Japan's Push for Open-Access Research
?? Leonard Scheidel
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Japan is making a significant push towards open-access research, with the government mandating that all nationally funded research be published in open-access journals by 2025. This initiative aims to enhance the visibility and impact of Japanese research, aligning with global trends in open science.
Government Mandate 2025
The Japanese government has set a deadline of 2025 for all nationally funded research to be published in open-access journals. This mandate is part of a broader effort to promote open science and enhance the competitiveness of Japanese research. However, a survey conducted by the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy in 2023 revealed that 60% of researchers and 30% of management-level officials were unaware or unclear about the new policy. As the deadline approaches, there is a growing need to raise awareness among researchers and provide support for the transition to open-access publishing.
Researcher Awareness Issues
Despite the Japanese government's efforts to promote open access, a significant portion of researchers and university officials remain unprepared for the transition. A 2023 survey by the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy found that:
Researchers have expressed concerns about the high costs of article processing charges (APCs) associated with publishing in open-access journals. Some fear that these charges may divert funds from actual research, particularly in cases where competitive funding is limited. To address these issues, experts suggest raising awareness about open science policies, providing financial support for the transition, and considering alternative ways to evaluate research performance in the era of open science.
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Financial Support and Agreements
The Japanese government has established a fund to support institutions in implementing open-access policies, addressing the financial challenges posed by high article processing charges (APCs). However, concerns remain about the sustainability of funding and the potential diversion of research funds to cover APCs.Springer Nature has established transformative agreements with several Japanese institutions, allowing researchers to publish open access in hybrid journals with institutional funding support through 2025 and 2026. These agreements aim to facilitate the transition to open access by covering publication fees and providing access to a wide range of journals.
Institutional Repositories and Platforms
Japan is investing in the development of institutional repositories and considering the establishment of a national platform for publishing open-access papers. As of March 2023, there were 844 institutional repositories in Japan, which play a crucial role in making research outputs freely available and preserving academic work.Some researchers suggest actively utilizing domestic academic journals and platforms as a way to address the high costs of publishing in international open-access journals. This approach could help prevent a significant portion of public research funds from going to foreign commercial publishers, while also supporting the development of Japan's open-access infrastructure.
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