Swiss Open Access strategy approved

Switzerland is forging ahead with Open Access: the plenary meeting of swissuniversities has approved the national Open Access strategy.

The goal is for publications financed with Swiss public money to be accessible free of charge by 2024. On 31 January 2017, the plenary meeting of swissuniversities approved the national Open Access strategy. An action plan outlining the implementation of the strategy will be drawn up by the summer.

The Open Access strategy was jointly developed by the Swiss National Science Foundation and swissuniversities on behalf of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. The Swiss strategy resembles the models devised by other European countries. With the researchers' support, it will attempt to consolidate the OA policies already in place at higher education institutions and bundle resources needed for the transition to OA in Switzerland. True to the motto "Excellence comprises openness", the SNSF welcomes these latest steps and hopes that the transition will take place as smoothly and rapidly as possible.

More information on Open Access can be found on the websites of the SNSF and swissuniversities.