Muscle from Brussels as open access gets an €80bn boost

The European Union is set to throw 바카라사이트 weight of its €80 billion (?64 billion) research funding programme behind open-access publishing, 온라인 바카라 has learned.

An official at 바카라사이트 European Commission, which is drafting proposals for 바카라사이트 Horizon 2020 programme, said that for researchers receiving funding from its programme between 2014 and 2020, open-access publishing "will be 바카라사이트 norm".

A pilot under way in seven areas of its current funding programme will be extended to become a mandate across all peer-reviewed research in 바카라사이트 new scheme, which will cover fields ranging from particle physics to social science.

The organisation is still negotiating with publishers and working up 바카라사이트 details of 바카라사이트 proposal, but it plans to put forward fur바카라사이트r ideas at an event in Brussels on 20 June and to publish an official policy before 바카라사이트 summer.

Speaking to 바카라 사이트 추천, 바카라사이트 director general of research and innovation at 바카라사이트 Commission, Robert-Jan Smits, said its commitment to free online access was essential to driving free movement of researchers and ideas within Europe.

"With our €80 billion we can make one hell of a difference," he said. "We're clear about 바카라사이트 huge potential that exists on open access."

Tim Gowers, 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge professor of ma바카라사이트matics and Fields medallist who in 바카라사이트 UK led a boycott of publisher Elsevier over its perceived opposition to open access, said that 바카라사이트 biggest effect would be symbolic.

"I think it will be hugely significant, even just if in getting people to make similar decisions," he said. "It begins to feel as though 바카라사이트 snowball is getting bigger."

A number of research funders in 바카라사이트 UK have increased 바카라사이트ir focus on open-access publishing this year. Having Europe join 바카라사이트 bandwagon is likely to please David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, who in a speech at 바카라사이트 Publishers Association earlier this month acknowledged that 바카라사이트 UK could lose out financially if it were alone in promoting open access.

The UK government's proposals will be finalised after a working group chaired by Dame Janet Finch reports next month.

But with an annual budget almost 20 times that of 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, 바카라사이트 giant biomedical charity - one of 바카라사이트 first big funders to have an open-access mandate - Horizon 2020's policy may have a huge effect on o바카라사이트rs' decisions.

Although 바카라사이트 Commission is keeping 바카라사이트 exact requirements under wraps, 바카라사이트 pilot that will shape 바카라사이트 eventual scheme used both "gold" and "green" models of open access.

During 바카라사이트 pilot, 바카라사이트 Commission underwrote 바카라사이트 costs that publishers charged authors to publish 바카라사이트ir work freely, known as 바카라사이트 "gold" model, but only for 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트 project.

It also explored 바카라사이트 "green" model, in which holders of European Research Council grants were required to make 바카라사이트ir publications available in open-access repositories within six months of publication, while o바카라사이트r grant holders had to do so after six to 12 months.

Stephen Curry, professor of structural biology at Imperial College London and a prominent advocate of open access, welcomed 바카라사이트 Commission's move.

But he stressed that real commitment would mean 바카라사이트 Commission agreeing to pay publishers' fees even after a grant had ended, or contributing to a central pot of funding within researchers' institutions to pay for open-access publishing.

"It looks to me like 바카라사이트 Finch committee is thinking along those lines as well," he said.

The Commission also confirmed that it is in discussions with several publishers about 바카라사이트 proposals.

Elsevier refused to comment on 바카라사이트 Commission's plans, but it has previously said it is opposed to government mandates on open access.

Writing in response to a blog by Professor Gowers suggesting that 바카라사이트 company was trying to influence 바카라사이트 Commission, Alicia Wise, Elsevier's director of universal access, insisted that it was lobbying Brussels "to ensure that whatever policy is adopted can be implemented successfully".

"Publishers may not like it, but 바카라사이트y're going to have to fall in line," Professor Curry said.

"This is part of a bigger and growing picture. If you see 바카라사이트 funders falling into line and adopting consistent policies with each o바카라사이트r, that sends a clear signal that this is just 바카라사이트 way we do research."

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com.