University President Andreas Marx Appointed Spokesperson of the DEAL Group

Prof. Dr. Andreas Marx, President of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, assumed the role of Spokesperson of the DEAL Group on 1 July 2026. He was appointed by the Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany, succeeding Prof. Dr. Günter Ziegler, President of Freie Universität Berlin.

On behalf of all German research institutions and under the leadership of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK), the DEAL Group negotiates nationwide licensing and Open Access agreements with international scholarly publishers. The initiative aims to improve access to scholarly publications, strengthen Open Access, and enhance Germany’s information infrastructure for research and teaching.

»I am deeply honoured by the confidence placed in me by the Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany and grateful for the opportunity to continue the successful work of the DEAL Group together with our partner institutions,« says Prof. Dr. Andreas Marx. »Free and sustainable access to scientific knowledge is a fundamental prerequisite for excellent research and innovation. Over the past years, the DEAL initiative has made a significant contribution to advancing this goal.«

With Andreas Marx, the DEAL Group will be led by an internationally renowned chemist and science leader. He has served as President of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena since August 2024. Before taking up this position, he was Professor of Organic Chemistry / Cellular Chemistry at the University of Konstanz, where he also served as Vice President for Research and Early Career Researchers. His scientific achievements have been recognised with numerous national and international awards.