The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) – collectively known as Canada's federal research granting agencies – have announced a comprehensive review of the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications (OA Policy). The primary objective of the review is to mandate that all peer-reviewed journal publications resulting from research supported by the agencies be freely accessible to the public at the time of publication, without any subscription or fees. The revised OA Policy is scheduled to be unveiled by the end of 2025.
The agencies are firmly committed to increasing the dissemination of research findings and accelerating knowledge mobilization by ensuring that peer-reviewed articles stemming from agency-funded research are promptly and openly accessible to all interested readers.
According to UNESCO, a publication is considered to have immediate open access when its content is universally and freely available, without any cost to the reader, through the Internet or other means. The author or copyright owner also grants users the perpetual right to use, copy, or distribute the article, provided that proper attribution is given. Additionally, the article is required to be immediately deposited in a suitable electronic format in at least one widely recognized open-access repository that is committed to open-access principles.
The move towards Open Access publishing is part of a broader trend of embracing Open Science practices worldwide. Momentum for open access has been steadily growing as research funders and institutions globally update their policies to mandate immediate open access for research publications. The forthcoming policy revisions by the Canadian research granting agencies will ensure alignment with other research funders both within the country and internationally. The announcement also resonates with Canada's Chief Science Advisor's Roadmap for Open Science, the G7 Science and Technology Ministers' Communiqué from May 12-14, 2023, and international best practices outlined in the UNESCO Recommendations on Open Science.
Over the next year, the agencies plan to engage extensively with various stakeholders within the research community, including researchers, research libraries, federal and provincial partners, scholarly associations, and publishers. The goal is to gather insights and perspectives to identify key features of an effective, comprehensive, sustainable, and equitable immediate Open Access Policy for peer-reviewed articles. Furthermore, the agencies aim to determine the necessary incentives and support mechanisms for the successful implementation of the revised policy.
Collaboration with partners in the research community will be crucial to the success of this Open Access Policy update. As the first step in the consultation process, the agencies have invited members of the research community to participate in a short, online survey to contribute valuable input to inform the policy update. Continued consultation and engagement with stakeholders will occur throughout the next year as the agencies work towards finalizing the revised Open Access Policy for publications. This policy update is just one component of advancing Open Science practices in Canada, and the agencies are determined to promote an open and collaborative research environment that benefits researchers and the public alike.
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