eLife’s aim is to transform research communication through improvements to science publishing, technology and research culture, and we made significant progress in each of these areas in an unexpectedly challenging year. Notably, we announced our transition to a new “publish, then review” model of publishing, began developing technology to allow as many communities as possible to benefit from the model, and appointed a Research Culture Manager to lead our work in that area. Below, we reflect on these and our other efforts to transform research communication and realise our vision for a future in which a diverse, global community of scientists produces results that are trusted and open for the benefit of all.