Gold trading: the RSC's Gold for Gold model - Research Information

"In 2012, born out of the recognition that researchers are often asked to publish open access (OA), but do not necessarily have the funding to do so, The Royal Society of Chemistry came up with its Gold for Gold model.  Initially piloted in the UK in the summer of 2012, this initiative rewards all institutions who subscribe to RSC Gold (the Royal Society of Chemistry’s premium online package, comprising 41 international journals, databases and magazines) with voucher codes to publish a select number of accepted RSC articles gold OA, free of charge. Some institutions do use up their quota of gold vouchers and, in those cases, we offer them discounts on bulk purchases.  The process requires institutions to nominate a representative to oversee the distribution of voucher codes. This is typically a librarian, but can be someone within the chemistry or research department. Institutions generally allocate their voucher codes on a first come first serve basis. However, conscientious librarians try to ensure that one individual does not get all the vouchers.  Having applied for the codes, the representative can pass on an individual voucher code to an author once that author’s article has been accepted in one of our journals. It is then up to the author to submit their voucher code via the Gold for Gold online acceptance form.  The response from researchers has been very positive, and the scheme has received praise from digital education authorities, as well as from David Willetts, the UK’s Minister for Universities and Science. Ron Egginton, head of the BBSRC and ESRC Team, Research Funding Unit at the UK’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills commented: ‘the more that this type of thinking can be seen to permeate throughout the publishing industry, the better.’   At the beginning of 2013 Gold for Gold went global, and today all of the world’s top 30 academic institutions (as defined by the Times Higher Education top 200 world rankings 2013-2014) subscribe to RSC Gold, entitling them to Gold for Gold voucher codes.    A total of 878 Gold for Gold applications from 187 institutions in 26 different countries were made in 2013, with a monthly record number of 184 Gold for Gold applications made in November. There was also an increase in usage when RCUK funding for gold OA was made available for UK institutions.   Unsurprisingly, due to enhanced awareness following the initial pilot in the country, the UK led the way with 278 Gold for Gold articles in 2013, followed by the USA with 100. Other prominent users included Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Japan and Australia. The communications journal Chemical Communications had the highest number of applications in 2013 with 143, followed by Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics and Dalton Transactions ... "