Open Access in the European Research Area: progress remains uneven as new report calls for more concerted action

A new independent expert report published today by the European Commission highlights that, despite notable advancement, the implementation of open access across the European Research Area remains uneven and fragmented. While progress has been made, persistent barriers continue to hinder widespread open access, and further action is needed. Over the past decade, European Union soft-law measures, national strategies, funder mandates, and, where applicable, national legislation have advanced open access. However, these efforts have not yet produced a coherent framework across the European Research Area, leaving researchers, institutions, and funders to navigate differing policies. The report provides a snapshot of the current open access landscape, offering policy recommendations to improve access to scientific publications and research data. It draws on an analysis of all 27 EU Member States and eight non-EU countries. Full Story and links to the Report here

Business Systematic Reviews Blog

The Business Systematic Review Group originated out of a lighting talk at the Business Librarians Association Conference in June 2022. Becky Collins (Academic Librarian, Coventry University) talked about her experience of moving from an advisor to researcher; conducting a business systematic review as a librarian.  The talk ignited a wish from across the Business Librarian community for more support in this area. The Business Systematic Review Working Group was born and held the first online meeting in September 2022. What You Can Expect from Our Blog: Our blog is designed to be your go-to resource for all things related to systematic literature reviews in the business domain. Expert Interviews and Insights: Conversations with leading experts in the field, offering their perspectives on emerging trends, common challenges, and innovative solutions. Step-by-Step Guides: Detailed tutorials on every phase of the SLR process, from formulating research questions to selecting databases, conducting searches, and synthesizing findings. Best Practices and Tips: Proven strategies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of your SLRs, including tips on managing large volumes of data, ensuring reproducibility, and maintaining rigor. Tools and Resources: Reviews and recommendations of the latest tools, software, and databases that can streamline the SLR process and improve the quality of your reviews. Case Studies and Examples: Real-world examples and case studies showcasing successful SLRs in various areas of business research, providing practical insights and inspiration.

The visibility problem in academic policy engagement

Policy engagement opportunities are fragmented and unevenly visible, which can lead to unequal access. Considering research by Overton to structure the existing data on policy engagement opportunities, Céire Wincott shows how this can systematically reveal existing inequalities, but also create new avenues for connecting research to policy.

Why research analytics built on AI needs to show its working

Merely appearing useful – versus being reliable, credible or provable – are different things, writes Kate Byrne In the past two years, the research analytics market has – like most markets at the moment – flooded with AI. Every significant platform now claims it. The language is familiar: AI-powered, AI-driven, AI-enhanced. Most of them return something that at least looks useful, fast. We are quickly learning, however, that merely appearing useful versus being reliable, credible or provable – when the stakes really matter – are different things.