Overview
Research funders increasingly require that the results (publications, data and other products) of the research they fund be made publicly accessible. Science.gov has created a list of the most up-to-date information on public access plans and guidance, including links to funder-specific responses to the 2022 OSTP policy guidance. This list is refreshed as agencies publicly post their new or updated public access plans and policies.
- In 2013, the White House Office of Science Technology and Policy (OSTP) issued a memo (PDF) directing all federal agencies with more than $100 million in R&D expenditures to develop plans to ensure public access to research data and publications.
- In 2022, the OSTP updated its guidance (PDF), recommending that ALL federal agencies (not just those with more than $100 million in R&D expenditures) update their policies as soon as possible and no later than the end of 2025 to eliminate 12-month embargoes on publications and supporting data from federally funded research.
- As of 2025, the administration transition has resulted in new Executive Orders (EO) and policy changes across federal agencies. To help you stay informed, Cornell Research & Innovation is actively monitoring developments and providing funding and agency updates during the federal transition and the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), which tracks federal policies and regulations affecting U.S. research institutions, is also collecting Executive Orders and Department and Agency Directives and Memoranda.
Data management & sharing plans
Requirements related to data can involve submission of a data management plan with grant proposals, and/or the public sharing of data resulting from funded research. Support is available for Cornell researchers in meeting these requirements, both for research data (this site) and publications (see SPARC’s article sharing requirements tool).
Data management & sharing plan review
We offer free and confidential consultations and feedback on data management & sharing plans, as well as help understanding and meeting funder requirements. We will respond to requests within 2-5 days, and require one business week to provide meaningful feedback and answer your questions. Please plan accordingly, especially during busy grant submission seasons.
Public access policies of top Cornell University funders
The list below includes the top funders of research at Cornell University. Cornell Data Services is available to help all researchers address public access requirements for data, regardless of their source of funding.
Note: requirements vary within departments/directorates, and prospective PIs should always review the specific RFP/RFA/PA they’re responding to when preparing a proposal.
- Department of Energy
- Department of Defense
- National Institutes of Health
- National Science Foundation
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Other funders
Related Information
- Ensuring Free, Immediate, and Equitable Access to Federally Funded Research (PDF). White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). 2022 Nelson memo.
- FEDERAL RESEARCH: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Public Access to Research Results. GAO-20-81. U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). 2019 review of progress since 2013 memo, with recommendations.
- Funder Requirements. DMPTool. Information about the policies of numerous funders, including templates for data management plans.
- Public Access Plans & Guidance. Science.gov. Information about Federal Agency public access plans and guidance.
- Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research (PDF). White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). 2013 Holdren memo.