This timeline brings together PKP’s story, highlighting the importance of community and sustainability in advancing open research, access, advocacy, and infrastructure for scholarly publishing toward the global public good. Please click on the hyperlinks in the timeline to access the stories behind PKP.
| 1998 |  John Willinsky initiates the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) with the support of University of British Columbia Pacific Press Professorship. Read more. |
| 2000 | PKP releases its first open source software package Open Conference Systems (OCS), which it supports until 2014. |
| 2002 | Open Journals Systems (OJS) launched at Memorial University as an open source publishing platform. PKP releases its open source indexing package Open Harvester Systems. Peter Suber designates OJS release a “Landmark Event” on Open Access Movement Timeline. |
| 2004 | Pippa Smart of INASP invites PKP to set up OJS for its African Journals Online (AJOL) initiative in Grahamstown, South Africa. |
| 2005 | SFU Dean of Libraries Lynn Copeland initiates PKP partnership with Simon Fraser University Library and the Canadian Institute for Studies in Publishing, led by Rowly Lorimer. Alec Smecher joins PKP as Lead Developer. PKP releases OJS 2.0. |
| 2006 | Mellon Foundation selects PKP for Technology Collaboration Award. PKP Publishing Services launched to fund open source software development. |
| 2007 | PKP joins the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Synergies project (2007 – 2011). First International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference held at SFU. PKP releases OCS 2.0. Michael Felczak joins PKP as Software Developer. John Willinsky moves PKP research initiatives to Stanford on assuming Khosla Family Professorship. SFU Associate Librarian Brian Owen takes on PKP Managing Director role. |
| 2008 | Érudit and PKP first partnership on CFI-funded Synergies Project to develop respective expertise and services. |
| 2009 | Second International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference is held at SFU. |
| 2010 | SFU Dean of Libraries Charles Eckman strengthens PKP’s association with libraries. |
| 2011 | Third International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference is held at Freie Universität Berlin. |
| 2012 | PKP Development Partnerships and community sustainer program is established. PKP Advisory, Technical, and Members Committees is established. |
| 2013 | PKP releases Open Monograph Press (OMP) 1.0 to support publishing of scholarly books. PKP publishes its 2012 Annual Report. Fourth International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference is held at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. PKP School launches to provide free, online courses in scholarly publishing. |
| 2014 | PKP is identified as a High-Impact Open Access Organization for Infrastructure by Accelerating Science Awards Program, sponsored by Google, PLOS, and Wellcome Foundation. PKP publishes its 2013 Annual Report. Juan Pablo Alperin is appointed Assistant Professor in SFU Publishing Program. |
| 2015 | PKP launches MacArthur-funded Open Access Scholarly Publishing Cooperative Study. PKP publishes its 2014 Annual Report. Fifth International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference held at SFU. |
| 2016 | PKP Preservation Network launched for journals using OJS. OJS Version 3.0 launched. PKP publishes its 2015 Annual Report. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council presents 2016 Connection Award to John Willinsky for PKP. |
| 2017 | Abel Packer and colleagues at SciELO announce OPS preprint server development plan. OJS Version 3.1 is released. Alec Smecher is appointed as Development Associate Director. Michael Felczak is appointed as Publishing Services Associate Director. PKP publishes its 2016 Annual Report. Sixth International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference held at Université de Montréal. Érudit joins with PKP to officially form Coalition Publica, a CFI-funded initiative to serve Canadian scholarly communication and advance open access. |
| 2018 | SFU Associate Librarian Brian Owen retires from SFU after serving 13 years as PKP Managing Director, with Kevin Stranack then stepping into the role. PKP publishes its 2017 annual report. PKP and SciELO announce partnership to develop open source preprint server system (OPS). CRKN and library consortium support for Coalition Publica established with 5-year partnership. Canadian Social Knowledge Institute presents Juan Pablo Alperin with its inaugural Open Scholarship Award. Global Sustainability Coalition for Open Science Services (SCOSS) names PKP a funding awardee. |
| 2019 | James MacGregor assumes interim PKP Managing Director role Amanda Stevens assumes the leadership of PKP Publishing Services PKP publishes its 2018 Annual Report. OJS-Érudit integration developed and expanded as part of Coalition Publica project. Seventh International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference is held at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Coko Foundation awards PKP its Open Publishing Lifetime Contribution Award. |
| 2020 | PKP releases Open Preprint Systems (OPS), built in close consultation with SciELO. OJS version 3.2 is released. PKP publishes its 2019 Annual Report. Major CFI Science Initiative mid-term assessment successfully completed for Coalition Publica. Coalition Publica receives funding from SSHRC through Pan-Canadian Knowledge Access Initiative (PCKAI). Coalition Publica establishes its 2020 – 2023 Strategic Plan and 3 advisory / governance committees. PKP forms Equity and Inclusion Team and Decolonization Working Group to improve processes and organization. |
| 2021 | OJS beacon data indicates that in 2020 over 25,000 journals were using OJS. PKP publishes 2020 Annual Report. PKP’s Equity and Inclusion Team releases a Community Code of Conduct to guide and set expectations for PKP community behavior. Michael Felczak is appointed Head of Systems. OA Diamond Journals Study finds 60% of diamond open access journals use OJS (a diamond open access journal is one without author or reader fees). SciELO and PKP announce renewed partnership. OJS becomes a Certified Service Provider with ORCID. |
| 2022 | OJS beacon data indicates that as of 2021, over 30,000 journals are using OJS world-wide. SciELO Preprints completes two years of operation contributing to open science, using OPS. Urooj Nizami joins PKP as Community Outreach and Engagement Librarian. PKP joins SFU’s Core Research Facilities Program. PKP publishes its 2021 Annual Report. CFI renews Coalition Publica support for 2023 – 2029. |
| 2023 | OJS beacon data indicates that as of 2022, over 44,000 journals are using OJS world-wide. PKP celebrates 25 years of open source and open access along with SciELO and Érudit. PKP launches new website as part of 25 year celebrations. PKP publishes its 2022 Annual Report. Marisa Tutt joins PKP as Publishing Services Associate Director. SSHRC / CRSH renews support for Coalition Publica. PKP awarded ORCID Global Participation Fund. CRKN-RCDR renews partnership with PKP to advance research and scholarship. PKP becomes a Registered Service Provider with DataCite. OJS and OPS recertifies as Service Providers under ORCID’s revised criteria. PKP reaffirms its commitment to scholarly independence. PKP joins Open Book Futures (OBF) for open access books. Stanford University Press and PKP launch open access publishing program in response to non-commercial needs. TIB – Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology hosts PKP Hannover Sprint 2023. PKP joins 1st Global Summit on Diamond Open Access. |
| 2024 | OJS beacon data indicates that as of 2023, over 50,000 journals are using OJS world-wide. PKP releases OJS / OMP / OPS version 3.3 (LTS) and 3.4.0. PKP announces new Development Partnership with Sachsenkonsortium. Archipelago, PKP’s Community Newsletter, is launched. The PKP Membership structure is updated. PKP publishes its 2023 Annual Report. PKP reaffirms that by design, it is not, and will never be, for sale. PKP signs on to the Principles of Open Scholarly Infrastructure (POSI). The Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information gains PKP’s support. OJS is shortlisted for the ALPSP Impact Award. The Publication Facts Label (PKP and Stanford University) for journal integrity open trials. OJS is selected to underpin Open Research Europe publishing platform. PKP joins the Open Book Collective (OBC) as a Service Provider Member. Publication Facts Label (PFL) trials for journals using OJS 3.3 is launched. PKP welcomes Maria Lamury, Local Indonesia Liaison and makes waves with Crossref, UGM, and RJI event series. CRAFT-OA Project hosts PKP Turin Sprint 2024. PKP joins 2nd Global Summit on Diamond Open Access. |
| 2025 | OJS beacon data indicates that as of 2024, over 58,000 journals are using OJS world-wide. PKP releases OJS / OMP / OPS 3.5.0. Five-year Strategic Plan is released for 2026 – 2030. PKP launches research initiative to explore business models and editorial practices of journals using OJS. TIB launches series of sprints to translate PKP documentation into German. Stanford University Press and PKP launch Reviews of Economic Literature through open access program. PKP welcomes Zoe Wake Hyde as OMP Coordinator and releases OMP Report. Urooj Nizami is appointed Community Engagement and Outreach Associate Director. Director of Operations, Kevin Stranack, retires after 20 years of trailblazing contributions. Publication Facts Label (PFL) enters next phase for journals using OJS 3.3 – 3.5. PKP publishes its 2024 Annual Report. PKP reports on Canada’s position as a leader in Diamond Open Access. CRAFT-OA launches 3 month OJS workshop series. PKP celebrates 3 years of advancing open publishing with CRAFT-OA. Crossref and PKP enter new partnership phase to support more rich and inclusive metadata. TIB announces PKP Open Journal Systems (OJS) Deutschland Consortium 2026 – 2028. University of Oslo hosts PKP Oslo Sprint 2025. |
| 2026 | OJS beacon data indicates that as of 2025, 61,494 journals are using OJS world-wide. OJS / OMP / OPS 3.5 receives Long-Term Support (LTS) designation. Accessibility audit is conducted and actions are underway. PKP confirms its position as a research initiative. PFL enters wider promotions phase of the initiative. PKP Founder John Willinsky is appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada. PKP welcomes Teresa Lee as Managing Director. Marisa Tutt retires from PKP, and Kerrie Waddington joins PKP as Publishing Services Associate Director. PKP publishes its 2025 Annual Report. Crossref and PKP launch OJS upgrading campaign and event series. RJI marks 9th anniversary and 2 years working with PKP with symposium and training program. Fourteen members join the TIB led PKP OJS Deutschland Consortium 2026 – 2028. PKP announces multi-year support from the Max Planck Society for 2026 – 2028. Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research or Sikt joins global consortia supporting PKP. Dutch Research Council (NWO) renews 3-year support for PKP. SeDOA launches German OJS Network in support of Diamond Open Access. Érudit and PKP launch the new Coalition Publica website. PKP hosts first ever global OMP Fest. PKP School is relaunched with new OJS 3.5 courses. The PKP Warsaw Sprint 2026 is hosted by multiple organizations along side the OPERAS and SCIROS conferences. PKP hosts its first Virtual Sprint to kickstart plugin improvements. PKP joins 3rd Global Summit on Diamond Open Access. |