Frequently Asked Questions
What is BRII?
The Berkeley Research Impact Initiative (BRII) supports faculty members who want to make their publication free to all readers immediately upon publication. Originally established as a pilot program on January 21 2008, BRII subsidizes, in various degrees, fees charged to authors who select open access or paid access publication. The program also yields data that can be used to gauge faculty interest in — as well as the budgetary impacts of — these new modes of scholarly communication on the Berkeley campus.
Why is this program needed?
To provide support to new and emerging publisher options that both enhance the impact of Berkeley authors' research and show promise in helping research institutions create affordable and sustainable models for scholarly communication. BRII will also provide an opportunity for researchers to try new publishing models.
What charges does this cover?
This initiative covers publication charges for open access journals such as PLoS, BioMedCentral, PhysMathCentral, and others (capped at $3000 per article). It covers paid access charges for non-OA journals (capped at $1500 per article). Due to restricted funds, any given author is limited to $4500 in BRII funds each year.
Who is funding this program?
Seed funding for BRII came from Library and Vice Chancellor for Research discretionary accounts.
Are other institutions engaging in this activity?
Yes. Similar programs are now in place at Harvard University, the University of North Carolina, University of Wisconsin, University of Calgary, Lund University, University of Tennessee, University of Oregon, University of Nottingham and other UC campuses. The Open Access Directory wiki includes a comprehensive list of institutions providing OA support
Who is eligible to apply?
Any UCB faculty, post-doc, or currently enrolled graduate student ready to submit a completed publication.
Any criteria for articles or publications?
- Publications must be made freely available at the time of initial publication. No embargo periods.
- Articles may be published in any open access publication or hybrid journal offering a paid access option.
How do I apply?
Application information and materials are available at the BRII website.