Gold represents those publications where the final published version of an article (Version of Record) is freely and permanently available online immediately on publication for anyone, anywhere to read. This includes articles in hybrid journals. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Green represents those publications where a version of an article is publicly shared online, often as an Accepted Manuscript. To support a sustainable business model, publishers may maintain an embargo and/or may retain an Exclusive License to Publish. Articles, reviews and conference papers are counted as Green open access only if they are not also Gold. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Bronze represents those publications that are made free-to-read on the publisher’s website, but are not identified as gold for one of the following reasons: access for a limited duration, an unclear license, or a license that is clear but is not a Creative Commons license. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Subscription-only represents those publications that are available through individual or institutional subscriptions, individual purchases, or other programs (e.g. Research4Life) but not available through Open Access. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Delving deeper
For five of the top 25 funders, gold OA comprised at least half of total publications in 2024 (UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Ministry of Economy and Finance-Spain, German Research Foundation (DFG), European Commission, and the National Institutes of Health, USA.). On the other hand, for seven of the top funders, all based in China or India, gold OA was used for less than 30% of published articles. These include those whose funding led to some of the largest numbers of publications in 2024, such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Ministry of Science and Technology, China.
Gold represents those publications where the final published version of an article (Version of Record) is freely and permanently available online immediately on publication for anyone, anywhere to read. This includes articles in hybrid journals. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Green represents those publications where a version of an article is publicly shared online, often as an Accepted Manuscript. To support a sustainable business model, publishers may maintain an embargo and/or may retain an Exclusive License to Publish. Articles, reviews and conference papers are counted as Green open access only if they are not also Gold. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Bronze represents those publications that are made free-to-read on the publisher’s website, but are not identified as gold for one of the following reasons: access for a limited duration, an unclear license, or a license that is clear but is not a Creative Commons license. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Subscription-only represents those publications that are available through individual or institutional subscriptions, individual purchases, or other programs (e.g. Research4Life) but not available through Open Access. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
In 2024
… at least three-quarters of publications based on funded research for all of the top 25 funders was or could have been gold OA. For fifteen of the top funders, this applied to 90% or more of articles. The highest rate of availability of gold OA was for the National Institutes of Health – USA, at 96% of articles based on funded research.
Gold represents those publications where the final published version of an article (Version of Record) is freely and permanently available online immediately on publication for anyone, anywhere to read. This includes articles in hybrid journals. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Green represents those publications where a version of an article is publicly shared online, often as an Accepted Manuscript. To support a sustainable business model, publishers may maintain an embargo and/or may retain an Exclusive License to Publish. Articles, reviews and conference papers are counted as Green open access only if they are not also Gold. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Bronze represents those publications that are made free-to-read on the publisher’s website, but are not identified as gold for one of the following reasons: access for a limited duration, an unclear license, or a license that is clear but is not a Creative Commons license. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Subscription-only represents those publications that are available through individual or institutional subscriptions, individual purchases, or other programs (e.g. Research4Life) but not available through Open Access. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Increases for all top 25 funders
The rate of selection of gold OA when it was offered has increased since 2014 for all funders shown. The greatest increase in selection of gold OA over the period can be seen in publications based on research funded by The Ministry for Economy and Finance, Spain and the German Research Foundation (DFG), increasing by 60% and 51% respectively, over the period. It is notable that funders based in China or India have the lowest increases in the selection of gold. Over the ten-year period, the selection of gold does not increase by more than 20% for any of the funders based in China and by less than 10% for the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India. Because the output of articles based on funded research for funders based in India and China is so high, it is unsurprising that the increase in selection of gold for all of the top 25 funders combined is 21%. For seven of the top 25 funders, authors selected gold open access in more than 50% of cases where it was offered in 2024; UK Research and Innovation (United Kingdom), Ministry of Economy and Finance, Spain, European Commission, German Research Foundation (DFG), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and National Institutes of Health, USA.
