As of 2020: 100% Open Access to SNSF-funded research

Based on a decision by the National Research Council, all publications produced in SNSF-funded projects are to be freely available in digital format as of 2020.

"Research findings funded by public money are a public good," says Matthias Egger, the President of the National Research Council. Open Access is quickly becoming the accepted standard in science. Until now, less than 50% of the publications produced in SNSF-funded research have met this requirement. But as of 2020, the SNSF will expect all pub-lications (100%) to be available free of charge in digital format.

"The researchers themselves stand to benefit the most from Open Access: their results will be seen by more people. And they will have unrestricted access to the publications of their colleagues. This will be a big step forward for science," says Matthias Egger. In addition, scientific knowledge would spread faster through the economic and political spheres, and through society as a whole.

Researchers will be able to publish their results in OA journals and OA books. This is the gold road. Alternatively, they can archive their publications in public databases, e.g. a university database - the green road.

Until now, the SNSF has covered the costs of publishing in OA journals. As of April 2018, it will also pay for OA books and as of October 2018 for OA book chapters. In addition, it will simplify the application process for publication grants, making it easier for research-ers to meet the Open Access requirements.

The SNSF's new Open Access policy fits in with the national strategy defined by the Swiss higher education institutions in January 2017. According to this strategy, all publications financed with public money will need to be freely accessible as of 2024.

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