ZB MED: Funding for OLSPub rejected, new application for data resilience submitted

by | Nov 19, 2025 | Health, Research

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has rejected the funding application for ZB MED’s OLSPub project, which aims to develop an open alternative to PubMed. Despite a positive assessment of the technical concept, experts criticized the governance structure and the international integration. ZB MED then submitted a new proposal as part of a DFG programme to secure endangered data assets and data resilience, which will be decided on before the end of 2025.

OLSPub: easy access to life science literature – through a resilient open source infrastructure – by the community for the community. | Source: ZB MED | Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
OLSPub: easy access to life science literature – through a resilient open source infrastructure – by the community for the community. | Source: ZB MED | Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0

OLSPub aims to create an independent, sustainable research infrastructure for the life sciences in Europe. The new application focuses on securing data, a sub-aspect of OLSPub, and takes into account the criticism by strengthening its European footing. In addition, ZB MED is seeking further funding through donations and fundraising in order to involve partners from science, politics and civil society.

According to ZB MED, the rejection of the first application leads it to examine alternative ways to advance European research sovereignty. In the long term, distributed funding is intended to secure a comprehensive infrastructure that promotes openness, transparency and digital sovereignty in science.

Further information:

OLSPub | ZB MED – Information Centre for Life Sciences


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