The United States National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued what it calls the Public Access Plan 2.0. The document addresses new requirements for access to publications and research data, researcher responsibilities regarding research data, and research integrity.

This updated public access plan recognises the trend towards openness inherent in today’s scientific enterprise; the complex ecosystem of researchers, organisations, publishers and funders that comprise that enterprise; and the rapid pace of technological change continually altering the landscape of data sharing and publication. Public access to federally funded research and data is a pillar on which American values of scientific openness, academic freedom, scientific integrity, equity in science and fairness rest. Limiting access to scientific discovery limits the ability of all Americans to benefit from the returns on America’s research and development investments. The NSF is therefore committed to working with communities to make our shared federal scientific ecosystem stronger and more equitable for all.

The NSF public access plan recognises that open and equitable communication of research results and data is inextricably linked to the NSF’s mission of promoting scientific progress. As described in the agency’s current strategic plan, the NSF is dedicated to funding research, developing STEM talent, fostering innovation and cultivating a science and engineering community based on shared values and strategic cooperation. This plan represents activities supporting these aims.

Key features:

• That all peer-reviewed scholarly publications resulting from NSF-funded research will be made freely available and publicly accessible by default in the NSF Public Access Repository, or NSF-PAR, without embargo or delay.
• That scientific data associated with peer-reviewed publications resulting from NSF awards will be made available in appropriate scientific disciplinary repositories.
• That exceptions to the data-sharing requirements will be made based on legal, privacy, ethical, intellectual property and national security considerations.
• That persistent identifiers, or PIDs, and other critical metadata associated with peer-reviewed publications and data resulting from NSF-funded research will be collected and made publicly available in NSF-PAR.
• That the agency coordinates with other federal funders of scientific research in implementing new public access requirements.