AmeliCA is a project born in South America, started almost at the same time as Plan S (end of 2018). For this reason, the two initiatives has often compared as in the official announcement of AmeliCA itself.

The stated objective of both initiatives is to transform Open Access into an effective reality. Although they both have a global aspiration, the different historical and cultural environments should not be ignored. 

Indeed, Plan S is born in a context in which the use of scientific contents is entrusted to commercial systems, based on the relationship between publishers and institutions. The initiative therefore appears to be strongly oriented to regulate agreements and to establish a limit to the costs that institutions are forced to pay.

The Plan S first principle focuses on the authors and their own need to retain the rights on their work.

Because of its history and culture, AmeliCA is oriented towards a commitment among universities. In fact, in Latin America there is a non-commercial structure which attributes ownership rights to the academic institutions and not to the publisher.

For this reason, the first principle of AmeliCA stems from the scientific publication itself and develops its objectives around it.

As announced on the official website of the initiative, the main objectives of AmeliCA are:

• “The construction of a community-driven multi-institutional platform for the developing of technology and knowledge generation, in order to consolidate a collaborative, sustainable and non-commercial Open Access.
• Support scientific publications that contribute to the benefit of society and the development of science.
• Strengthen scientific editorial work and its actors in the Global South, especially in Social Sciences and Humanities.
• Contribute to the non-subordinated integration of this region in the global dialogue of scientific communication”.

More information on the AmeliCA website.