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Open Access for development

Open access archiving: the fast track to building research capacity in developing countries

How Open Access Archiving can bridge the scientific divide between North and South

Authors: L. Chan; B. Kirsop; S. Arunachalam
Publisher: SciDev.Net – the Science and Development Network, 2005

Full text of document

Scientific progress in developing and emerging countries is greatly hampered by their inability to afford essential journals. At the same time, research generated in these regions is 'missing' to the international knowledge base because of financial restrictions affecting its publication and distribution. Thus, there are both North to South and South to North knowledge gaps, leading to incomplete pictures of global science in general, and global health, environmental and development issues in particular.

This paper outlines the reasons why Open Access Archiving (OAA) provides the greatest and most immediate impact on science and development. It outlines:

  • the key barriers to access to scientific knowledge in developing countries
  • lists the demonstrated benefits of OAA and the progress that has been made in both developed and developing regions
  • Summarises how open access can transform the research scene from one of isolation and marginalisation, to one of inclusion and international cooperation.