The Association of Research Managers (ARMA) has teamed up with knowledge-transfer groups PraxisUnico and the Association for University Research and Industry Links (AURIL) to support open-access publishing of research data.

In a joint statement, the organisations say open access will lead to a more productive use of research results in both academic and non-academic settings; increase the ability of knowledge professionals to find, access and use the outputs and data generated by research for policy, social, cultural, health, environmental, as well as economic benefit, in the UK and internationally; and can potentially support innovation and the inventive process, helping to generate a faster translation of research into practice.

They also argue that research management, assessment and evaluation would be easier if research outputs are openly available, as this promotes innovation and competition
within and between research organisations. However, the three organisations – ARMA, PraxisUnico and AURIL – believe open access to data underpinning the results should not occur too early in the research process as it could  hinder collaborations with industry.