Tracking the RCUK's progress toward OA

Tracey Caldwell, Half of RCUKs opt for open access model, Information World Review, November 14, 2006.  Excerpt:

Research papers sponsored by four RCUKs will be made available on an open access model. These are the Economic and Social Research Council, Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council, Medical Research Council and Natural Environment Research Council.

Open access campaigners welcome the announcement. Peter Suber, author of the Open Access news blog, said, "The four research councils that have adopted the mandates are exemplary. We can quibble about details,...[but by] requiring open access to the research they fund, they've taken the biggest and most beneficial step."

Suber called for the four remaining research councils to follow suit. "One – the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC) – has indicated it will not, and will merely encourage open access....[T]he US National Institutes of Health (NIH) tried the CCLRC approach in 2004 and it didn't work. The NIH requests rather than requires open access to the research it funds and, despite its best efforts to encourage and educate its grantees, it has not been able to get more than 5% compliance. The CCLRC apparently hasn't monitored the NIH experiment and is preparing to repeat its mistakes," Suber said.

A CCLRC representative dismissed the criticism: "CCLRC provides the facilities for research. It is not a major grant issuing body. So the question of mandating deposit of research outputs for grant holders does not arise. CCLRC and PPARC will merge in April 2007. Together we will develop the guidance for the new research council."

Comments.

1. After I gave this interview, the Particle Physics & Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) also adopted an OA mandate.  So now the tally for the eight Research Councils UK is five mandates, one request, and two undecided. 
2. I differ with the CCLRC.  The fact that it is not a "major" research funder doesn't mean that the policy arguments for OA don't apply to it.  They apply to all agencies that fund non-classified research, and with special strength to public funding agencies.  I hope the upcoming merger means that the new agency will adopt the PPARC's strong OA policy, not the CCLRC's weak one.