The SNSF already jointly signed the "Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities" with other scientific organisations in Switzerland in 2006. In doing so, it underlined its intention to support the efforts towards establishing Open Access - i.e. free access to scientific publications - in Switzerland.
Open Access: New SNSF provisions to facilitate access
Research sponsored by public funding should be publicly accessible as far as possible, not least in the interests of science itself. Since its consultation with the Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities (CRUS), the SNSF has issued regulations on Open Access effective as of September 2007 onwards. Scientific publications from funded projects must be made available through Open Access but the regulations allow researchers a freedom of choice. The new regulations will be integrated in subsection 4 of the Regulations on Information, Valorisation and Rights to Research Results as of 1 July 2008.
Regulations on Information, Valorisation and Rights to Research Results17 June 2008 - Provisions on Open Access to Scientific Publications of Projects Sponsored by the SNSF
FAQs about the SNSF provisions on Open Access & scientific publicationsWhat is Open Access? (in German)