OA publishing in the repository for publications
The University of Innsbruck has a non-commercial institutional repository for publications in which its members can publish their own publications via open access. This service offers university members an additional form of publishing besides the traditional way.
In the first place, an institutional repository supports self-archiving of scientific publications that have appeared in print or subscription journals. This secondary publication (Zweitveröffentlichung), or “self-archiving”, in an institutional or subject repository is also called the “green way” of open access.
Articles and monographs already published as gold open access may of course also be uploaded to the repository for publications. For some funding bodies (e.g. in the context of EU projects or FWF projects), uploading to institutional or subject-specific open access repositories is mandatory for gold open access publications as well (find more information about Plan S here)
In addition, the repository for publications enables university members to publish grey literature, i.e. scientific contributions without a publisher, in accordance with copyright law (e.g. working papers). Please clarify whether an entry in the FLD (e.g. as electronic publication) is possible and/or contact the Open Access Contact Point.
We invite all researchers at the University of Innsbruck to upload their publications to the university's repository for publications. It is not only a “virtual showroom” of the scientific accomplishments of the University of Innsbruck, but also connected to international search systems and open access platforms (BASE and OpenAIRE) and therefore ensuring even greater visibility of the scientific publications. In addition, the publications are linked to the FLD/RDD (Research Documentation Database) as well as the respective departments and research platforms. Green open access publications also count as open access in the RDD and are evaluated for the intellectual capital report.
By a simple direct upload of the PDF file when entering the metadata into the research documentation database (Forschungsleistungsdokumentation) (login via VIS “Persönliche Daten” => “Meine Forschung”, where you then can switch to English) it is deposited in the university's repository for publications.
Handbook on “My Research” and instructions for the upload of scientific publications (from p.11)
If an upload via an FLD entry is not possible, please contact the Open Access Contact Point.
The University of Innsbruck expressly welcomes the upload of habilitation theses to the repository for publications with regard to the Open Access Policy. Please contact the Open Access Contact Point for the upload and for questions on legal aspects of the electronic publication of the habilitation thesis.
Further information can be found in the information sheet on the electronic publication of habilitation theses.
What to consider before uploading
Some publishers permit self-archiving in an institutional repository. However, the copyright agreement between author and publisher has to be complied with.
The legal framework can be found in the publishing contracts and you can look up the publishers' guidelines on self-archiving on the Sherpa/Romeo database.
Publishers distinguish between preprints, postprints and the publisher’s version/PDF. When re-publishing their work in a repository, authors have to consider which version is permitted by the publisher.
A preprint or submitted version is a manuscript version which has been submitted for publication to a journal but not yet evaluated by peers and recommended for publishing.
A postprint or accepted manuscript version has already been peer-reviewed and accepted for publishing, thus it contains all contents of the publisher's version (version of record, i.e. the version which will ultimately be published) but is not identical with it: on the one hand, the postprint's formatting can deviate from the publisher's version; on the other hand, the printproof (i.e. the approval of the so-called galley proof) has not been done, which is why the postprint can contain typing errors or formatting that deviates from the publisher's version.
Furthermore, there can be embargo periods to observe. Some publishers may only allow the publishing of articles in repositories after a certain waiting period (usually between 12 and 24 months). These embargo periods can also be looked up on the Sherpa/Romeo database.
Ideally, authors should reserve the right of self-archiving even before the first publication appears. For future contracts, we advise you to only grant the publisher “simple rights of exploitation” for electronic publishing, so you can simultaneously publish your work in the repository of the University of Innsbruck.
For already published works, authors can retroactively get the publisher's permission of self-archiving of the publication for the publishing in a repository.
An overview of the information can also be found in the FAQ with additional details, e.g. regarding the upload of publications in scholarly collaboration networks such as ResearchGate.
Overview of funded open access articles in the repository
Open access publications that are (co-)financed by the publishing fund of the University of Innsbruck or by agreements between publishers and the University and State Library of Tyrol will be uploaded to the repository. This not only provides an overview of how many publications have been funded, but further ensures their visibility and archiving.
To get an overview of the publications that have been funded, please follow the links below:
Related links
According to the “Study Law Regulations” § 27, from 1st November 2023, all students of a diploma, master or doctoral program of the University of Innsbruck have to publish their thesis electronically in the repository of the University and State Library of Tyrol. For dissertations of the Medical University of Innsbruck, students have to declare whether they want to make their dissertations accessible online or not when submitting the thesis.
The registration of the theses of the University of Innsbruck and of dissertations of the Medical University of Innsbruck has to be done via a web form. The confirmation of entry has to be submitted to the responsible examination office together with the PDF of the thesis.
After graduation, the theses will be published via the institutional repository for publications of the University of Innsbruck.
More information on submitting scientific papers
What to consider before uploading
If your scientific paper contains parts (e.g. articles) that you have already published, submitted for publication or are planning to submit, the conditions of the relevant journals and publishers as well as the consent of your co-authors have to be considered.
Especially for not-yet-published parts of your paper, please clarify how the publishing in the repository of the University of Innsbruck may affect a possible subsequent publication, e.g. in a journal.
The legal framework can be found in the publishing contracts and you can look up the publishers' guidelines on self-archiving on the Sherpa/Romeo database.
Publishers distinguish between preprints, postprints and the publisher’s version/PDF. When re-publishing their work in a repository, authors have to consider which version is permitted by the publisher.
A preprint is a manuscript version which has been submitted for publication to a journal but not yet evaluated by peers and recommended for publishing.
A postprint or accepted manuscript version has already been peer-reviewed and accepted for publishing, thus it contains all contents of the publisher's version (the version which will ultimately be published) but is not identical with it: on the one hand, the postprint's formatting can deviate from the publisher's version; on the other hand, the printproof (i.e. the approval of the so-called galley proof) has not been done, which is why the postprint can contain typing errors or formatting that deviates from the publisher's version.
Furthermore, there can be embargo periods to observe. Some publishers may only allow the publishing of articles in repositories after a certain waiting period (usually between 12 and 24 months). These embargo periods can also be looked up on the Sherpa/Romeo database or in the publishing contract.
If the electronic publication of the already published articles in the thesis is not possible for legal reasons even after a blocking period, the articles can be removed according to §27 (2) of the “Study Law Regulations” and be replaced with links to the published articles. In this case, the complete thesis must also be submitted to the examination office as an electronic and printed version - in the case of dissertations in duplicate.
You can find further details and exceptions on the information website of the Examination Office and in the "Guideline for partial publication of scientific papers in electronic form according to § 27 para. 2 of the "Study Law Regulations" part of the Statutes of the University of Innsbruck".
Related links
Open Access Contact Point
University and State Library of Tyrol, Digital Services Department
Dr. Barbara Laner
Tel.: +43 (0)512 507 - 25401
E-Mail: open-access@uibk.ac.at