FCT’s New Policy on Open Access to Scientific Publications promotes the visibility of scientific production

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) launches its new Policy on Open Access to Scientific Publications resulting from FCT-funded research, which translates into a significant review and update of the mechanisms in place since 2014.

This new policy, applicable to funding for which the application period ends after February 7, 2025, is aimed at scientific articles, books, book chapters and monographs, as well as doctoral theses and master’s dissertations, embodying the understanding that research financed by public funds, such as those granted by the FCT as part of its mission, should produce results that are in the public domain, freely accessible and reusable by all. In this way, scientific cooperation and the advancement of science are boosted, while also promoting greater visibility for scientific production and its authors.

The documents available online include detailed information on the rights retention strategy and specific FAQs for publishing articles, theses or books. A support site has also been set up to help researchers through the whole process, right up to publication in open access.

Depending on the type of scientific publication, there are different routes to publication in open access: the Golden Route, which corresponds to immediate publication in open access in the journal, book or publishing platform; the Green Route, which refers to the publication in open access in a repository of the RCAAP network of an article or book published in closed access; or the Transformative Route, which allows publication in open access in a hybrid journal under a transformative agreement.

In the case of publishing a doctoral thesis or master’s dissertation funded by FCT, there are two publication models available: National Degree, when the degree is awarded by a Portuguese institution; and Foreign Degree, when it is awarded by a foreign institution. When the degree is awarded by a Portuguese institution, it is the institution’s responsibility to deposit the thesis or dissertation in a repository on the RCAAP network within 60 days of the degree being awarded. When the academic degree is obtained at a foreign institution, it is the author’s responsibility to deposit their thesis or dissertation in a RCAAP repository within 60 days of the date on which the degree was awarded.

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.

The revision of the previous Policy is the result of the experience of its application over the last 10 years, the very significant developments in the treatment of open access by institutions to which Portugal belongs, such as UNESCO or the European Union (EU), and also the growing awareness of the benefits of publishing in open access, as a way of disseminating access to knowledge. The outlines of this review are also guided by FCT’s adherence to Plan S, promoted by cOAlition S and supported by Science Europe.

text extracted from https://www.fct.pt/