News release

28 June 2005

RCUK Announces Proposed Position on Access to Research Outputs

The principal investors in publicly-funded research in the UK have responded to the debate on improved access to research outputs by putting forward their emerging views on the issue.

The eight UK Research Councils, under the umbrella of Research Councils UK (RCUK), have proposed to make it mandatory for research papers arising from Council-funded work to be deposited in openly available repositories at the earliest opportunity.

The Councils are seeking views on their position statement published today (28 June 2005) on the RCUK website.

RCUK spokesman, Professor Ian Diamond said that Councils have already widely consulted the research community:

"We’ve held workshops, given evidence at Select Committees, met with the publishers through a DTI working group and written out to all UK Vice Chancellors to share our views as they emerge on this issue and hear what others are saying," he said.

"The technology that has led to this debate is still evolving and so is our position. We see today’s statement as a starting point and we’re actively seeking the views of all parties involved in the debate, such as the Learned Societies," he added.

RCUK’s position would apply to new grants awarded after 1 October this year. Given the long-term nature of most research, the impact of the policy will not be felt immediately.

"The Research Councils are responsible for supporting and promoting the activities of a research base that is vibrant, productive and sustainable. We’re therefore committed to ensuring the widest possible dissemination of ideas and knowledge, effective quality assurance of research and its results, cost effective use of public funds and the long-term preservation of research outputs. Our emerging position on the access issue should come as no surprise to those who understand our remit," said Professor Diamond.

RCUK proposes:

• A requirement for all grants awarded from 1 October 2005 that, subject to copyright and licensing arrangements, a copy of any resultant published journal articles or conference proceedings should be deposited in an appropriate e-print repository (either institutional or subject-based) wherever such a repository is available to the award-holder. Deposit should take place at the earliest opportunity, wherever possible at or around the time of publication.
• Research Councils will also encourage, but not formally oblige, award-holders to deposit articles arising from grants awarded before 1 October 2005.
• Councils will ensure that applicants for grants are allowed, subject to justification of cost-effectiveness, to include in the costing of their projects the predicted costs of any publication in author-pays journals.

The Research Councils argue that technology offers new possibilities to communicate the results of research, through developments in electronic publishing such as open access journals and e-print repositories.

ends

Notes for editors

A full copy of RCUK’s position statement on access to research outputs can be found here

Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the partnership between the UK's eight Research Councils. Through RCUK, the Councils work together to champion the research, training and innovation they support. The Councils are independent non-departmental public bodies, funded by the Science Budget through the Office of Science and Technology.

RCUK was created to increase the collective visibility, leadership and policy influence of the Research Councils; to stimulate multi-disciplinary research that encourages collaboration; to provide a single focus for collective dialogue with stakeholders and to encourage greater harmonisation of internal operations.

The partnership is led by the RCUK Executive Group, which meets monthly and comprises the chief executives of the eight Research Councils. The Group is currently chaired by Professor Ian Diamond, chief executive of the Economic and Social Research Council.

BBSRC currently manages media relations for Research Councils UK. Please contact Media Officer, Matt Goode 01793 413299

The eight UK Research Councils are:

• Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
• Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
• Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC);
• Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
• Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
• Medical Research Council (MRC);
• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
• Particle Physics & Astronomy Research Council (PPARC).