SNSF to adapts its open access funding and participate in a Diamond OA platform

In 2018, the SNSF introduced special funding measures for open access publications. The aim was to drive the transition towards free access to research output. This funding was intended as a temporary measure.

Fast forward to 2025 and the Swiss Open Access Monitor shows that the share of OA publications is now 70%. And as many as 80% of new publications originating from SNSF-funded research are now open access. “The joint efforts of Swiss higher education institutions and the SNSF as part of the National Open Access Strategy have been a success,” says Torsten Schwede, President of the SNSF Research Council. “Beyond the proportion of open access publications, the diversity of the publication landscape and its financial sustainability are becoming ever more important.”

Following these successful first years, the SNSF will update its OA funding as of 1 January 2027 to reflect the evolution of publication practices since 2018. This includes support for alternative models such as Diamond Open Access. With this model, researchers do not pay any publication fees, and all interested parties get access to publications free of charge. The Diamond OA model is financed by funding agencies, universities, and public and private supporters.

The SNSF also has to respond to the federal government’s cost-saving measures. The SNSF’s core task of funding new research remains the priority. It has already had to introduce cost-saving measures for several funding schemes starting in 2026. Limiting expenditure on open access is therefore unavoidable.

Maximum of CHF 3,500 for articles

One of the changes concerns articles in OA journals. Until now, the SNSF has covered the article processing charges (APCs) set by publishers. This will continue to apply until the end of 2026. From 1 January 2027, however, the SNSF will cap the maximum publication fee at CHF 3,500, and will no longer cover fees that are higher than this, not even partially.

The SNSF is thus aligning its funding practices with those of most Swiss higher education institutions, which also limit the amount of the APCs they cover for their researchers.

Three changes to book publications

The SNSF will also adapt its funding of book processing charges (BPCs) from 2027. “The three changes are based on the experience we have gained from the last seven years and over 2,000 funded books,” explains Regula Graf, who is responsible for open access book funding at the SNSF.

As of 2027, the SNSF will only fund OA books that are a direct result of SNSF-funded research, with the exception of qualification theses such as PhD theses and habilitations. These will continue to be funded even if they are not based on SNSF-funded projects.

For the book publication of qualification theses, publishers must now arrange an independent peer review of the full manuscript. The evaluation reports produced by universities during the qualification process will no longer suffice for quality assurance.

The SNSF’s book funding has a modular structure. The maximum funding amount for the basic module will be CHF 12,000 from 2027. As is currently the case, researchers will still be able to apply for various additional modules as needed.

European Diamond OA platform for researchers in Switzerland

From 2026 the SNSF will participate in Open Research Europe (ORE). This publication platform, which was previously run by the European Commission, is being restructured, supported by a large group of European research funding bodies, and opened up beyond EU funding.

The SNSF’s participation will allow all researchers in Switzerland from all disciplines to publish their articles free of charge (Diamond Open Access). The platform will accept submissions from autumn 2026. The SNSF will announce the details of the new scheme’s launch in the coming year.