Towards a National Policy to provide access to scientific information and

data in a developing country

Anna María Prat

CONICYT-Chile

Open Access Policy

In a developing country open access is a different issue We do not have an editorial industry We cannot afford access to the world information

Our approach to open access is one of extreme necessity: To make available our research results To be able to access the world knowledge

We invest in science. We need to assure the availability of the results to

everyone Information is an input to scientific research that has to

be paid for

Some Highlights

1967. Establishment of the National Research Council, CONICYT. Among its duties: To ensure access to the scientific and technological

information needed to support research Promote accessibility to the scientific information

produced in Chile Compile the necessary information and data on the

national R&D system needed to support science policy decisions.

Some Highlights

1968 Beginning of a program for the compilation and analysis of information and data on the R&D System. Production of data bases with basic information on

researchers, institutions, research projects and publications.

Production of Science and Technology indicators

To-day all the information is openly available. An integration program of all the data bases is in progress. A program for the application of new technologies to analyze the data has been undertaken.

Some Highlights

1982. Creation of the National Fund for Research and Development By law, the results of the research projects financed

through the Fund have to be available and accessible to all interested persons

Since then, the same applies to the research results produced through other national research funds

A data base has been produced, the documents are available and a special service provided

This year a National Repository will be open with all the existing information and documents

Some Highlights

1997 Establishment of a program for the electronic edition of selected national research journals. Conversion of selected existing scientific journals into

electronic format through the creation of SciELO Chile adopting the SciELO platform of FAPESP/BIREME

The program was the result of a long policy to strengthen national scientific journals, through a National Fund for Scientific Edition, Seminars for editors, and a permanent evaluation process of scientific journals, among others.

Some Highlights

2001 Establishment of a National Consortia, CINCEL, to acquire scientific information for all research institutions in the country. Participation of the 25 universities receiving

governmental financial support and CONICYT To-day all research institutions, public and private, are

welcome to participate Since 2006, CONICYT finances 50% of the cost of

the subscriptions purchased and the participating institutions the other 50%

The panorama To-day

SciELO-Chile includes 63 full text journals, in all areas of knowledge, many since 1997. Commitment to Open Access. Many journals have a CC

License More than 2.500.000 visits per month. Considered as Chilean mainstream. Is used as an

evaluation instrument.

CINCEL. All participating institutions contribute towards the purchase of information according to their potential use capacity. All have access to the same information and data.National repository of research results to be opened by the second semester this year.

Programs outside CONICYT

Cybertesis. Open Access to Doctoral, Master and Professional thesis. Developed by the University of Chile and accepted and used by almost all governmental supported universities. Full text thesis available through University libraries

websites Fully searchable

Programs outside CONICYT

Since 2000, by law, all information produced by governmental institutions must be publicly available. Scientific data is usually available through the institutional Web sitesThe environmental, biodiversity and sustainable development data, are available through SINIA of CONAMA (Nat Commission for the Environment) http://www.sinia.cl

Health information through MINSAL (M. of Health) http://www.minsal.cl

Programs outside CONICYT

SIGEO. Provides geological information, generated by SERNAGEOMMIN, the National Institute for Geological and Mining Studies. Contains almost 100 maps (since 1996) of diverse

geosciences topics (basic geology, mineral resources, hydric resources, geophysics, geological hazards and environmental geology) and topography,

Databases (radiometric data, chemical analysis, ore deposits, wells),

Processed Satellite images and full-text documents that refer to spatial data.

http://sigeo.sernageomin.cl

Programs outside CONICYT

SNIT. The National System for the Coordination of Territorial Information. http://www.snit.cl Intended to coordinate and integrate all territorial

information and data held by Chilean governmental institutions at all levels and in all areas.

Already a metadata catalog of information held by national institutions is on-line and territorial information of different institutions is available

SIIT. The Integrated system of Territorial Information of the Library of Congress http://www.bcn.cl/siit/. Integrates data from different national institutions

As a conclusion

The legal instruments exist to ensure the public availability of scientific information and data

Many efforts have been initiated. Some very successful

In general, The information is spread, available but not always accessible

An integrating program is needed to allow: Interoperability of all the information available Agreement on common standards and protocols Use of new technologies to assure better access

Still a long way to go

!Thank you¡