Government encourages unrestricted use of research information within the state - Government of Land champions open availability of research data
In a move to promote transparency and collaboration in science, the state government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has announced an Open Access strategy aimed at making research outputs from universities openly accessible. This strategy is part of a broader effort to remove paywalls on publicly funded research [1].
Key components of this strategy include the establishment of state-wide advisory structures to guide and support open access initiatives, providing funding support, and aligning with federal efforts across German states to strengthen open access in science [1]. The Ministry of Science is contributing half a million euros to this cause, with the universities of Greifswald and Rostock each receiving an additional quarter of a million euros [1].
The rector of the University of Greifswald, Katharina Riedel, expressed her support for this initiative in Schwerin. Riedel criticized the lucrative business model of scientific publishers that often requires significant financial contributions for contributions in international academic journals [2]. She emphasized the importance of making research freely available to a larger audience, as many scientific publications and data remain hidden behind paywalls [2].
Bettina Martin, the Science Minister in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, shares this view. She believes that this initiative will strengthen the visibility of research results from the region [3]. Martin also expressed her conviction that reducing dependence on expensive academic journals is essential for scientific progress [3].
The co-chair of the state rectors' conference welcomed the open-access strategy decided by the state government. Financial support is available for the expansion of cooperation within the state, and funds from the digitalization fund will continue to be used to continuously expand the data base [4].
This initiative is part of a broader cultural shift towards a more transparent scientific culture, where the dissemination of research results without access restrictions on the internet is seen as an expression of this transparency [5]. Katharina Riedel advocates for no longer giving such publications a high priority in appointing professors, as it is a matter of mentality [6].
The state government is committed to continuing its support for these institutions in the interest of scientific progress. This initiative is taking place in Schwerin, the capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
[1] https://www.mv-land.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2022/05/20/mecklenburg-vorpommern-setzt-open-access-strategie-um [2] https://www.uni-greifswald.de/presse/aktuelles/2021/12/15/open-access-initiative-mit-500-000-euro-forderung-des-ministeriums-fuer-wissenschaft-und-forschung-des-landes-mecklenburg-vorpommern [3] https://www.mv-land.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2022/05/20/mecklenburg-vorpommern-setzt-open-access-strategie-um [4] https://www.mv-land.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2022/05/20/mecklenburg-vorpommern-setzt-open-access-strategie-um [5] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00500-z [6] https://www.uni-greifswald.de/presse/aktuelles/2021/12/15/open-access-initiative-mit-500-000-euro-forderung-des-ministeriums-fuer-wissenschaft-und-forschung-des-landes-mecklenburg-vorpommern
- In the spirit of fostering health-and-wellness and education-and-self-development, the state government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is expanding its community policy to include vocational training for researchers, focusing on the science sector, to ensure that their research outputs are accessible to all, rather than hidden behind paywalls.
- As a part of the emphasis on science and medical-conditions, the state is initiating vocational training programs in health-and-wellness research institutions under the open-access strategy, aiming to make research data more accessible, promoting transparency and collaboration in the field.
