We are pleased to welcome CLOCKSS as the newest Strategic Partner in the Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM). CLOCKSS brings to our community a longstanding commitment to digital preservation, open infrastructure, and the long-term safeguarding of scholarly knowledge. Their participation strengthens the collective effort to ensure that research produced across our region remains accessible, reliable, and preserved for future generations.

CLOCKSS operates as a community-governed archive, guided by the Principles of Open Scholarly Infrastructure (POSI) and supported by a global network of libraries and publishers. The organisation’s model emphasises durability, transparency, and shared stewardship. These values speak directly to current regional conversations about how best to build sustainable, secure, and openly available research ecosystems.

The recent Forum for Open conference offered an opportunity for deeper engagement, and the conversations sparked during the event highlighted the importance of preservation infrastructures that reflect global best practices while responding meaningfully to regional needs. CLOCKSS enters the network at a moment when institutions across the Arab region are exploring ways to strengthen the visibility and resilience of their scholarly outputs.

“Having attended the recent Forum for Open conference, I was struck by the energy and commitment of librarians and publishers from across the Middle East and North Africa. For CLOCKSS – an open infrastructure aligned with the Principles of Open Scholarly Infrastructure (POSI) – joining the Forum is a natural step. With our small, mission-driven team keeping costs low, networks such as this are crucial: they allow us to understand regional needs, foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration, and extend long-term preservation and open access to scholarship worldwide. We are delighted to be part of this community.” – Dr. Alicia Wise, Executive Director, CLOCKSS Archive

We look forward to working together to support preservation strategies, expand shared expertise, and strengthen collaborative approaches to open scholarship across the region.

If you would like to learn more about membership opportunities or explore ways to collaborate with FORM, further information is available here.