Robert-Jan Smits Sets New Bar for Open with Bold Plan S - SPARC

"In early 2018, Robert-Jan Smits found himself in the right place at the right time. Open Access had garnered widespread support in Europe and the moment had come to capitalize on it. The transition needed to be accelerated and Smits was uniquely qualified to broker a deal.

The long serving policy manager and advocate of science took the job of Open Access Envoy of the EC last March. Smits says he relished the opportunity to devote himself to one issue for one full year. “Open is something we desperately need,” says the 60-year-old from the Netherlands. “Science has no borders. It’s important that we share.”

Smits was a leading force behind the creation of Plan S, an initiative for open-access science publishing that requires scientists and researchers who benefit from state-funded research organizations and institutions to publish their work in open repositories or in journals that are available to all by 2020. It was launched in September by Science Europe as an initiative of cOAltion S, a consortium developed by the European Research Council and major national research agencies and funders.

For his contributions to promoting Open Access, SPARC has honored Smits with its January 2019 Innovator Award...."