Canada’s International Development Research Centre is a government-backed development agency focused on research in the developing world.  IDRC doesn’t generate much attention in Canada (most of its work is done outside of the country in the places that need help), but it should.  In 2004, it provided financial support to Creative Commons South Africa, playing an important role in making that initiative a reality.  Now it has set its sights on a major new open archive that will provide full Internet access to the IDRC research archive.  IDRC notes that "the Open Archive will help Southern researchers to engage in the international dialogue on important development issues and increase the impact of their research."  A demonstration model should be out early this year.  While this is a first among Canadian research funding organizations, let’s hope that it is not the last.