Open Access publishing – another important step forward for SCOAP3
Over recent years CERN has led an initiative, known as SCOAP3, to convert high-quality journals in the field of high-energy physics to Open Access. This will eventually allow anyone, anywhere, anytime, to access peer-reviewed results of research in our field, and will offer more opportunity for the re-use of scientific information. As a pilot, the CERN Scientific Information Service has been establishing partnerships with leading publishers in the field since late 2009 to offer similar conditions to the LHC collaborations.
SCOAP3 is a large consensus-building financial operation, with a projected yearly budget envelope of 10 million euros. To date, SCOAP3 counts partners in 27 countries around the world, who have pledged about three quarters of these funds. On 6 April, representatives of the institutions participating in the SCOAP3 consortium met at CERN to assess the progress of the initiative. During the meeting, large publishers in the field – APS, Elsevier, IOPp, SISSA and Springer – shared their opinions on the SCOAP3 model and stated their intention to participate in the SCOAP3 process. SCOAP3 partners reaffirmed the importance of mutual understanding with the publishing industry on the technical implementation of the scheme. Delegates to the meeting heard statements from countries currently working towards joining SCOAP3 and discussed the opportunities and challenges ahead. Consensus was reached to move SCOAP3 towards an operational phase. A first concrete step will be the start of a call for tenders for publishers to provide peer-review and other publishing services, conditional on further countries and partners joining the SCOAP3 consortium.
Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, addressed the participants in a video message, wishing SCOAP3 “…success [that] will be more than just a proof of concept. It will show us a possible way into the future of scientific publishing that others can follow.” Commissioner Kroes continued: “Access to scientific results for free, for all, forever, is a compelling vision indeed.” A full transcript of the statement is available on the SCOAP3 web site. A recording of the address can be also downloaded. All presentations, transcripts and videos from the event are also available on the SCOAP3 web site.
