JRC adopts open access policy for scientific articles

The European Commission has adopted an open access policy for scientific articles under Horizon 2020.

From January 2014, Joint Research Centre (JRC) articles in peer-reviewed publications where JRC staff members are the first or corresponding author will be freely accessible. This will result in most JRC scientific papers being made available online. The JRC said that providing access to research results is important because it will lead to better and more efficient science as well as improved transparency for citizens and society.

Many JRC scientific research results, such as science and policy, technical and reference reports, books and some scientific articles, were made publicly available in 2010 via the JRC’s Publications Management System. JRC researchers will now be expected to publish any new peer-reviewed research papers in journals compliant with the new policy.

There are two routes to open access: gold access, when the journal publisher provides immediate unrestricted access to the final published version of the paper, and green access, when the publisher agrees to make the peer-reviewed manuscript available within a defined embargo period. In accordance with Horizon 2020 requirements, the JRC will not accept an embargo period of longer than 12 months.