Starting January 1, 2027, new requirements will make the published results of research funded by Canada’s three federal research agencies more openly accessible to the public.
If your research is funded by the Tri-Agency (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR), here’s what you need to know.
What are the new requirements?
The updated Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications applies to peer-reviewed research articles resulting from Tri-Agency grants and Chair awards, with funding awarded on or after January 1, 2027. Articles must meet three requirements:
- Deposit your article in a Canadian institutional repository immediately upon publication. MacEwan University faculty can do this by emailing the published version of their article (version of record) or the accepted manuscript (final draft) to roam@macewan.ca for deposit in Research Online at MacEwan (RO@M)*.
- Retain the right to share your work openly. Ensure you retain the rights needed to make your article available under an open licence, most commonly a Creative Commons licence.
- Acknowledge your funding. Name the funder in your article and include any reference numbers or persistent identifiers provided when your funding was awarded.
When submitting a manuscript, inform your publisher of your Tri-Agency funding obligations and ensure your publishing agreement allows you to meet the policy requirements. If you encounter difficulties, consult your funding agency. The Tri-Agency provides sample wording to share with publishers under Step 2 of its Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions.
What about existing grants? Funding awarded between May 1, 2015, and December 31, 2026, remains subject to the previous policy. Under that policy, articles must be made openly accessible through a journal or institutional repository within 12 months of publication.
How the Library can help
Librarians and staff can help you navigate the policy, understand your publishing rights, and explore open access options.
Depositing in RO@M is easy. Email the published version of your article or the accepted manuscript to roam@macewan.ca, and we will deposit it in the repository to make it openly accessible.
For questions, contact Robyn Hall, Scholarly Communications Librarian, and the Library's research and publishing support team at digitalscholarship@macewan.ca.
Learn more on the Library’s Open Access Publishing page.
*Other eligible options include trusted Canadian publishing platforms: Canadian academic library journal hosting platforms, Érudit, the Public Knowledge Project’s (PKP) Publishing Services, and Scholars Portal Journals.
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