Austrian consortium extends open access publishing agreement with MDPI

The Austrian library consortium Kooperation E-Medien Österreich (KEMÖ) has renewed its partnership with MDPI. The two-year agreement grants Austrian institutions access to MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program.

The agreement will last until the end of 2027. The Medical University of Vienna and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna are the latest members to join the partnership, alongside several other leading institutions.

Under the terms of the agreement, a total of 23 institutions and their scholars will have access to MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP). Benefits include discounts on Article Processing Charges (APCs) across MDPI’s portfolio of more than 480 journals.

Institutions opting for centralised funding will receive higher APC discounts and tailored invoicing, with the aim of reducing administrative burdens and support scholars in publishing OA research.

Some 525 Austrian Editorial Board Members (EBMs) currently collaborate with MDPI, including eight Editors-in-Chief and 15 Section Editors-in-Chief. These EBMs actively guide the direction of MDPI journals, speaking to Austria’s growing influence in global scientific publishing. The renewed agreement with KEMÖ reflects MDPI’s efforts to strengthen existing ties with Austria by supporting regional OA networks.

Adrian Stefan Zamfir, MDPI’s institutional partnerships manager for the DACH region, said: “Austria is at a pivotal moment in its transition to Open Access. By supporting projects like the Open Access Monitor Austria, KEMÖ has become a key driver of this change. In fact, in 2025, KEMÖ members participated in over 20 agreements with OA publishing options.

“Working in partnership since 2019, our renewed agreement speaks to growing regional trust and the shared desire for a more open, collaborative, and innovative scholarly publishing landscape in Austria. We look forward to our continued collaboration over the next two years.”