Context

Aims of the SNSF

OA policy of the SNSF: What’s new?

The SNSF has decided to implement Open Access for all SNSF-funded publications already as of 2020. To facilitate this policy, it implements a range of measures and has issued new regulations that have entered into force on 1 April 2018.

The most important changes at a glance

Changes to OA policy
  • Gold OA for books as book processing charge (BPC)
  • Gold OA for book chapters as book chapter processing charge (BCPC)
  • Embargo of 12 months instead of 24 months for books in green OA
Incentives and support
  • The upper limit for article processing charges (APCs) of CHF 3000 is not applicable for the time being
  • New platform for processing OA grants that is separate from ongoing projects
Compliance und Controlling
  • Systematic monitoring of OA compliance
  • Automated feedback on OA compliance to grant holders
  • No more exceptions from the OA commitment for articles
Communication
  • Active communication of the OA policy to researchers, in mySNF and on the SNSF website
  • Further, regular communication measures until 2020

The changes in detail

Since 1 April 2018:
  • Articles in journals: The SNSF will continue to cover article processing charges (APCs) in the case of direct publication in OA journals. It is lifting the existing upper limit of CHF 3000 for the time being. Unreasonably high APCs might be cut.
  • Books: The SNSF will cover book processing charges (BPCs) for book publications that are immediately made available in OA mode. BPCs are also available for OA book publications that are not based on an SNSF-funded research project.
  • Applying for BPCs: applicants no longer need to enter publication grants as eligible costs in their applications. They can apply for BPCs directly via an OA platform that is part of mySNF. They will be able to do so even after the end of the project.
  • Green Road: As until now, journal articles need to be archived in an institutional or disciplinary repository after six months at the latest. For books, there is a new deadline of 12 instead of 24 months. In terms of content, the works archived in the repository must correspond to the publisher’s version (mostly called post-print or accepted manuscript).
  • No exceptions for articles: The OA commitment applies to all articles. Grantees should only consider publishing houses that respect the OA rules of the SNSF. For books, exceptions may be granted if the costs for image rights are very high.
  • Co-financing: Publications that are the result of co-financed research are subject to the OA commitment if at least 50% of the total funding amount was contributed by the SNSF.
As of 1 October 2018:
  • Book chapters: The SNSF will cover book chapter processing charges (BCPCs) in the case of the direct publication of book chapters.
  • Applying for APCs and BCPCs: Applicants will now be able to apply for APCs and BCPCs on the OA platform itself, even after the end of the project.