OpenAccessVorgaben

OpenAccessVorgaben are policy requirements that mandate open access to research outputs. They are issued by funders, institutions, or public authorities and apply to publications, data sets, and sometimes other research results produced within funded projects or affiliated with an organization. The purpose is to increase accessibility, reuse, and transparency of research by ensuring that results are publicly available beyond paywalls.

Typical elements of OpenAccessVorgaben include: mandatory deposit of accepted manuscripts or the final published version in an open repository or immediate publication in an open access journal; defined embargo periods after which access must be open; licensing requirements, often favoring Creative Commons licenses such as CC BY; requirements for data openness, data availability statements, and the use of persistent identifiers; and compliance reporting to the funding body or institution.

Frameworks and examples vary by country and funder. Global initiatives such as Plan S (cOAlition S) set harmonized OA requirements for many European funders. In addition, national and regional policies exist, such as Horizon Europe OA rules, and national strategies or university mandates in countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, and others. These rules may require deposit in institutional repositories, publication in OA journals, or, in some cases, conditional access through hybrid journals with embargo limits.

Challenges and considerations include cost management (article processing charges), choosing appropriate licenses, ensuring access to the final version versus accepted manuscript, and handling exemptions for certain disciplines or sensitive data. Compliance depends on monitoring, reporting, and the availability of suitable repositories and venues.