institutions to track research impact, funding collaborations, and the openness of research outputs. The audience showed particular interest in how the OpenAIRE MONITOR service helps organizations measure adherence to open science and research integrity practices, aligning with reforms suggested by frameworks like DORA and CoARA.

The conference also offered a lively poster session, showcasing diverse research projects such as Tomasz Umerle’s work on the OPERAS Innovation Lab and Madhura Amdekar’s efforts with Crossref to leverage scholarly metadata for research integrity. The day wrapped up with a panel on transforming research assessment, where speakers debated the future of value-driven research evaluation, stressing the importance of inclusivity and diverse scholarly contributions in reforming assessment frameworks.

In conclusion, PUBMET2024 was a fantastic opportunity to engage with the broader scholarly communication community. The conversations around open science, research integrity, and responsible assessment practices provided valuable insights, particularly for those of us working to develop open infrastructures that can meet these challenges. As scholarly publishing continues to evolve, conferences like PUBMET are crucial for fostering collaboration and driving forward the changes necessary for a more transparent, inclusive, and ethical academic landscape.