Open Access Supported by G8
In a joint statement issued on June 13th, science ministers from eight of the world’s wealthiest countries endorsed the need to increase open access to publicly-funded research and research data. The document, which was released after the first-ever meeting of G8 science ministers and national science academies at the Royal Society in London, cites the pressing need for scientific collaboration in the international community. The memo states, in part:
… today, recognising the role that science has to play in securing present and future sustainable growth, we approved a statement which proposes to the G8 for consideration new areas for collaboration and agreement on global challenges, global research infrastructure, open scientific research data, and increasing access to the peer-reviewed, published results of scientific research.