Open Citations and Responsible Metrics

Briefing Note for Jisc – Cameron Neylon – March 2016

Regional Challenges in Achieving Open Access and Proposed Recommendations

Working Together to Promote Open Access Policy Alignment in Europe

Discussion Paper: Researchers and Open Science

This paper introduces the concept of Open Science to policymakers and discusses how Open Science is fomenting change in the way scientific research is conducted, communicated, accessed and shared. The paper starts, firstly, by defining Open Science, identifying its pillars and describing its overall benefits. Secondly, it situates Open Science within the European Commission’s agenda for transforming science and democratising research1. Thirdly, it highlights the benefits and implications of Open Science for researchers – who are being increasingly encouraged to share research more widely and openly – and for policymakers, who have been adopting strategies and policies that encourage Open Science and open research. Importantly, this discussion paper intends to raise policymakers’ awareness to some of the reasons why researchers may or may not be supportive about Open Science. Finally, after highlighting the implications of Open Science for researchers, a reflection is made on how policymakers can implement cohesive and consistent policies and strategies that advance an Open Science agenda at the institutional, funder or national level(s).

Sustainability of Open Access Services - Phases 1 & 2

Although some services that support Open Access have developed a sustainable business model, many started as projects and continue to run on recurrent project funding or goodwill. If these are critical components of the evolving scholarly communication system the foundation of Open Access is vulnerable. Knowledge Exchange has commissioned this study as part of a larger programme of work to look at the issue of sustaining key services into the long term. This report focuses on phases one and two of the programme. Phase one was a scoping exercise, carried out mainly through a literature review and an extensive stakeholder interview exercise, to describe the services that are currently available or would be valuable in the future. It also investigated what roles stakeholders could play in this future scenario. Phase two was a stakeholder consultation and engagement exercise. The aim was to engage stakeholders with the work programme so that they could contribute their views, get involved with the work and have a voice in the thinking about future scenarios. The key services are presented for three future scenarios: ‘Gold’ Open Access, fully ‘Green’ Open Access and Green’ Open Access supplementing subscription access as ‘Gold’ OA grows. Three strategic areas are identified as having particular potential for future work. These are embedding business development expertise into service development; consideration of how to move money around the system to enable Open Access to be achieved optimally; and governance and coordination of the infrastructural foundation of Open Access. The report concludes with seven recommendations, both high-level and practical, for further work around these strategic areas.