Open Access: scientific publishing and the developing world

Advances in science, medicine, technology and agriculture have the potential to contribute to the reduction of disease and poverty worldwide. Communications and information technology (ICT) has enabled collaboration and dissemination of scientific research on a global scale. However, scientists in the developing world are severely restricted in their access to current research. The open access (OA) model of publishing has often been suggested as a means of mitigating some of the restrictions faced by scientists in low-income countries, and has made significant progress in improving free access to research. However, as it emerges into the mainstream, the OA model must also face questions concerning its implications for the global distribution of intellectual property, widespread integration, and financial viability.

This publication provides an introduction to Open Access in theory and practice; and funding systems such as the “author-pays” model. Furthermore, it discusses the barriers faced in developing countries concerning access; publishing; and Information and collaboration.

It concludes that:

• the scope of institutions, as well as the range of countries that are granted open access, should be enlarged
  
• there is a need for the provision of information about open access in an accessible form (and language) and the training of information professionals and scientists in less industrialised nations
  
• the development of subject-specific resources containing the work of authors from both wealthy and less wealthy nations in a range of languages is vital to prevent the development of a ‘two-tier’ system of open access publishing and archiving.