Overview
Where Wellcome stands on contributorship and open research
Wellcome open-access policy recommends a contributorship statement using CRediT for funded papers. Required on Wellcome Open Research articles since 2017. Strongly encouraged for all Wellcome-funded outputs published elsewhere. The Wellcome narrative CV uses CRediT-aligned categories.
CRediT status: Recommended - Policy text recommends a CRediT statement on funded outputs.
Open access
Wellcome Open Access Policy (2021 update, Plan S aligned)
All Wellcome-funded research must be published immediately open access under a CC BY licence. Hybrid OA in subscription journals is not Plan S compliant; the accepted manuscript must be available CC BY in PMC or Europe PMC at time of publication.
Research data management
Data sharing requirements
Wellcome Policy on Data, Software and Materials Management and Sharing.
Submission and reporting
How Wellcome researchers apply and report
| Primary submission system | Wellcome Funding portal (web-based application system); Researchfish for outcomes reporting |
| Biosketch / CV format | Narrative CV (R4RI) for fellowships; structured CV for project grants |
| Reporting cycle | Annual research outcomes via Wellcome Researchfish |
Wellcome requires all funded research to be published immediately open access under CC BY, with manuscripts deposited in Europe PMC at publication. All Wellcome-funded researchers must have an ORCID iD linked to their Wellcome funding profile. For most fellowship schemes Wellcome uses the R4RI narrative CV format; project-grant applications use a more traditional structured CV. Wellcome Open Research, the foundation's in-house publishing platform launched 2016, requires CRediT statements on every article and operates open peer review.
Contributorship guidance
How Wellcome handles contributor attribution
Wellcome recommends CRediT statements on all funded publications and requires them on Wellcome Open Research. The Wellcome narrative CV format uses CRediT-aligned vocabulary throughout.
For authors
Publishing from Wellcome funding
When publishing from Wellcome funding, deposit the version of record or accepted manuscript in Europe PMC with a CC BY licence at the time of publication. Hybrid OA in subscription journals does not satisfy Wellcome's policy unless a fully CC BY version is simultaneously in Europe PMC. Include a CRediT statement at submission. Use the precise Wellcome funding-acknowledgement wording specified in your grant agreement. For Wellcome Open Research submissions, the CRediT statement and ORCID linking are integrated into the submission flow. Update Researchfish with the publication citation when the article is published.
For general CRediT submission guidance across publishers, see CRediT for authors.
Notable initiatives
Wellcome programmes and infrastructure
- Wellcome Open Research platform (2016)
- Plan S signatory and co-founder of cOAlition S
- DORA signatory
- Sanger Institute
- Wellcome Connecting Science
Notes
Caveats and context
Wellcome has been an institutional anchor for both Plan S adoption and the narrative CV revival, and it remains a useful bellwether for upcoming policy moves at other Plan S funders.
Frequently asked
Common questions about Wellcome
- Does Wellcome require CRediT?
- Wellcome recommends CRediT in its formal policy text without making it a contractual requirement. Wellcome open-access policy recommends a contributorship statement using CRediT for funded papers. Required on Wellcome Open Research articles since 2017. Strongly encouraged for all Wellcome-funded outputs published elsewhere. The Wellcome narrative CV uses CRediT-aligned categories.
- What is Wellcome's open access policy?
- Wellcome Open Access Policy (2021 update, Plan S aligned). All Wellcome-funded research must be published immediately open access under a CC BY licence. Hybrid OA in subscription journals is not Plan S compliant; the accepted manuscript must be available CC BY in PMC or Europe PMC at time of publication.
- How do I report contributorship to Wellcome?
- Wellcome recommends CRediT statements on all funded publications and requires them on Wellcome Open Research. The Wellcome narrative CV format uses CRediT-aligned vocabulary throughout.
- Where do I submit a Wellcome application?
- Wellcome applications are submitted through Wellcome Funding portal (web-based application system); Researchfish for outcomes reporting. Wellcome requires all funded research to be published immediately open access under CC BY, with manuscripts deposited in Europe PMC at publication. All Wellcome-funded researchers must have an ORCID iD linked to their Wellcome funding profile. For most fellowship schemes Wellcome uses the R4RI narrative CV format; project-grant applications use a more traditional structured CV. Wellcome Open Research, the foundation's in-house publishing platform launched 2016, requires CRediT statements on every article and operates open peer review.
- What is Wellcome's data sharing requirement?
- Wellcome Policy on Data, Software and Materials Management and Sharing. Researchers should follow the data-management plan submitted with the application and deposit data in a recognised repository where appropriate.
References
Sources
- Wellcome Open Access Policy
- Wellcome Data, Software and Materials Sharing Policy
- Wellcome Open Research platform editorial policies
