Halmstad University’s Strategic Funding for Open Access Publishing

Halmstad University follows Sweden’s national guidelines for Open Science. To promote open publishing, the Vice-Chancellor has allocated strategic funding for the years 2025–2027.

Diaries: Dnr. L 2025/22, Dnr. L 2025/64

Key Points

• Funding period: 2025–2027.
• Total allocation for 2025: SEK 600 000.
• Recipients: All the Schools at Halmstad University.
• Eligible publications:
  • Must be immediately Open Access (no embargo) and of recognised academic quality (Norwegian list level 1 or 2).
  • Peer-reviewed publications: journal articles, review/survey articles, and conference papers.
  • Other scholarly publications: book chapters, parts of anthologies, and monographs.
  • All publications must be registered in Halmstad University’s DiVA and linked to the full text (or parallel published in full text).
• Funding scope: Covers Open Access publishing costs not included in central Read & Publish agreements, as long as funds are available.
• Expected payout: Retroactively each spring (first in 2026, for 2025 costs), after reporting and verification by the University Library.
• Distribution of funds and process: The strategic funding is distributed to the Schools after the end of each financial year, based on verified Open Access costs. There is no individual application process, and coverage of costs is not guaranteed. The amount allocated to each School depends on the total available funds and verified costs across the University.

How the Fund Works

• 2025 allocation: SEK 600 000 distributed to the Schools to support Open Access publishing costs.
• Distribution method: Funds are allocated in proportion to each School’s Open Access costs.
• Timing: The allocation for 2025 will be distributed in spring 2026, after:

1. The University Library has reported on the outcomes.
2. The Schools have submitted their cost reports.

Process overview

1. Publication accepted: When a publication is accepted in an Open Access journal that is not included in a Read & Publish agreement, the School is responsible for paying the publisher’s invoice.
2. Cost registration: The cost must be recorded under account 5794 in Agresso.
3. DiVA registration: The publication must be registered in DiVA with a link to the full text or parallel published in full text.
4. Verification: The University Library checks eligibility and reports the total OA costs at the end of the year.
5. Transfer of funds: The strategic funding is subsequently transferred back to the Schools during the following spring, based on verified costs and within the total available allocation for the year.

Requirements for Using the Fund

Open Access

• Publications must be immediately Open Access (no embargo).
• All types of immediate Open Access are allowed: Hybrid, Green, Gold, Diamond.
• Publications under central Read & Publish/Open Access agreements are excluded, as their costs are already covered. Eligibility can be verified via SciFree.

Publication types

• Peer-reviewed publications: journal articles, review/survey articles, and conference papers.
• Other scholarly publications: book chapters, parts of anthologies, and monographs.
• DiVA registration: All publications must be registered in Halmstad University’s DiVA. They must be linked to the full text or parallel published in full text.

Quality standards

• Journals/publishers must be included in the Norwegian list at level 1 or 2.

Author requirements

• Halmstad University must be listed as the author’s address.
• Conference contributions must document the author’s participation and affiliation (for example, in the official program or proceedings).

Verification

• Eligibility is verified by the University Library based on established criteria.

Financial Reporting and Allocation of Funds

Accounting and cost coverage

• Account: Costs must be booked under account 5794 in Agresso.
• Eligible costs: Only Open Access publishing fees are eligible for compensation.
• Related costs: Other related costs – such as translation, page charges, fast track, or admission fees – should also be recorded under the same account.

Allocation process

• Distribution principle: Allocation is proportional to each School’s verified Open Access publishing costs outside central agreements.
• Reporting: After Schools have reported their verified costs (account 5794) in the financial statements, allocations are made the following spring
• Payment: The allocation will be paid after a decision from the Vice-Chancellor (the 2026 payment covers 2025 costs; decision expected March 2026).

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