Open Access

Open Access is understood to mean open and unrestricted access to scientific information on the internet at no charge to users.

Revised Open Access Strategy

On June 25, swissuniversities and the SNSF published the revised Open Access Strategy.

The aim of the strategy is to make scientific knowledge immediately and in a machine-readable format available, without costs and without embargo. Such an open access to research results brings added value for society and science.

The revised strategy focuses on:

Further development and coordination of infrastructures and services for Diamond and Green Open Access
Creation of a supportive legal framework (secondary publication rights, rights retention strategy)
Negotiations with publishers (R&P agreements)
Promotion of an open access culture within the research communities

The aim of Open Access is to make scientific literature available for everyone without technical or legal restrictions. Those publications are found more easily and cited more frequently and they can be accessed by national and international research and business partners. This faster dissemination of research results supports innovation and progress. In line with the national strategy of swissuni-versities, the SNSF and other international players, the FHNW is committed to Open Access in its policy (PDF, 105 KB) and supports its employees in publishing their research in the Open Access model.

How do I fund my OA publication?

to How do I fund my OA publication?

What do I have to consider when publishing?

to What do I have to consider when publishing?

Support from the Fachstelle Open Access of the FHNW Library

The FHNW library supports and advises you on the publication of your research results - whether open access or traditional.

If you would you like to publish your article Open Access and do not know what the next step is, we will be happy to advise you individually: b3Blbm5lc3NAZmhudy5jaA==.

Gold or green OA?
Financial support for OA at the FHNW
Read&Publish contracts at the FHNW
Discounts and reductions with selected publishers
Second publication in the IRF in case first publication cannot be published via an Open Access publisher

Reasons for Open Access

Publishing in the Open Access model makes scientific findings available and usable immediately (on publication). This in turn increases their visibility and discoverability. In the spirit of open and transparent scientific practice (Open Science), the dissemination of research results is promoted, and collaborations are strengthened.

Roads to Open Access

As publication practices differ between the various scientific disciplines, there are also several ways to publish Open Access.

Open Access in Switzerland

The National Open Access Strategy of swissuniversities (PDF, 96 KB), adopted in 2017, stipulates that all publicly funded publications in Switzerland must be accessible free of charge by 2024.

All publications resulting from SNSF-funded projects must be published Open Access as of 2020 and comply with the SNSF’s requirements.

Open Access in cooperation with business partners

Cooperation with business partners is essential to the FHNW. In projects with external partners patents, or products are also developed for commercial distribution. In these cases, however, OA is not relevant. If official documents result from projects with commercial partners, the FHNW encourages its employees to publish them according to the principles of Open Access with the agreement of all partners involved. The Open Access department at FHNW will be happy to advise you and your partners.