What is a Preprint?

• A preprint is a scientific manuscript that is uploaded by the authors to a public server. The preprint contains data and methods but has not yet been accepted by a journal. 
   
• Bypass lengthy publishing timelines that can delay access to research while giving authors full control of the dissemination of their works.  
   
• Most preprint servers support versioning, or the posting of updated versions of your paper based upon feedback and/or new data. 

Preprints are important as they:

• Allow researchers to share their work openly and rapidly at no cost to them.  
   
• Enable researchers to provide feedback, cite, and build upon research more quickly.  
   
• Provide the most equitable benefit to grantees, researchers and the scientific community.  
   
• Are journal agnostic – the research can be evaluated on its own merit.

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Questions about Open Access? 

Visit the Gates Foundation Open Access Policy website.
Email [e-mail].  
Sign up for the UNLOCKED Open Access Newsletter for news and announcements.