Kyoto University adopts "Kyoto University Open Access Policy" (28 April 2015)

On 28 April 2015, Kyoto University adopted "Kyoto University Open Access Policy". This policy mandates faculty members to publicize in principle their academic articles on the Internet by depositing them in "Kyoto University Research Information Repository KURENAI".

Assuring open access to published products of faculty research is expected to facilitate collaboration between researchers, thus empowering academic society to open up a new vista for innovation beyond the borders of disciplines. It also clarifies the responsibility of all of us, who are engaged in research and education, to be accountable to the society for what we are doing. The concept of open access has been spreading rapidly in the world. Specifically in Japan, the idea has been promoted mainly by part of researchers who are interested in the concept. Kyoto University, however, has now taken a new step forward to adopt our open access policy, confirming our determination to promote open access throughout the university.

KURENAI has, since its launch in 2006, accumulated Kyoto University faculty research on a voluntary basis. The database has now become one of the largest institutional repositories in Japan with full text data of more than 130,000. With "Kyoto University Open Access Policy", Kyoto University will make a concerted effort to contribute to the development of research as a socially responsible academic institute, by making more and more faculty research open access in KURENAI.