About SSHRC

Policy Focus
Open Access

SSHRC’s “open access” policy aims to increase the impact of research knowledge on society by making the full content of publicly funded research results easily available on the Internet, permanently and without direct cost to the reader.

What’s New

• Australian Open Access to Knowledge (OAK) Law Project publishes guide for researchers wishing to use an open access approach to research communications

• Open Access Journals Program launches its first competition, March 2007

• CFI invests $6 million in the Synergies Project, a new national system of service centres that will provide electronic production and publication services for the research community

Background

In October 2004, SSHRC adopted, in principle, a policy of open access that would guide the development of its research support programs.

Following consultations with the research community, Council decided in 2006 to take an awareness raising, educational and promotional approach to the implementation of this policy, rather than imposing mandatory requirements.

As a first step, SSHRC has invited applications for financial support from open access journals, in order to contribute to the sustainability of those journals that meet international standards for quality.

The Council is now examining how open access provisions can be effectively incorporated into other research support programs. SSHRC will be consulting the research community regularly to ensure that policies meet the needs of both the research community and Canadians as a whole.