Springer buys BioMed Central

Springer is acquiring the open-access publisher BioMed Central.

BioMed Central was launched in May 2000 and now has over 180 open-access peer-reviewed journals. It employs around 150 people and has revenues of approximately EUR 15 million per year.

'This acquisition reinforces the fact that we see open-access publishing as a sustainable part of STM publishing, and not an ideological crusade,' said Derk Haank, CEO of Springer Science+Business Media. 'We have gained considerable positive experience since starting Springer Open Choice in 2004, and BioMed Central’s activities are complementary to what we are doing.  Additionally, this acquisition strengthens Springer’s position in the life sciences and biomedicine, and will allow us to offer societies a greater range of publishing options.'

Matthew Cockerill, publisher of BioMed Central added: 'We are very excited about this new phase of BioMed Central's growth and development. Springer has been notable among the major STM publishers for its willingness to experiment with open-access publishing. BioMed Central has demonstrated that the open-access business model can work, and we look forward to continued rapid growth as part of Springer.'