How can universities support economic growth and innovation? Take the open road

"The Benefits to the Private Sector of Open Access to Higher Education and Scholarly Research report (PDF) and the Open Access Fees Report show 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. Taken together, these present a major step towards releasing UK research to underpin the nation’s prospects for growth both now, via direct innovation, and into the future, via a more efficient and effective research infrastructure. Professor Martin Hall vice-chancellor at the University of Salford and chair of the OAIG says, “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....Open access requires action by universities, funders and publishers to work together to make this happen. The OAIG has commissioned JISC Collections to produce an ‘Open Access Fees Report’ which consulted with these groups and other organisations on the arrangements whereby payment is made for open access publication....A new repositories resource pack is also being launched today to help universities take immediate action to support wider access to UK research, by ensuring that as much of their research output as possible is made openly available via their institutional repository. The resource pack brings together all the information and guidance that UK universities might need in taking the policy decisions and practical steps for this to happen...."