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Academic journals publisher Springer Science+Business Media is acquiring the world’s largest open access publisher BioMed Central Group for an undisclosed sum. London-based STM publisher BioMed is estimated to generate annual revenues of €15m, and employs roughly 150 members of staff.
Derk Haank, c.e.o of Springer Science+Business Media, said the acquisition demonstrated the firm’s stance towards open access as "a sustainable part of STM publishing, not an ideological crusade".
Haank said: "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. 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."
BioMed, which was set up in 2000, publishes more than 180 peer-reviewed journals through its open access platform, including flagship publications Journal of Biology, BMC Medicine and Genome Biology.
Matthew Cockerill, publisher of the group, said: "BioMed Central has demonstrated that the open access business model can work, and we look forward to continued rapid growth as part of Springer. The support of our authors, journal editors and institutional customers has been vital to our success and we will continue to focus on offering the best possible service to these groups."