The Case for Open Access

The members of the UK Open Access Implementation Group believe that UK higher education and the UK economy and society would benefit from open access.  These benefits will be in the increased efficiency with which research can be conducted and disseminated, and the increased impact that research will have when it is openly available to be used both as a basis for further research, and to support innovation and good practice in the wider economy and society.  However, the members of the UK Open Access Implementation Group acknowledge that the transition to open access is not straightforward, and this is the motivation for the Group’s work.

Existing evidence of the benefits of open access includes the following milestone reports:

• SQW Ltd (2003) An Economic Analysis of Scientific Research Publishing. Published by the Wellcome Trust: www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/Media-office/Press-releases/2004/WTD002874.htm
• Houghton, J et al (2009) Economic implications of alternative scholarly publishing models: Exploring the costs and benefits.  Published by JISC: www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/reports/2009/economicpublishingmodelsfinalreport.aspx
• Cambridge Economic and Policy Associates / RIN (2009) Activities, costs and funding flows in the scholarly communications system in the UK. Published by the Research Information Network: www.rin.ac.uk/system/files/attachments/Activities-costs-flows-summary.pdf
• Swan, A (2010) Modelling Scholarly Communication Options: Costs and benefits for universities. Published by JISC: http://ie-repository.jisc.ac.uk/442/
• Research Information Network (2011) Heading for the open road: costs and benefits of transitions in scholarly communications. Published by RIN: http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/communicating-and-disseminating-research/heading-open-road-costs-and-benefits-transitions-s

Further work will be commissioned, specifically on the ways in which open access will support innovation, efficiencies and good practice in the wider UK economy and society.