Springer Nature has released its fourth annual Open Access (OA) report, offering a detailed, data-driven overview of developments in OA publishing. The report, which marks a decade since the company signed its first transformative agreement, presents evidence of increased impact for authors and expanding access across global research communities. It also underscores the need for broader collaboration within the publishing ecosystem to ensure an equitable and sustainable OA transition.
According to the report, articles published in Springer Nature’s fully open access journals receive an average of 6.3 citations, exceeding citation levels seen in hybrid or other OA publishing models. Downloads of OA content across books and journals rose by more than 31% in 2024, reflecting growing reader engagement.
Geographical data indicates a notable rise in access from underrepresented regions. Downloads of OA content grew by 21% in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) and by 14% in low-income countries (LICs), highlighting progress toward greater global reach in research dissemination.
Transformative Agreements (TAs) remain central to the publisher’s OA strategy. In 2024, these agreements facilitated ten times more gold OA publications compared to those outside TA frameworks, an increase from seven times in 2023. Since 2015, TAs have expanded at an average annual rate of 42%, now supporting authors affiliated with more than 3,700 institutions worldwide.
The report emphasizes that advancing open access requires a shared responsibility among stakeholders. While the expansion of TAs and citation advantages illustrates the benefits of structured OA models, the complexity of the global transition continues to require careful management.
The full OA report, along with previous editions from 2023, 2022, and the 2021 comprehensive report, is available through Springer Nature. Collectively, these publications complement the company’s broader Annual Report and reflect its ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in the scholarly publishing industry.
Click here to read the original press release.
