Research Councils UK (RCUK) is a strategic partnership through which the UK’s eight Research Councils work together to champion the research, training and innovation they support. Dissemination of and access to UK research outputs is crucial to ensure impact of RCUK funded research. The development of internet technologies providing access to a range of distributed information resources has enabled new possibilities for the delivery of information as an output of research. E-print repositories and open access journals have both developed as part of this change in technology, and RCUK considers that both can help improve access to the results of publicly funded research.
RCUK has therefore published its proposed position on access to research outputs. The position is based on four principles:
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Ideas and knowledge derived from publicly-funded research must be made available and accessible for public use, interrogation, and scrutiny, as widely, rapidly and effectively as practicable.
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Effective mechanisms are in place to ensure that published research outputs must be subject to rigorous quality assurance, through peer review.
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The models and mechanisms for publication and access to research results must be both efficient and cost-effective in the use of public funds.
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The outputs from current and future research must be preserved and remain accessible not only for the next few years but for future generations.
Specifically, it proposed that:
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From 1 October 2005*, subject to copyright and licensing arrangements, a copy of any published journal articles or conference proceedings resulting from Research Council funded research should be deposited in an appropriate e-print repository (either institutional or subject-based) wherever such a repository is available to the award-holder. Deposit should take place at the earliest opportunity, wherever possible at or around the time of publication.
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Research Councils will also encourage, but not formally oblige, award-holders to deposit articles arising from grants awarded before 1 October 2005*.
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Councils will ensure that applicants for grants are allowed, subject to justification of cost-effectiveness, to include in the costing of their projects the predicted costs of any publication in author-pays journals. The statement is intended as a broad framework, which will serve as the basis for RCUK to draw up more detailed guidance and to determine good practice, in close collaboration with a range of key stakeholders as set out in this document. By the end of 2008, RCUK will review its framework.
Research Councils UK is currently engaging with relevant stakeholders and aim to be able to publish an updated position statement in early 2006.
* Date to be amended on release of final Position Statement.
The RCUK Consultation - covering note
RCUK Position Statement on Access to Research Outputs 
Summary of RCUK Position Statement on Access to Research Outputs
Consultation to date
RCUK Press Release