Authors from low income countries will no longer have to pay open access author processing charges, the Biochemical Society and Portland Press Limited today announced.
The move means that, from September 2014, authors from 71 countries can have their accepted papers published and made publicly available for free in the Biochemical Journal, Clinical Science, and the fully open access journal, Bioscience Reports. Authors from a further 45 countries can receive a discount on their author processing charges.
The initiative is part of push by the Biochemical Society, and its wholly-owned publishing subsidiary Portland Press Limited, to support and boost bioscience in the developing world, says Head of Publishing Niamh O’Connor.
“Portland Press Limited is committed to supporting scientists and researchers in developing countries. We already provide free or very low cost subscriptions to institutions in 116 countries, as part of the HINARI Access to Research in Health Programme.
“We are now going above and beyond that commitment by waiving or reducing author processing charges for authors from these countries, helping to ensure their work is seen on the world stage.”
All Portland Press Limited journals offer a gold open access option, meaning everyone can view the research online as soon as it is published. Papers will continue to undergo robust peer review processes and adhere to strict publishing guidelines.
Biochemical Society Chair Steve Busby says the move reflects the benefit of having a Society-owned publisher.
“As a publisher owned by a Society, Portland Press Limited contributes to our mandate to support the advancement of science and the needs of the scientific community. This includes ensuring the breadth of our international community is supported in sharing and discovering knowledge.
“By waiving or reducing author processing charges for authors from low income countries, alongside free access to our journals, we can help boost scientific connections with the developing world and further the Society’s goal to advance the molecular biosciences internationally.”
Low income countries will be defined by the HINARI Access to Research in Health Programme.
