Funding agencies and Open Access
Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) Open Access Policy
The goal of FRQ Open Access policy is to "promote open access to the outcomes of FRQ-funded research and to ensure their quick dissemination and free access (for the reader) to the scientific community, potential users, policy-makers and the general public.” (Open access dissemination policy - FRQ)
FRQ OA Policy Applies to Research Outputs from FRQ Grants:
- Peer-reviewed journal publications
- Theses
- Does NOT apply to data or monographs (making these open is encouraged)
- Peer-reviewed publications must be freely accessible within 12 months of publication.
- Does not apply to theses
- Peer-reviewed publications and theses must be freely accessible immediately
- Articles must be licensed under a Creative Commons CC-BY or CC-ND open licence (or equivalent)
- See the Journal Checker Tool to confirm journal compliance
How can I make my publications open access?
1) Deposit a peer-reviewed version of your article (also known as the accepted manuscript or postprint) in an open-access repository such as Concordia University’s Spectrum.
Researchers must ensure that their author agreements permit depositing their work openly within the accepted time frame. Search Sherpa/Romeo for journal self-archiving policies. If a journal's self-archiving policy is too restrictive, consider signing the SPARC Author Addendum before publishing to retain select rights, such as the rights to reproduce, reuse, and publicly present your article.
2) Publish in an open-access journal. For journals that use Article Processing Charges (APCs), these APCs are allowable FRQ grant expenses. Concordia University Library supports a range of APC discounts.
Does posting a copy on my website or on ResearchGate/Academia.edu count as open access?
No. To meet the definition of the repository the site must "must be open to all" (FRQ policy p.6). FRQ policy recognizes 1) deposits in an institutional or disciplinary repository, or 2) publication in an open-access journal (FRQ policy p.4).
How can I pay for article processing charges (APCs)?
APCs are grant-eligible expenses (note: for grants awarded after July 2022, APCs are only permitted for fully OA journals, i.e. not hybrid journals). Concordia authors may benefit from APC discounts through institutional memberships with publishers.
How can I embargo my thesis?
Students can write directly to the FRQ to request the withholding of their thesis to publish open access. They also need to write separately to the School of Graduate Studies to obtain an approved embargo in accordance with Thesis Regulations.
Full FRQ Policy and Additional Reading
Revised 2022 Version (English; Français)
2019 Version (English; Français)
FRQ Foire aux questions (FRQ FAQ only available in French).
See related guide: Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications
Review journals' open archiving policies using Sherpa/Romeo.
Page adapted from McGill’s FRQ Open Access Page
