Open Access and funder requirements – make sure you’re covered!

Making sure your published research is open access is not just a requirement for the REF. If you’ve been given funding to support your work then it’s important you know what requirements have also been stated by your funder.

Be sure you are clear on your open access responsibilities, in terms of:

• where and how quickly your work needs to be published
• what reuse licence must be applied to the article
• how you handle any associated research data, including putting data access statements in your articles.

There are several tools available that can help ensure you are compliant and keep your funders happy. They list some, but not all, UK funders.

SHERPA Juliet enables researchers and librarians to see funders’ conditions for open access publications. Visit SHERPA Juliet

SHERPA FACT checks if compliance with funder open access policies can be achieved with a particular journal. Visit SHERPA FACT

Here are some quick links to the requirements of some major funding councils relevant to Cranfield:

• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

For other funders not covered by SHERPA tools, you may need to look directly at their website for advice on what is expected. Horizon2020 is an example.

Check the terms of your funding contract. Ideally it should give guidance there about what you are expected to do in return for financial support.

Finally, always be mindful of Cranfield’s Open Access policy. Please do remember your Information Specialist in your library is always happy to help you.

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay