The Finch Report is the result of a Working Group on Expanding Access to Published Research Findings, chaired by Dame Janet Finch. The independent working group was set up to examine "how UK-funded research findings can be made more accessible." (Read the Press Release here.)

The Report recommends that all publicly funded research be made freely available on an Open Access (OA) basis, and that the traditional subscription model be phased out. The Report includes recommended actions that would help the UK promote research and publications internationally, and to develop a clear policy direction towards OA publishing.

While the outcome is positive, the recommendation does not come without challenges. The main difficulty being locating the extra funding required to disseminate research findings via an OA model.

The Finch Group Report is freely available to read online, as is the Executive Summary.

A range of responses are emerging - click the links for further discussion on the Finch Report:

• Wellcome Trust responds to Finch Report on open access
• Nature - 'Britain aims for broad open access'
• The Guardian - 'Open Access is the future of academic publishing, says Find report'
• From Open and Shut - 'The Finch Report: UCL's David Price Responds'