ARDI program providing free access to scientific journals to the institutions of least developed countries

ARDI program providing free access to scientific journals to the institutions of least developed countries

New Research and innovations are based on the previous ones and without studying the previous literature in a particular area of research, it is not possible to lay out the foundation of a new one. For understanding the current state of the art, the recent and relevant information is available in journals which are an important source of scientific and technical knowledge. To encourage the research and development in any country, it is necessary that the researchers are fully aware of the innovations being done in their field across the world, which is possible by the availability and accessibility of scholarly literature in journals at a maximum level so that their innovation get the right direction. 

ARDI ( The Access to Research for Development and Innovation)

Knowledge has no boundaries and researchers in developing countries and even in the least developed countries have innovative projects like the others in a developed country but they have not that much aware of the scientific and technical literature in their fields due to financial constraints.

To support the researchers in developing countries and to reinforce the capacity of these countries so that they can also participate in the global knowledge economy, the ARDI program was launched in 2009 which is a public-private partnership sponsored by WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) in cooperation with 12 major publishers, with the aim to increase the availability of scientific and technical literature in developing countries and least developed countries.

Major publishers

      

   

Based on GNI( Gross National Income per capita), HDI(Human Development Index) and United Nations’ Least Developed Country (LDC) status, there are two groups of countries, institutions of which may get the benefit of ARDI program.

Under Group A comes Least developed countries: Local, not-for-profit academic and research institutions and national intellectual property offices of these countries may register and get free access to journals through ARDI Program.

Under Group B comes developing countries: Local, not-for-profit academic and research institutions and national intellectual property offices of these countries may register in ARDI Program and get low-cost access to journals which is 1,500 US dollars per institution per the calendar year (from January through December). 

“Currently, over 100 publishers provide access to around 30,000 journals, books, and reference works for 120 developing countries and territories through ARDI.”¹

Programs like ARDI needs to be appreciated and encouraged which are supporting the researchers in these countries and also contributing in bringing out new innovations and solutions to the technical challenges faced and helping in sustainable growth and development of these countries.

Reference:

1. https://www.wipo.int/ardi/en/
2. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/partnership/?p=7627