The policy refresh prioritizes what the foundation values most from its grantees:
- Speedy access to funded research
- Equity for global research so all researchers can participate in and benefit from the scientific process
- Data availability for the funded research for replication and advancement
With open access as the cornerstone of the foundation’s policy in 2015, researchers are no longer barred from reading and accessing funded findings. However, with APCs as the dominant OA business model, unfunded and unprivileged researchers find themselves locked out of publishing their work and contributing to the scientific record.
By focusing on preprints, alternative business models, and open data, the foundation is signaling that there are other ways to disseminate vital research and will hopefully stir new innovation and experimentation. The refreshed policy operates in parallel with traditional publishing so all grantees can still publish in their journal of choice, but that output is no longer a condition of funding.
Questions about Open Access?
Visit the Gates Foundation Open Access Policy website.
Email openaccess@gatesfoundation.org.
Sign up for the UNLOCKED Open Access Newsletter for news and announcements.