The UK Open Access Implementation Group (OAIG) today released the outcomes of research into the benefits of open access to commercial companies and findings from a consultation on the practicalities of paying for open access publication.

The report ‘Benefits to the Private Sector of Open Access to Higher Education and Scholarly Research’ shows how commercial companies would benefit from reduced costs, less time wasting, and shortened development cycles by having greater access to UK research outputs.

GuildHE CEO, Andy Westwood, said:

“We welcome the OAIG’s work and support the assertion that open access to publicly funded research catalyses innovation and encourages faster and broader economic growth.”

GuildHE’s sub-association, The Consortium for Research Excellence, Support and Training (CREST), is working on an open access repository for research outputs, ‘CREST Collections’, in the belief that publicly funded research should be as accessible as possible to all potential users and beneficiaries.

ENDS

For more information and comment:
Dee Easter
Tel: 020 7387 7711
Email: dee.easter@guildhe.ac.uk

Notes to editors

1. GuildHE is a recognised higher education representative body. Its 33 members are among the most dynamic and fastest-growing institutions in the sector. For a list of GuildHE institutions, please visit: https://www.guildhe.ac.uk/en/members-list/ 

2. The report, ‘Benefits to the Private Sector of Open Access to Higher Education and Scholarly Research’ is published on the OAIG website https://open-access.org.uk/reports
3. GuildHE is a member of the OAIG, which aims to to increase the rate at which the outputs from UK research are available on open access terms.

4. More information on the Consortium for Research Excellence, Support and Training (CREST) can be found at www.crest.ac.uk