Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – Towards better access to scientific information: Boosting the benefits of public investments in research

The Europe 2020 strategy for a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy underlines the central role of knowledge and innovation in generating growth. Research results, including both publications and data collections, need to be circulated rapidly and widely, using digital media. This accelerates scientific discovery, enables new forms of data-intensive research and allows research findings to be systematically taken up by European business and industry. To spur scientific and technological progress, the European Union (EU) should review its policies and practices on disseminating scientific information, and take the necessary steps to improve access to the results of publicly-funded scientific research.

This Communication sets out the action that the Commission intends to take to improve access to scientific information and to boost the benefits of public investment in research. It also explains how open access policies will be implemented under ‘Horizon 2020’, the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020). The Communication is accompanied by a Recommendation to the Member States, calling for improved policies and practices on access and preservation in the Member States.

EUR-Lex: COM(2012)401: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2012:401:FIN

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