TRANSFORMATION OF SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF OPEN SCIENCE: OVERLAY JOURNALS AS AN INNOVATIVE PUBLICATION MODEL

Abstract

The development of digital technologies and open science practices is transforming scholarly publishing models. Overlay journals represent an innovative approach that functions on top of existing open repositories, performing peer review and editorial selection without maintaining content storage. This model combines the advantages of open access with traditional scholarly validation functions. This research analyzes the operational characteristics of overlay journals through content analysis and comparative methods, focusing on the Episciences platform. All examined journals operate under diamond open access, charging neither authors nor readers, and function under academic community governance rather than commercial control. This approach democratizes scholarly communication by eliminating financial barriers while maintaining rigorous peer review standards. The delegation of content storage to specialized repositories allows journals to concentrate on quality assurance and editorial processes, increasing efficiency and reducing operational costs. Future development prospects include integrating artificial intelligence technologies for process automation, content filtering, and quality enhancement. The availability of free AI tools and open-source solutions makes this transformation feasible even for journals with limited budgets.Research findings demonstrate that overlay journals constitute a sustainable alternative to traditional publishing, representing not a marginal phenomenon but a viable model capable of transforming the scientific communication ecosystem into a more democratic, efficient, and community-oriented structure aligned with open science principles.