Budapest Open Access Initiative supported by the Open Society Institute's Information Program

February 14, 2002

The Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI), released today, aims to accelerate progress in the international effort to make research articles in all academic fields freely available on the internet. The BOAI arises from a meeting convened in Budapest by the Open Society Institute (OSI).

The OSI Information Program is committing funding of 1 million US dollars per year for three years in support of open access projects. Funding will include support for:

• the development of business models and plans for sustainable self-archiving and open access publishing;
• use of library networks (like the Electronic Information for Libraries consortium, currently covering 40 countries - see www.eifl.net) to mobilize support for open access globally;
• support for researchers in low and middle income countries to publish in open-access journals which charge up front fees;
• development of software tools and templates for open access publishing, self-archiving, indexing and navigation;
• promotion of the open access philosophy among foundations and donors, science and research funding agencies, libraries and universities, as well as governments, policymakers and international organizations worldwide.

OSI may also, at a later stage, provide direct seed funding to certain types of open access and self-archiving initiatives.

The Initiative has been signed by the Budapest participants and hundreds of individuals and organizations from around the world, including scientists and researchers, universities, laboratories, libraries and library organizations, foundations, journals, publishers, and learned societies. The site also contains the list of signatories, suggestions for action, and a comprehensive "frequently asked questions" document. Individuals and institutions are encouraged to use this interactive website to sign the Initiative and learn how they can help to advance the movement.

OSI is a private operating and grant-making foundation that develops and implements a range of programs in civil society, education, media, public health and human and women’s rights, as well as social, legal, and economic reform. OSI is at the center of an informal network of foundations and organizations active in more than 50 countries worldwide that supports a range of programs. Established in 1993 by investor and philanthropist George Soros, OSI operates network-wide programs, grant-making activities, and other international initiatives. OSI provides support and assistance to Soros foundations in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, Haiti, Mongolia, South, Southern and West Africa, and Latin America. For more information please visit www.soros.org.

The OSI Information Program oversees and coordinates the network’s activities in areas such as internet policy, library and publishing support, and access to information.

For further information, please contact Melissa Hagemann, mhagemann@sorosny.org.

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 E-mail: openaccess@soros.org.