The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) has adopted a new Open Access Policy, making it compulsory for scientific publications resulting from research it has funded to be made available in open access. The policy comes into force on February 7 and applies to scientific articles, books, book chapters and monographs, as well as doctoral theses and master's dissertations.
The launch is accompanied by the creation of a supportwebsite, which aims to help researchers comply with the Policy and guide them through the whole process, helping them to follow the necessary steps up to Open Access publication. On this page there will also be links to a set of frequently asked questions and a document explaining the rights retention mechanism.
Publication channels available
There are different ways to ensure Open Access availability and thus comply with the new Policy, depending on the type of scientific publication.
As far as articles are concerned, the Golden Way corresponds to the immediate publication of the scientific article in open access in the journal, book or publishing platform. The Green Route involves publishing an article or book published by the publisher in closed access in a repository on the RCAAP network. Finally, the Transformative Way allows publication in a hybrid journal under a transformative agreement.
With regard to books, book chapters and monographs, the available routes are green and gold, with the meaning and scope mentioned above with regard to articles.
In the case of doctoral theses and master's dissertations, publication in open access is ensured by depositing them in a repository on the RCAAP network.
The Policy's cornerstone is the non-admission of embargo periods when making content available in open access and the retention of rights over published content, which ensures that at least the accepted manuscript version is made available in open access.
Publishing in Open Access: why?
The adoption of this Policy is based on the understanding that research financed by public funds, such as those granted by the FCT as part of its mission to fund scientific activity in Portugal, should produce results that are in the public domain, freely accessible and reusable by all.
This open availability of research results also has significant benefits: it facilitates interdisciplinarity and increases the visibility of the knowledge produced, but it also has a social and economic impact, bringing research to professionals in other areas, to companies and to interested publics.
It also fosters scientific cooperation and the advancement of science, as well as increasing the visibility of scientific production and its authors.
