Open Access Policy (2017) — Austrian Science Fund
ResourcesOpen Access Policy (2017) — Austrian Science Fund
What is this about?
The policy makes openness the default for research in Austria, aiming for work to be as open as possible, as closed as necessary. It requires open access to publications (via repositories or open journals), encourages Creative Commons licensing, persistent identifiers, and FAIR data practices. Researchers, institutions, funders, and publishers all have clear responsibilities: planning for openness from the start, retaining rights, acknowledging funding, and supporting repositories and infrastructure. Exceptions for sensitive or commercial data are allowed but must be justified transparently. The policy ties openness to research quality, reproducibility, equity, and global alignment (e.g., Plan S, EOSC). Monitoring focuses on the quality of openness—metadata, licensing, transparency—rather than just publication counts. Equity and responsible openness are emphasized, with safeguards for ethics, privacy, and inclusion. Overall, it provides practical, coherent guidance for Austrian stakeholders to comply with and benefit from open science.
