The FNS ceases to fund articles in Open Access within special editions
Articles published in special editions are increasingly common. This sharp increase, coupled with disparate processes, is conducive to abuse. As of February 2024, the SNSF will no longer fund OA articles in this type of publication.
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has announced that it will stop funding open access (OA) articles published in special editions of scientific journals from February 2024. Despite the exclusion of these special editions from the OA funding regulations, the SNSF has seen a sharp increase in such articles over the years, from 33 in 2018 to 315 in 2022. This trend has led to disparate processes, decreases in processing times, and reduced rejection rates, running counter to the SNSF's principles of sustainable management and quality.
The SNSF, which supports open access publishing for the researchers it funds, is taking this decision in order to ensure sustainable management and avoid supporting practices that run counter to its values. From February 1, 2024, the SNSF will no longer cover the publication costs (APC) for OA articles in special editions. Researchers will be able to publish in these special editions, but will have to bear the corresponding publication costs themselves. This measure is intended to promote a more sustainable approach to scientific publication, focusing on quality rather than quantity of articles published.
by Rocio Micaela Crespo Quesada