European efforts for Open Access

Science Europe, the association of European Research Funding Organisations, presents an overview of the development of Open Access policies developed by its member organisations. The information is based on surveys held in late 2012 and early 2014. In addition up-to-date data until july 2016 was collected.

Institutional repositories

According to the report “all surveyed organisations had implemented OA policies, whether mandatory or not, or were in the process of implementing.” Science Europes finds some common ground in these actions as well as “some notable differences in the approaches chosen.”

One of the policy implementations that were put in place in all organisations was the creation of an institutional repository. “Repositories were considered to be key components of the research infrastructure, as they are essential to ensure that the results of publicly-funded research are broadly disseminated, made openly accessible and preserved for the long term.”

Targeting early-career researchers

Most of the member organisations are very transparent in the communication of their Open Access policies. A dedicated institutional webpage informs researchers in the local language as well as in English about changes being made in Open Access.

There are however considerable challenges that need to be dealt with in order to make a full transition to ‘Open Science’. For example, “targeting early-career researchers (PhDs and postdocs) is essential in encouraging new habits of publication and enabling a cultural shift in the way that OA is perceived by the research communication.” Science Europe advises governments to mention Open Access as a key national strategy issue

The full report can be read here