European Union Opens Up Access to Scientific Research

New scientific research must be published for free online, the vice-president of the European Commission said, in a move designed to increase the knowledge pool open to small business and lead to more innovative products. All scientists receiving European Union funding will have to publish their results in an open-access format, Neelie Kroes, the commissioner responsible for Europe’s digital agenda, said in Stockholm. Commissioner Kroes also launched the global Research Data Alliance — a group committed to pooling and coordinating scientific data so it can be shared better.