The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) has launched a new Open Access Policy for scientific publications resulting from FCT-funded research, significantly updating the mechanisms in place since 2014.
Effective for funding applications submitted after February 7, 2025, this policy applies to scientific articles, books, book chapters, monographs, doctoral theses, and master’s dissertations. It reinforces the principle that publicly funded research should yield publicly accessible and reusable results, enhancing scientific collaboration, visibility, and progress.
Researchers can access detailed guidelines, rights retention strategies, and FAQs online. Additionally, a dedicated support website has been created to assist them throughout the open-access publication process.
The policy defines different open-access publishing routes:
- Gold Route: Immediate open access via journals, books, or publishing platforms.
- Green Route: Open access through the RCAAP repository network after publication in closed-access formats.
- Transformative Route: Open access publishing in hybrid journals under transformative agreements.
For FCT-funded doctoral theses or master’s dissertations, publication requirements vary based on the awarding institution. Portuguese institutions must deposit theses in an RCAAP repository within 60 days of degree conferral, while authors from foreign institutions are responsible for self-depositing within the same timeframe.
A key aspect of this policy is the elimination of embargo periods and mandatory rights retention, ensuring that at least the accepted manuscript version is available in open access.
This revision builds on a decade of experience, aligns with global developments in open-access policies from UNESCO and the EU, and reflects FCT’s commitment to the Plan S initiative led by cOAlition S and supported by Science Europe.
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