Nature Progress: New Open Access Journals Launch from Springer Nature
- Springer Nature, the global publisher of scientific research, has announced the launch of Nature Progress, a new series of fully open access journals.
- The Nature Progress series will operate under the same rigorous editorial standards as other journals within the Nature Portfolio, including peer review and high production quality.
- “Nature Portfolio is a trusted cornerstone for the global research community, championing scientific progress and supporting researchers worldwide,” said Deborah Sweet, Executive Vice President for the Nature Portfolio.
Springer Nature, the global publisher of scientific research, has announced the launch of Nature Progress, a new series of fully open access journals. The initiative aims to expand publishing opportunities for researchers, particularly in rapidly evolving fields, and responds to significant demand from the scientific community. According to a company survey, 84% of authors expressed interest in having more options to publish in Nature-branded titles.
The Nature Progress series will operate under the same rigorous editorial standards as other journals within the Nature Portfolio, including peer review and high production quality. This commitment to quality is a key differentiator, according to Springer Nature, and will be maintained through collaboration between in-house editors and external editorial board members drawn from the research community.
“Nature Portfolio is a trusted cornerstone for the global research community, championing scientific progress and supporting researchers worldwide,” said Deborah Sweet, Executive Vice President for the Nature Portfolio. “We have always evolved in line with community needs… The Nature Progress series represents the next step in this ongoing commitment to serving our community.”
The move to launch Nature Progress reflects a broader trend towards open access publishing, where research is made freely available to anyone, removing paywalls and subscription barriers. Springer Nature already boasts a substantial portfolio of over 700 fully open access journals and publishes more than 240,000 open access articles annually. The new series builds on this existing commitment.
The initial launch of Nature Progress will focus on the biomedical sciences with two dedicated journals: Nature Progress Oncology and Nature Progress Brain Health. Submissions for both journals will open on . These journals are intended to facilitate the rapid dissemination of rigorously evaluated research in these critical areas.
As fully open access journals, Nature Progress titles will utilize Springer Nature’s Article Processing Charge (APC) waiver policy, making publication accessible to a wider range of researchers. APCs for journals in the Nature Progress series will range from EUR 4,390 to EUR 5,090, according to information released by Springer Nature.
The launch of Nature Progress is significant within the context of the evolving scientific publishing landscape. Nature, established in , is a highly influential multidisciplinary science journal with a 2024 impact factor of 48.5. Its brand recognition and reputation for quality are expected to attract submissions and readership to the new Nature Progress series.
The decision to expand into a new series of fully open access journals also aligns with growing pressure from research funders and institutions to make publicly funded research freely available. Open access publishing is increasingly seen as a way to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation by removing barriers to knowledge dissemination.
Springer Nature’s approach with Nature Progress – combining the prestige of the Nature brand with the accessibility of open access – represents a strategic move to cater to both authors seeking high visibility and readers demanding unrestricted access to research findings. The publisher emphasizes its commitment to working with the research community to provide a “trusted home for their work,” regardless of discipline or geographic location.
The success of Nature Progress will likely depend on its ability to attract high-quality submissions and establish itself as a leading open access venue in the biomedical sciences and, potentially, other fields in the future. The publisher’s stated goal is to broaden opportunities for researchers while maintaining the high standards associated with the Nature brand.