Overview
Where Gates Foundation stands on contributorship and open research
Gates Open Access policy recommends contributorship statements and aligns with cOAlition S / Plan S requirements. CRediT is the referenced vocabulary in foundation publishing guidance and is required on Gates Open Research submissions.
CRediT status: Recommended - Policy text recommends a CRediT statement on funded outputs.
Open access
Gates Foundation Open Access Policy (effective 2017)
All Gates-funded peer-reviewed publications must be CC BY at time of publication. No embargo. Pre-prints actively encouraged. Underlying data must be made openly available where ethically permissible.
Research data management
Data sharing requirements
Gates Foundation Open Access Policy includes data-sharing expectations alongside publication open access.
Submission and reporting
How Gates Foundation researchers apply and report
| Primary submission system | Gates Foundation Grants Portal; Gates Open Research for the foundation's publishing platform |
| Biosketch / CV format | Application-specific; CV format varies by RFP |
| Reporting cycle | Per-grant deliverables + annual narrative reports |
Gates Foundation grantees apply through the foundation's Grants Portal. Application formats vary by request-for-proposal but generally include a structured project plan, budget, and an evaluation framework rather than a federally-standardised biosketch. ORCID is recommended for grantee authors and integrated into Gates Open Research profile linking. The Gates open-access policy requires immediate CC BY publication and open data deposit where ethically permissible. The foundation funds heavily in global health and development, with significant attention to research conducted in low- and middle-income countries.
Contributorship guidance
How Gates Foundation handles contributor attribution
Gates Foundation recommends CRediT statements and operationalises them on Gates Open Research. The foundation's policy is one of the strongest CRediT endorsements in the private-funder space, reflecting its early co-investment in Plan S and open-research infrastructure.
For authors
Publishing from Gates Foundation funding
When publishing from Gates Foundation funding, ensure the article is published immediately CC BY - either in a fully open-access journal or via simultaneous CC BY deposit in PMC or Europe PMC. Hybrid OA in subscription journals is permitted if the article is immediately CC BY. Acknowledge the Gates Foundation using the standard format that names the grant or investment reference. Include a CRediT statement at submission. For Gates Open Research submissions, CRediT and ORCID linking are integrated into the submission flow. Make underlying data openly available where ethically permissible; document any closure justification in your data plan.
For general CRediT submission guidance across publishers, see CRediT for authors.
Notable initiatives
Gates Foundation programmes and infrastructure
- Gates Open Research publishing platform
- cOAlition S co-funder
- Global Health Discovery Collaboratory
- Grand Challenges programmes
Notes
Caveats and context
The Gates Foundation's 2017 immediate-OA mandate set the bar that several Plan S signatories subsequently adopted; its policy template is widely cited in private-funder OA discussions.
Frequently asked
Common questions about Gates Foundation
- Does Gates Foundation require CRediT?
- Gates Foundation recommends CRediT in its formal policy text without making it a contractual requirement. Gates Open Access policy recommends contributorship statements and aligns with cOAlition S / Plan S requirements. CRediT is the referenced vocabulary in foundation publishing guidance and is required on Gates Open Research submissions.
- What is Gates Foundation's open access policy?
- Gates Foundation Open Access Policy (effective 2017). All Gates-funded peer-reviewed publications must be CC BY at time of publication. No embargo. Pre-prints actively encouraged. Underlying data must be made openly available where ethically permissible.
- How do I report contributorship to Gates Foundation?
- Gates Foundation recommends CRediT statements and operationalises them on Gates Open Research. The foundation's policy is one of the strongest CRediT endorsements in the private-funder space, reflecting its early co-investment in Plan S and open-research infrastructure.
- Where do I submit a Gates Foundation application?
- Gates Foundation applications are submitted through Gates Foundation Grants Portal; Gates Open Research for the foundation's publishing platform. Gates Foundation grantees apply through the foundation's Grants Portal. Application formats vary by request-for-proposal but generally include a structured project plan, budget, and an evaluation framework rather than a federally-standardised biosketch. ORCID is recommended for grantee authors and integrated into Gates Open Research profile linking. The Gates open-access policy requires immediate CC BY publication and open data deposit where ethically permissible. The foundation funds heavily in global health and development, with significant attention to research conducted in low- and middle-income countries.
- What is Gates Foundation's data sharing requirement?
- Gates Foundation Open Access Policy includes data-sharing expectations alongside publication open access. Researchers should follow the data-management plan submitted with the application and deposit data in a recognised repository where appropriate.
References
Sources
- Gates Foundation Open Access Policy
- Gates Open Research editorial policies
