[EIFLoa] Three UK Research/Industry groups support Open Access

[Iryna Kuchma]

*Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA)
PraxisUnico
Association for University Research and Industry Links (AURIL)

Statement of Support for Open Access to Research Results and Data*

1. The three associations wish to record their support for Open Access as a
means of enabling wide access to research results, which will lead to the
productive use of those results in both academic and non-academic settings.

2. We believe that Open Access increases the ability of knowledge
professionals to find, access and use the outputs and data generated by
research for policy, social, cultural, health, environmental, as well as
economic benefit, in the UK and internationally.

3. We believe that Open Access can potentially support innovation and the
inventive process, helping to generate a faster translation of research
into practice.

4. We believe that Open Access is entirely consistent with intellectual
property (IP) protection through patenting and other forms of protection
that allow for publication and sharing of the outcomes of research whilst
protecting commercial interests.

5. We believe that the research exemption under patent and other IP
legislation is important in allowing for unhindered academic research and
scientific progress without compromising commercial interests. Maintaining
the research exemption is consistent with the principles of Open Access.

6. We support easy identification of and access to the data underpinning
research results, to enable replication and data mining. We believe that
such access should take place at an appropriate stage in the research
process, recognising that researchers whose efforts generate original data
and other results deserve a period of exclusive access during which time
they will carry out analysis and generate initial publications. Open Access
to research data too early in the process may undermine the research
itself, and will inhibit collaborations with commercial, non-commercial and
governmental organisations to whom confidentiality and return on investment
is important.

7. Access to research results and data needs to be a managed process in
order to ensure that the methodologies for data collection and analysis are
clear and to ensure that, where relevant, the rights and privacy of
research subjects can be protected.

8. We believe that research management, assessment and evaluation are
easier if research outputs are openly available, as this promotes
innovation and competition within and between research organisations.

9. Commitment to Open Access needs to be tempered with both technical and
economic reality. Information held electronically may be dependent on
licences and other permissions, or be held in particular formats that may
not be straightforward for others to access. Furthermore, storing,
curating, and facilitating access to information can have significant
costs. At a time of pressure on resources, the ability of funders,
institutions, and researchers to provide Open Access will need to be
balanced against other priorities, notwithstanding the highly desirable
outcomes that Open Access may offer. We support efforts involving all
stakeholders working together to produce sustainable solutions.

10. As a member of the Open Access Implementation Group, ARMA’s views
reflect those of all three associations in their efforts to support the
uptake of Open Access.

March 2012

Notes:
i) Open Access is where:
- research outputs are made available ideally under terms that allow all
forms of reuse, for example by use of the Creative Commons “Attribution”
licence [1] or equivalent, but;
- research outputs are made available at least under terms that allow
non-commercial reuse including text and data mining, for example by use of
the Creative Commons “Attribution, Non-Commercial” licence [2] or
equivalent.
ii) Information on the Open Access Implementation Group can be found at
http://open-access.org.uk/

Contact details:
ARMA: Dr Ian Carter (Chair), Research & Enterprise Services, University of
Sussex, 01273 877 718, i.carter at sussex.ac.uk
PraxisUnico: Dr Douglas Robertson (Chair), Research & Enterprise Services,
University of Newcastle, 0191 222 5060, douglas.robertson at ncl.ac.uk
AURIL: Dr David Bembo (Vice-Chair), Research & Commercial Division, Cardiff
University, 029 20 875159, bembo at cardiff.ac.uk

[1] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/uk/
[2] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/uk/

www.arma.ac.uk/files/guest/Information/ARMA-PraxisUnico-AURILOAStatementMarch2012.pdf
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