In today's world, Open access in Spain is a topic of great interest and relevance that has captured the attention of people of all ages and sectors of society. Its impact has been felt in different spheres, from politics to popular culture, and its influence shows no signs of diminishing. In this article, we will explore in depth the importance and scope of Open access in Spain, analyzing its implications and consequences in various areas. From its origins to its evolution today, Open access in Spain has generated debate and controversy, making it essential to understand its nature and its impact on contemporary society.

Open access in Spain is defined by the national 2011 "Ley de la Ciencia, la Tecnología y la Innovación" (Science, Technology and Innovation Act) requires open access publishing for research that has been produced with public funding.[1][2] The first peer-reviewed open access Spanish journal, Relieve, began in 1995.[3] Publishers CSIC Press and Hipatia Press belong to the international Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association.[4]

There are a number of collections of scholarship in Spain housed in digital open access repositories.[5] They contain journal articles, book chapters, data, and other research outputs that are free to read. As of March 2018, the UK-based Directory of Open Access Repositories lists some 131 repositories in Spain.[5] Those with the most digital assets include Revistes Catalanes amb Accés Obert, Tesis Doctorals en Xarxa, GREDOS (of Universidad de Salamanca), Biblioteca Virtual del Patrimonio Bibliográfico (of Ministry of Culture), and Digital CSIC (of Spanish National Research Council).[1] Related to this are SciELO and DialNet.
Most universities in Spain maintain an institutional repository, collectively searchable via the "Recolecta" digital platform.[6][7]
News and comment from the worldwide movement for open access to research
Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition