U.K. report reiterates the need to support 'open access' publishing of scientific research findings

A long-awaited government report in the United Kingdom says open access journals should be "the main vehicle for the publication of research."

Most scientific papers are published by journals that charge a subscription fee for access. The cost of such subscriptions to U.K. universities was estimated to be $175 million in 2011.

The Finch report says that barriers to access "restrict the innovation, growth and other benefits which can flow from research." The panel, which included representatives from universities, research funders, and publishers, recommends that the government should set policies supporting open access publication and minimizing restrictions on the rights of use and reuse.

But because "subscription based journals will remain a key channel for the publication of research results from across the world for some years to come," the transition will not be cost-free, the authors note.