6 Understanding Funder Policies
Many research funders require publications arising from their funding to be made openly accessible in the public domain within a certain period post-publication. This may involve deposit of the full text of resulting publications into a repository by the recipient of the funding. Policies such as these mean that all researchers and the general public will have access to research findings.
In 2022, the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) expanded public-access requirements for federally funded research. Notably, the new guidance eliminates an optional 12-month embargo for publications and expands requirements for sharing of datasets. Federal agencies have until December 31, 2025, to put this policy into effect.
More specific guidance about funder requirements follows below. Note that guidance will continue to evolve and researchers should check with funders for the most current information:
- Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Department of Defense (DOD)
- Department of Education
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Smithsonian Institute
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
- United States Geological Survey (USGS)
- Wellcome Trust