Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities (2003)

What is this about?

This foundational declaration, led by the Max Planck Society, articulates a vision of the Internet as the infrastructure for a global scientific knowledge commons. It endorses open access to research literature and cultural heritage, building on the Budapest and Bethesda statements, and calls on research organisations, funders, libraries, archives and museums to adopt policies that enable unrestricted access and responsible reuse with proper attribution.

The text defines open access, urges signatories to develop sustainable frameworks (including institutional repositories and new publishing models), and invites broad institutional commitment through signatures. Over two decades, the declaration has served as a touchstone for national and institutional policies worldwide.

For whom is this important?

All stakeholders in researchResearch funding organisations

Other information