Context

OA 2020 Policy

Overview

The National Open Access Strategy approved in spring 2017 and the Action Plan of February 2018 represent important steps in establishing Open Access in Switzerland. They aim to ensure that all publications financed with public money are openly accessible by 2024.

The SNSF has decided to implement Open Access for all publications emanating from SNSF-funded research already as of 2020. To facilitate this policy, it has defined a range of measures and issued new regulations, which 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 and 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