Access to scientific journals is fundamental for researchers from all parts of the world. Electronic journals available online have made a great difference for many research institutions and their scientists in low income countries and neglected research areas. The cost of access to many of these electronic journals remains prohibitive for some low income countries and research institutions. Several schemes have been developed to assist access, while another approach for allowing access of research results to a greater audience has been the open access movement.

A forum organised by the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO in co-operation with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) will address open access in a global perspective and discuss the possible role of the UN in pursuing this. During the morning session, entitled Open Access – Global Perspectives, a panel of international experts will debate issues related to open access to research results and data, with a perspective on how this affects researchers and research performed and published in low income countries. With the input from this session, the forum will then continue after lunch under the title Open Access – Swedish Perspectives, discussing the consequences in Sweden and how Sweden is able to contribute to the global development.