The document is a memorandum from key academic associations responding to the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) request for input on increasing public access to scholarly publications, data, and code from federally funded research. It emphasizes broad support for OSTP’s aims, highlighting the benefits of accelerated scientific inquiry and research integrity that arise from open access. The memorandum identifies several current barriers to effective research sharing, including fragmented policies across agencies, lack of coordinated infrastructure and data standards, shortages in data expertise within public institutions, and prohibitive costs associated with access and data curation. The associations advocate for harmonized federal policies, clearer disciplinary standards for data sharing, increased investment in data workforce development, and strategic federal funding to sustain necessary infrastructure. They recommend streamlining federal guidance, centralizing access points, and fostering pilot projects to test new models for sharing and peer review, while ensuring that privacy and security concerns are adequately addressed.
The memo also discusses the significant economic, scientific, and societal advantages of public access, such as enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration, increased innovation, and public trust in science, citing studies that link open data to substantial economic value and robust research integrity. The COVID-19 pandemic is referenced as a critical instance underscoring the urgency and impact of rapid, open research dissemination. The associations caution, however, that new policies must consider the practical implications for universities and scholarly societies, recommending phased implementations and ongoing stakeholder engagement to enable cultural and procedural change. Ultimately, the memo stresses the need for sustained collaboration between the federal government, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to ensure that public access policies are effective, sustainable, and conducive to maintaining American scientific leadership.
