Plan S was introduced on January 1, 2021, and brings new Open Access guidelines for the publication of scientific articles within the framework of FWF projects and the Horizon Europe Framework Program of the European Commission.

What is Plan S?

Plan S is an initiative of cOAlition S, a consortium of funding organizations that includes the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and the European Commission. The goal of this initiative is to accelerate the transition to Open Access for scientific publications. Following an open consultation process, the final guidelines for the implementation of Plan S were published at the end of May 2019.

When does Plan S apply?

Plan S applies to all FWF research projects approved from January 1, 2021, as well as to all calls within the Horizon Europe Framework Program from this date. This means that scientific articles (with peer review) resulting from these projects must be published Open Access without any delay.

Which Open Access publications meet the requirements of Plan S?

• Publications in pure Gold Open Access journals or platforms (see DOAJ)
• Secondary publications (self-archiving) in an institutional, multidisciplinary, or subject-specific repository (Green Open Access) without an embargo
• Publications in subscription journals with an Open Access option (Hybrid Open Access) that are part of publisher agreements (transformative agreements)

For all publications, the CC BY license (or an equivalent free license) must be used.

What needs to be considered?

cOAlition S has developed the Journal Checker Tool to help researchers select journals that comply with Plan S.

Additionally, a Rights Retention Strategy has been developed to enable authors to continue publishing in the journal of their choice, including subscription journals, while complying with Open Access requirements under Plan S. This requires an acknowledgment including a license on each submission.

Each publication must be deposited in an institutional or discipline-specific repository for long-term archiving from the time of publication.

What changes as of January 1, 2024?

The FWF program “Peer-Reviewed Publications” was replaced by the Open Access Block Grant on January 1, 2024. 
 

Hybrid IEEE Journals and IEEE Conference Proceedings

Articles in hybrid IEEE journals and IEEE Conference Proceedings may be published as Plan S-compliant Open Access. The ‘Author Accepted Manuscript’ may be published with a CC BY license in a repository without embargo - i.e., when the publisher's version is published.

This allows FWF publications in hybrid IEEE journals and IEEE Conference Proceedings to meet the FWF's OA policy.

IEEE accepts Green OA without embargo for IEEE Proceedings wherever there is a corresponding "Funder Requirement" (such as with FWF articles).

Important:
The funder's requirement is a prerequisite! Not all articles can generally be published Green Open Access without an embargo.

If you require a response to your specific case or a written confirmation that your paper will be published in compliance with Plan S, you can contact IEEE at copyrightsnoSpam@ieee.org.
Please provide information about your paper and the funder's criteria for Plan S compliant publishing.