• Publicly funded research underpins much of daily life, from policy decisions to innovation and public debate. • When research remains inaccessible, its value is diminished. • Australia has made real progress on open access to research. • In 2024, around 59% of papers authored by researchers in Australia were freely available online.
Article Summaries:
- A new article argues that a straightforward technical fix could unlock thousands of paywalled research papers, emphasizing how publicly funded studies drive policy, innovation and public debate. It notes that when such research remains behind paywalls, its societal value is reduced. The piece highlights Australia’s progress toward open access, reporting that in 2024 about 59 % of papers authored by Australian researchers were freely available online. The author suggests that adopting the proposed fix could further increase accessibility, reinforcing the country’s commitment to making publicly funded research widely usable.
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