HOME
International Trends / Policy Trends in Japan

International Trends / Policy Trends in Japan

International Trends

The following is a summary of major open science and open access initiatives in key countries:

Country	Policies and Developments
Canada	In 2020, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada announced its “Roadmap for Open Science.” It recommended making federal science papers openly accessible by January 2022 and federal science publications (monographs, etc.) by January 2023 while respecting privacy, security, ethical considerations, and appropriate intellectual property protection.
France	In 2018, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation published a national plan for open science, implementing OA generalization, establishing funds, and storing data in the HAL repository. In July 2021, it announced “Second National Plan for Open Science,” targeting 100% OA by 2030.
USA	In 2013, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) directed research funding agencies to develop OA policies (subsequently developed by 22 agencies). In 2022, OSTP issued immediate OA policy to be developed by the end of 2024 and implemented by 2025. It proclaimed 2023 as the “Year of Open Science.”
Europe	In 2018, an international consortium of research funders “cOAlition S” centered in Europe announced the “Plan S” initiative for complete and immediate OA of research outputs. Announced Rights Retention Strategy to promote OA from 2021 onward and enable immediate publication of research outputs in repositories.
United Kingdom	In 2013, Research Councils UK’s (RCUK) OA policy mandated OA with embargo. In 2021, UK Research and Innovation revised RCUK’s OA policy to mandate immediate OA.
Italy	In 2022, the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research announced its National Plan for Open Access (NPOS), planning immediate OA for scientific publications (papers and monographs).
Germany	In 2016, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) developed its “Open Access Strategy” requiring immediate OA at publication or OA after embargo of a maximum 12 months. In March 2016, Max Planck Digital Library established its “OA2020” initiative based on the Berlin Declaration to guide quick and academically oriented transition of academic journals to open access.

*Adapted from “Survey of International Trends in Open Access (OA)” (Mitsubishi Research Institute)

Policy Trends in Japan

July 2024	Cabinet Office “Basic Policy for Achieving Immediate Open Access to Academic Papers” and “FAQ on Specific Measures for Implementing the Basic Policy for Achieving Immediate Open Access to Academic Papers” Following an information session on the Basic Policy for Achieving Immediate Open Access to Academic Papers, the Cabinet Office compiled comprehensive guidelines and FAQs on implementation. The policy covers peer-reviewed academic papers published in electronic journals (including authors’ final manuscripts) and their supporting data. Notably, the policy clarifies that institutional bulletins meeting peer-review criteria also fall under immediate open access requirements.
June 2024	Integrated Innovation Strategy 2024 (Cabinet Decision) Section “2. Strengthening Research Capabilities that Pioneer Knowledge Frontiers and Create Value Sources,” subsection “(2) Enhancing Research Facilities/Equipment and Promoting Open Science” of the Strategy outlines policies for “promoting open access to academic papers” and “promoting management and utilization of publicly funded research data.”
March 2024	Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology “Open Access Acceleration Project” Call for Applications ⇒ NITech’s proposal was selected for funding (July 2024)
February 2024	Basic Policy for Achieving Immediate Open Access to Academic Papers (Decision by Integrated Innovation Strategy Promotion Council, February 16) https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/oa_240216.pdf The policy mandates that the “recipients of competitive research funding (including legal entities) subject to immediate open access requirements for new applications from FY2025 onward must upload their academic papers and supporting data to institutional repositories or other information infrastructure platforms immediately after journal publication.”
May 2023	Integrated Innovation Strategy 2023 Chapter 1, Section 1 (2) “Strengthening Knowledge Foundation (Research Capabilities) and Human Resource Development” outlines policies for “promoting open access to academic papers” and stipulates that “the Japanese government will establish a Basic Policy for Achieving Immediate Open Access to Academic Papers from new competitive research funding applications starting FY2025.” *Cabinet decision made on June 9, 2023, following the G7 Hiroshima Summit and G7 Sendai Science and Technology Ministers’ Meeting in May 2023.
March 2021	Cabinet Office “6th Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan” (Cabinet Decision) Following the “5th Science and Technology Basic Plan,” this plan continues to address “Promotion of Open Science.” The policy direction is detailed in “Chapter 2, Section 2.(2) Building New Research Systems (Promoting Open Science and Data-Driven Research).”
April 2017	Launch of JST Basic Guidelines for Promoting Open Science in Research Output Management The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) established a policy requiring, in principle, open access for all research papers resulting from JST-funded research. The guidelines were revised in April 2022 to mandate appropriate storage and management of research data based on data management plans (DMPs) and to require, in principle, the publication of research data that serves as evidence for research papers.
March 2017	JSPS Policy on Open Access to Research Papers in JSPS Programs The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) mandated that research papers resulting from JSPS funding, including KAKENHI grants, should in principle be made open access using institutional repositories.
February 2016	Promoting Open Access to Academic Information (Summary of Deliberations) (MEXT Council for Science and Technology, Academic Information Committee) Outlined expectations for universities, including expanding institutional repositories as a foundation for Green OA, establishing and publishing open access policies.
July 2012	Enhancement of Infrastructure for Strengthening International Dissemination of Academic Information (MEXT Council for Science and Technology, Academic Information Infrastructure Working Group) Specified the need to address “open access to research outputs” and positioned “institutional repositories” as an important means for achieving open access, calling for their development and enhancement.

HOME
International Trends / Policy Trends in Japan