Open Access Policy
Open Access – the unrestricted access to scientific publications – is an ongoing trend in the scientific environment worldwide. In agreement with this policy, ISTA is committed to provide unrestricted and cost-free online access to scientific publications for all users and researchers as widely as possible. The main goal is to increase the visibility, use, and impact of research output, and hereby generate added value for the scientific community.
Document Version: Lib002-OA, Version 2.0
Document Owner: Patrick Danowski
Date: 01-May-25
On this site:
1 Introduction & Application of Policy
ISTA is dedicated to promoting the free and open exchange of knowledge, research and innovation. Our Open Access (OA) Policy ensures that research outputs are available to the public without barriers, enhancing the visibility and impact of research.
By adopting Open Access, ISTA supports global collaboration, increases access to research and complies with funder requirements. This policy outlines the principles and guidelines for the same.
1.1 Definitions
Open Access refers to the free, immediate, and unrestricted online availability of scholarly works, coupled with the rights to use, distribute, and adapt these works, subject only to proper attribution and any other necessary legal or ethical considerations. At ISTA, we adhere to internationally recognized definitions of Open Access, including those outlined by the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Science and Humanities (https://openaccess.mpg.de/Berlin-Declaration, 03.02.2025)
Gold Open Access publishing: Publishing in a journal which is completely Open Access. Quality Gold Open Access journals are listed in the Directory of Open Access journals (DOAJ – https://doaj.org).
Creative Commons (CC) License. A CC license is used when an author wants to give other people the right to share, use, and build upon a work that the author has created. CC provides an author flexibility (for example, they might choose to allow only non-commercial uses of a given work) and protects the people who use or redistribute an author’s work from concerns of copyright infringement as long as they abide by the conditions that are specified in the license by which the author distributes the work.
(Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons_license 03.02.2025)
The CC BY license allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the licensed work, including for commercial purposes, as long as appropriate credit is given to the original creator. This license ensures that research outputs are freely accessible while allowing maximum reuse, provided attribution is properly maintained and fulfils the definition of Open Access.
1.2 Scope and Applicability
This policy applies to all faculty members, research staff, and students affiliated with ISTA, and covers all scholarly outputs produced as part of their academic and research activities, including but not limited to journal articles, conference papers and book chapters.
2 Main Statement of the Policy
2.1 General Open Access Publishing Expectation
ISTA is committed to provide unrestricted and cost-free online access to scientific publications for all users and researchers as widely as possible.
All ISTA members are expected to disseminate their publications and research findings Open Access. This entails publishing them in peer-reviewed journals, which offer Open Access, or depositing them in repositories after publishing elsewhere, ensuring compliance with legal constraints.
The goal is to increase the visibility, use, and impact of research output, and hereby generate added value for the scientific community and society.
2.2 CC BY License Recommended
ISTA recommends having a CC BY license for publications to support Open Access (wherever possible). ISTA members should therefore make their best effort to ensure their scholarly work is shared under a CC BY license that better aligns with their preferences and the intended use of their work. In case of doubt about which license to choose, the Library can provide support.
As part of the policy, ISTA promotes for all its members to retain their usage rights. Especially the right to self-archive their publication in repositories.
2.3 Use of ORCID Highley Recommended
In parallel, to improve the visibility of ISTA’s academic output, the use of ORCID, a unique researcher identification number, is highly recommended.
2.4 Recommendations on Use of Repositories
If research is not published Open Access, ISTA affiliates are encouraged to deposit a final version of their scholarly works in a trustworthy, recognized subject-based repository like arXiv, bioRxiv or Cryptology ePrint Archive. They can also choose trustworthy institutional repositories that comply with international standards for Open Access archiving and preservation, such as the ISTA Research Explorer (REx). ISTA is committed to the long-term preservation and stewardship of scholarly works made available through ISTA Research Explorer. For continuous support, accessibility and usability of these works, ISTA will implement appropriate measures for long-term preservation (including but not limited to constant updates, development and maintenance). Trustworthy repositories are listed in the Directory of Open Access Repositories (OpenDOAR – (https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/opendoar/) and Registry of Open Access Repositories (ROAR – https://roar.eprints.org).
2.5 Authors Should Comply with Funder Requirements
Authors are responsible for ensuring that their scholarly works comply with any Open Access requirements imposed by funding agencies or research sponsors. This includes adherence to specific mandates regarding embargo periods, licensing terms, and data sharing policies. Information is provided on the library webpage: https://www.ista.ac.at/en/research/library/publish-communicate/oa/
2.6 ISTA Library Support for Open Access
ISTA financially supports ISTA members’ costs of Open Access publishing. Methods of support are:
- Transformative agreements – allowing ISTA affiliates to publish in Hybrid journals without additional costs for the affiliate
- An OA fund for Gold Open Access publishing (if not covered by another grant) and
- Support for Diamond Open Access Infrastructures
ISTA Library offers educational resources and training opportunities to raise awareness about the benefits of Open Access, provides guidance on best practices for compliance, and equips authors with strategies for maximizing the impact of their Open Access publications. These resources may include workshops and direct consultations. ISTA Authors are encouraged to consult with the ISTA Library for personalized support.
3 Contact
In case of questions or support, please reach out to the ISTA Library via openaccess@ista.ac.at.
