Federal Research: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Public Access to Research Results
Abstract
Research and development helps catalyze breakthroughs that improve the overall health and wellbeing of our society. Federal research and development expenditures averaged about $135 billion annually for fiscal years 2015 to 2017. According to OSTP, providing free public access to federally funded research results can improve both the impact and accountability of this important federal investment. In February 2013, OSTP directed federal agencies with more than $100 million in annual research and development expenditures to develop a plan to support increased public access to the results of federally funded research. GAO was asked to examine public access to federally funded research results. This report examines the extent of agencies' (1) progress implementing plans to increase public access to federally funded research results and (2) coordination on public access plan implementation. GAO administered a questionnaire to 19 federal agencies selected based on annual research and development expenditure amounts, among other criteria; reviewed agency documents; and interviewed officials from 11 agencies, OSTP, and 21 stakeholder organizations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1169589
Entities
People
- Aaron Shiffrin
- Amber Sinclair
- Anika Mcmillon
- Ben Shouse
- Christopher B Murray
- Courtney Krebs
- Dennis Mayo
- Diantha Garms
- Emily Pinto
- Hayden Huang
- Jeanette Soares
- John Delicath
- John Neumann
- Katrina Pekar-carpenter
- Lacey Coppage
- Perry Lusk
- Sarah Veale
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office