Open Access

Delayed Release of the Revised Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications

As first announced in July 2023, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) (“the Agencies”) have been engaged in a review of the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications.

The Agencies originally planned to release the revised policy by the end of 2025. However, to allow time for the Agencies to finalize implementation planning, the revised policy is now anticipated to be released in 2026, with an adequate transition period before new requirements come into effect.

The Agencies value the extensive input received to date from a wide range of partners within the research community. As a result of what has been heard, and taking into account ongoing developments in the fields of open access and open science more broadly, the Agencies are taking additional time to ensure that the revised policy will reflect their commitment to immediate open access without placing undue pressure on the Canadian research community.

The Agencies would like to thank members of the research community for their ongoing engagement and support.