UKRI publishes guidance and resources for new open access policy

close up stack of papers

UKRI has published additional guidance and resources to support funded research organisations and researchers to be ready for the organisation’s new open access policy.

Peer-reviewed research articles that acknowledge UKRI funding will need to comply with UKRI’s new open access policy from 1 April 2022.

The following new guidance and resources are available:

  • an FAQ for the policy
  • supporting guidance for authors
  • an information pack for research organisations to use to engage their researchers about the policy
  • CC BY-ND licence exception process and guidance
  • the policy document.

New information on the policy and implementation includes:

  • it will be permitted to use UKRI open access funding to pay for open access publication in hybrid journals that meet the new research sector requirements (as defined by Jisc for transformative journals). The requirements for transformative journals have been agreed by the UK research sector and help to ensure value for money.
  • further information on activities Jisc is undertaking to support the implementation of UKRI’s open access policy is available. This will include analysis of data to monitor and evaluate the performance of transitional arrangements to enable universities, research organisations, UKRI and publishers understand the progress and impact of open access agreements, and the development of a guide for researchers about licencing and copyright.

Information event

There is still time for open access leads at research organisations to register interest in attending a virtual information and good practice sharing event being held on 24 February 2022. The deadline for registering interest is 14 February.

Due to extensive interest and the format of the event, the number of attendees from individual research organisations may be restricted. UKRI will contact those who have registered to confirm attendance by 17 February 2022. This event is being organised in partnership with ARMA, Jisc, RLUK and SCONUL. Presentations and notes from the event will be made available.

New requirements

The new UKRI open access policy will also apply to monographs, book chapters and edited collections from January 2024. Further details will be published later in 2022.

Further information

Further information and guidance is available:

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