Announcements

Opening Thoughts

30 Years of Open Science, Built Together

This month, we officially launched MDPI’s 30th Anniversary campaign and dedicated anniversary website, marking an important milestone in our journey as an open access publisher. What began in 1996 with a single journal and the simple belief that scientific knowledge should be shared openly and freely has grown into a global publishing organization supporting more than 500 journals, 68,000 Editorial Board Members, and millions of researchers worldwide.

The anniversary page, entitled 30 Years of Open Science, Built Together, reflects on the people, milestones, and partnerships that have shaped MDPI over the past three decades. It includes a retrospective of our development, key moments in the evolution of open access, landmark research articles, journal anniversaries, an interview with the CEO, and perspectives from colleagues and partners who have contributed to our success.

While anniversaries naturally encourage reflection, they are also an opportunity to look ahead. The challenges facing scholarly publishing today, including research integrity, artificial intelligence, accessibility, and global participation in science, will require continued collaboration across the research ecosystem. As we celebrate 30 years of publishing, our focus remains on supporting researchers, strengthening trust in open science, and helping shape the future of scholarly communication together.

I encourage you to visit the anniversary page, explore the milestones, and take a moment to reflect on the role each of us has played in contributing to MDPI’s story.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Impactful Research

Highlights from MMCS 2026 in Beijing (14-17 May)

From 14–17 May, MDPI hosted The 5th Molecules Medicinal Chemistry Symposium (MMCS 2026) in Beijing, China, bringing together academia and industry to explore advances in chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, and drug discovery.

The conference hosted more than 230 attendees from 37 countries and regions, alongside 257 submissions and 145 accepted abstracts. With a significant increase in attendance – up by 100 participants compared with the previous edition – the popularity of MMCS continues to grow in terms of its international profile and scientific relevance within this rapidly evolving field.

The scientific program covered seven themes:

• Chemical Biology for Drug Discovery
• Medicinal Chemistry Research Progress
• Natural Products in Drug Discovery
• AI-enabled Drug Discovery
• GPCR & Ion Channel Targeted Drug Development
• Innovative Proximity-Based Drug Modalities
• Biocatalysis for Natural Product & Drug Synthesis

The event featured three plenary speakers, 14 keynote speakers, 35 selected oral presentations, and 98 poster presentations, creating opportunities for open scientific exchange and collaboration. Conference Chair Prof. Dr. Diego Muñoz-Torrero described this edition as one of the most successful MMCS events to date.

Thanks to our Sponsors

MMCS 2026 secured sponsorship support from 12 industrial partners, 11 of which set up on-site exhibition booths. Covering biopharmaceutical R&D, life science supplies, pharmaceutical experimental instruments, and industrial service sectors, exhibitors were able to connect their businesses directly with attendees and make connections at the conference.

30th Anniversary Celebration of Molecules

During the conference, we also celebrated the 30th anniversary of Molecules, one of MDPI’s flagship journals. The celebration brought together Section Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board Members, MDPI leadership, and editorial colleagues to reflect on the journal’s development, achievements, and continued future growth.

Events such as MMCS 2026 highlight the important role conferences play in creating scientific exchange and collaboration, and in connecting our research communities in person.

They also reflect the continued development of MDPI’s conference portfolio and our commitment to supporting academic engagement beyond publishing alone. Thanks to everyone involved in organizing and contributing to the success of this event.

Inside MDPI

Open Access Policies Continue to Accelerate Globally

One of the clearest indicators of the continued momentum behind open access is the growing number of national and institutional policies supporting, and increasingly requiring, open dissemination of research.

Around the world, governments, funding agencies, and universities are building their open access mandates, with increasing focus on transparency, rights retention, and public accessibility of publicly funded research. While these policies vary across regions, the broader direction is clear: expectations around openness and compliance continue to accelerate.

For researchers, navigating these evolving requirements can be complex and time-consuming. Supporting the research community therefore means not only publishing high-quality open access content but also helping stakeholders better understand changing requirements and emerging opportunities. At MDPI, we see this as an important part of our role within scholarly communication.

“Expectations around openness and compliance continue to accelerate”

Through the MDPI Blog, our Content team continues to publish monthly articles overviewing different countries’ relationships with open access, exploring their histories, policies, opportunities, and statistics. All this information is centralized into an article which contains brief summaries of each country, with links to all the full articles, and is updated monthly.

Recent Policy Developments

South Africa

In 2026, South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation introduced the South African Open Science Policy. The policy states that: “Open access shall be required for publications arising from publicly funded research, and desirable for research from all sources of funding.”

The policy envisions a coordinated and broad approach to open science that will sustainably and ethically drive socio-economic development by increasing the practice of open science through policy, training, incentivization, and infrastructure.

Canada

In Canada, the Tri-Agency OA Policy on Publications was revised, removing the 12-month embargo for research that must be deposited in a repository with an open license and with author rights retained.

The Agencies argue that “societal advancement is made possible through widespread and barrier-free access to cutting-edge research and knowledge.”

Chile

Chile is a collaborative and engaged member of the global open access movement.

The National Research and Development Agency (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, or ANID) is Chile’s main funding agency for R&D. It mandates that all beneficiaries must deposit the final version of their published scientific output, with an embargo period of up to 12 months, into a repository.

ANID also supports the InES Open Science funding program, which allows universities to request funding for capacity and infrastructure building. Further, Chile is an active participant in various international initiatives, such as Redalyc, SciELO, and Red de Repositorios Latinoamericanos.

Openness Beyond Research

At MDPI, openness remains one of our core values, ensuring that research outputs are freely accessible to anyone. This commitment also extends to sharing knowledge about the scholarly publishing landscape itself, which we practice on the MDPI Blog through various topics, including open access, recent advances in science, and opportunities for researchers.

As the open access landscape continues to evolve, helping researchers, institutions, editors, and partners navigate these changes will remain an important priority for us.

Coming Together for Science

Reflections from the MDPI Spain Summit 2026 in Valencia (21 May)

MDPI in Spain

Spain remains one of MDPI's most important academic markets and a leading contributor to OA research globally. Ever since our Barcelona office opened in 2016 (Happy 10th Anniversary!), MDPI Spain has been actively supporting researchers, institutions, societies, and academic partners across the country. Today, the office plays an important role in creating engagement with the Spanish scholarly community through editorial support, partnerships, conferences, training initiatives, and outreach activities.

A cluster of high-level indicators highlight both the strength of the local research ecosystem and MDPI’s role within it:

• 43,218 total publications in Spain in 2025, of which 35,728 (83%) were open access (49% Gold OA).
• 211,200+ total publications (2021–2025), with 84% published open access.
• 13,444 MDPI publications from Spanish institutions in 2025, representing 14% of all open access publications in Spain.
• More than115,100 MDPI publications from Spanish institutions since 1996.
• More than 4,500 Editorial Board Members from Spain, including more than 150 Chief Editors and 57 Associate Editors.
• 42 institutional partners participating in MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP).
• Spain ranks second globally for MDPI society affiliations, with 26 affiliated society agreements currently in place.

Program Overview

What made this summit special was the openness of the discussions around the research landscape in Spain and the role MDPI plays within the market. General topics of the presentations included:

• MDPI Introduction – Stefan Tochev (CEO).
• Engagement with the Academic Community – Dr. Marta Colomer (External Affairs Lead).
• Latest Developments in the Editorial Process – Dr. Jordi Martinez (Deputy Managing Editor).
• Research integrity and Publication Ethics – Slavomir Nikodijevic (Research Integrity Specialist).
• A 360 View of Academic Publishing – Prof. Dr. Luis Angel Ruiz Fernandez (EBM of Remote Sensing).

Panel Discussion

We also hosted a panel discussion moderated by Marta, entitled “The Future of Academic Publishing” with Prof. Luis Ruiz, Prof. Marta Feliz (EBM of the journal Catalysts), Dr. Enric Sayas (Product Owner, AI & Technology Innovation), and myself. The discussion looked at the evolving role of editors, the future of peer review, and the growing importance of maintaining trust, ethics, and research integrity in an era increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence.

Themes from the Summit

Several themes emerged throughout the discussions, reflecting broader conversations taking place across publishing:

• The academic community values efficient publishing workflows, but expectations around scientific quality and editorial rigor continue to rise.
• Reviewer fatigue and long-term sustainability of peer review remain major challenges across the industry.
• AI is rapidly changing scholarly communication and requires transparent and responsible governance.
• Reputation and trust continue to depend on long-term engagement, transparency, and quality-focused decision-making.

“Maintaining an open dialogue with researchers, editors, reviewers, and institutions remains a priority for MDPI”

It was constructive to see the willingness of participants to engage directly and candidly with us. These conversations provide insights that help inform how we continue to develop our editorial processes, engagement activities, and support for the research community. While certain discussions included concerns, there was also recognition that open dialogue between publishers and the research community is essential if we want to improve scholarly communication together.

Events such as this are increasingly important for MDPI. They allow us to present our perspective, to listen to the experiences, expectations, and concerns of editors, reviewers, and researchers, and to address these accordingly.

Thank You

Thank you to our Barcelona Office and all colleagues involved in organizing the summit, as well as all participants for contributing to these thoughtful and constructive discussions.

As publishing continues to evolve, maintaining an open dialogue with researchers, editors, reviewers, and institutions remains an important priority for MDPI. Events such as the Spain Summit play an important role in helping us to build relationships, foster trust, and better understand the needs of our community.

Closing Thoughts

Highlights from Antibiotics 2026 in Barcelona (11–14 May)

This week, MDPI hosted the Antibiotics 2026 — Advances in Antimicrobial Action and Resistance conference in Barcelona, bringing together academics and industry experts to discuss one of the most important scientific and public health challenges of our time: antimicrobial resistance.

The conference welcomed 145 attendees from 42 different countries and territories, alongside 265 submissions and 127 accepted abstracts, showing the international reach of the event and the strong scientific interest in this rapidly evolving field.

Scientific Exchange on a Global Challenge

Antimicrobial resistance continues to be a global concern, creating collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and regions. The conference program focused on a range of topics including:

• Antimicrobial resistance mechanisms
• One Health approaches to antimicrobial stewardship
• Discovery of novel antimicrobial agents
• Innovation in clinical strategies and treatment approaches
• Ethnopharmacology and emerging therapies

Through keynote plenaries, invited lectures, oral presentations, and poster sessions, the conference created a platform for dialogue and scientific exchange.

International Participation and Collaboration

One of the highlights of the event was the diversity of participation across both geography and expertise. Researchers and speakers from Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Latin America took part in discussions throughout the conference, highlighting the global nature of both the challenge and the scientific response.

The scientific program included:

• 2 keynote speakers
• 10 invited speakers
• 36 selected talks
• 78 posters

The conference brought together perspectives from academia, healthcare, and industry, helping facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration around future approaches to antimicrobial research and resistance management.

The Role of Conferences in Scholarly Communication

Conferences are an important platform for collaboration, scientific exchange, and community-building. Events such as Antibiotics 2026 show the value of bringing researchers together in person to discuss emerging challenges, share new findings, and strengthen international networks across disciplines and regions.

Thank You

I would like to thank the conference chairs, speakers, participants, sponsors, and the entire MDPI conference team for their work in making this event a success. The engagement and positive feedback from attendees highlight the importance of our events in addressing some of the most pressing scientific challenges facing society today.

Opening Thoughts

MDPI Opens First US Office in Philadelphia

I am delighted to highlight an important milestone in MDPI’s continued global development: the recent opening of our first office in the United States, located in Philadelphia.

This marks a significant step in building our engagement with one of the world’s most important research communities. The new office will serve as a hub for supporting scholars across the US, creating closer connections and more localized support.

As highlighted in recent coverage by our press release in InPublishing, this expansion reflects MDPI’s broader commitment to growing our international presence while remaining focused on the needs of the research community.

A Key Market for Research and Collaboration

The United States continues to play a central role in global research. To date, MDPI has published more than 237,000 articles affiliated with US institutions, and we collaborate with nearly 12,000 Editorial Board Members across the country. These relationships are fundamental to our mission of supporting Open Access and advancing scientific communication.

The opening of this office is not just about geography; it is about proximity to the communities we serve. It allows us to better understand the evolving needs of researchers while continuing to build collaboration and trust within the academic ecosystem.

The Team Behind this Milestone

As we continue to grow, our focus remains on supporting researchers globally and advancing Open Access with integrity.

Impactful Research

Coatings 2026: Highlights from Our Latest MDPI Conference (20-22 April)

I am pleased to share the successful completion of MDPI conference Coatings 2026, which took place last week in Athens from 20 to 22 April 2026. This conference brought together a diverse international community of researchers, industry experts, and partners, highlighting MDPI’s role not only as a publisher but also as a platform for scientific exchange and collaboration.

Conference Highlights

Coatings 2026 in numbers:

• The event attracted approximately 140 participants from 25 countries
• 143 submissions and a strong scientific program of talks and posters
• 2 keynote speakers and a wide range of invited contributions
• 7 sponsors and 11 media partners supporting the event

Scientific Programme

The program centered on “Safe and Sustainable by Design,” reflecting the growing importance of sustainability, regulatory frameworks, and technological innovation in materials science. Topics ranged from advanced coating technologies and additive manufacturing to AI-driven simulations and strategies to phase out potentially harmful substances in industrial processes.

Importantly, the conference brought together both academic and industrial perspectives, creating a space for dialogue on how research can translate into real-world impact. This is important as industries navigate environmental challenges, evolving regulations, and the need for more sustainable and circular approaches to production.

Thank You!

I would like to thank the entire conference team for their work in organizing this successful event. As we continue to grow, conferences like this play an important role in building our connection with global research communities, supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, and positioning MDPI at the intersection of science, technology, and societal impact.

Members from Exelisis and MDPI EU Conference & Social Media team at the Coatings 2026 Conference in Athens, Greece.

Inside MDPI

Recent Media Coverage and Partnerships

Over the past two months, news from MDPI has enjoyed strong visibility across international publishing and academic media, reflecting our continued expansion and the increasing relevance of our work within the research community.

Below are some highlights covering partnerships, institutional agreements, and milestones that continue to shape our position in publishing – some of which are featured in leading industry platforms such as InPublishing, which is highly selective and reflects the growing recognition of MDPI’s growth within the publishing ecosystem.

Key Press Releases & Coverage (March–April 2026)

• MDPI × Sikt (Norway): Partnership Renewal

  We renewed our national Open Access agreement with Sikt, a key consortium partnership, continuing to support researchers across Norway through this partnership. The renewal was covered by several international publishing trade outlets.

  Covered by: Research Information, STM Publishing News, ALPSP, Europe Says

• MDPI × Jisc (UK): New Two-Year Open Access Agreement

  A new two-year agreement with Jisc significantly expands MDPI’s footprint across UK academic institutions. Coverage appeared across major publishing industry titles in the UK and internationally.

  Covered by: InPublishing, Research Information, STM Publishing News, ALPSP

• MDPI Opens First US Office

  The opening of our first US office marks an important milestone in our North American expansion to build engagement with one of the world’s leading research communities.

  Coverage by: EurekAlert!, InPublishing, EdTech Innovation Hub, STM Publishing News, ALPSP

• MDPI × SIGG: Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics

  We established a new partnership with the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (SIGG), adding to our growing portfolio of society collaborations.

  Coverage by: EurekAlert!, STM Publishing News, ALPSP

• MDPI × Fast Track Health: New Journal Launch

  The launch of a new journal in partnership with Fast Track Health reflects our continued expansion into emerging areas of health innovation.

  Coverage by: EurekAlert!, Scienmag, STM Publishing News, ALPSP

• MDPI 2025 Annual Report

  Our 2025 Annual Report was also widely covered across international media, highlighting a 12% increase in submissions and continued investment in research integrity, infrastructure, and partnerships.

  Coverage by: EurekAlert!, Research Information, STM Publishing News, ALPSP, Choice 360

Coverage also spanned multiple regions including Poland, Romania and South Korea, reflecting our ongoing efforts to communicate more effectively with regional research communities.

Looking Ahead

This coverage shows that MDPI is growing and building on its position through partnerships, visibility, and engagement across regions. As we continue to expand, our focus remains on supporting researchers globally, building on our institutional collaborations, and advancing Open Access with integrity.

Thank you to all teams involved in delivering these initiatives, and to our External Affairs team for ensuring our work is effectively communicated across the global publishing landscape!

Coming Together for Science

Recapping MDPI Poland Summit 2026 in Krakow (23 April)

On 23 April 2206, we hosted the first MDPI Poland Summit 2026 in Kraków, bringing together an engaged group of editors, researchers, and academic leaders from the country.

The Poland Summit welcomed some 45 participants, including Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members, many with strong academic track records and international recognition.

Our engagements were open and constructive, focusing on MDPI’s positioning and reputation in Poland, alongside community interest in supporting our development, with active participation across our sessions, including Q&A and panel discussions.

MDPI Poland Summit Programme

From research integrity and peer review quality to AI in publishing and the future of academic communication, the agenda featured important topics currently shaping our industry.

During the day, MDPI colleagues shared a series of presentations covering:

• MDPI’s performance, growth, and impact in Poland: Stefan Tochev (CEO)
• Engagement with Academic Community: Dr. Marta Colomer (Public Affairs Lead)
• Research Integrity and Publication Ethics: Anna Pena (Research Integrity Manager)
• MDPI Editorial Process and Peer-Review Quality Metrics: Dr. Liliane Auwerter (Conference Organizer)
• AI in the Publishing Industry – Challenges, Innovation and MDPI’s vision: Dr. Enric Sayas (AI Product Owner)
• Panel Session: The Future of Academic Publishing, moderated by Dr. Marta Colomer 

Poland as a Key Market for Open Access

The summit also highlighted the importance of Poland within the global research landscape.

In 2025:

• 75% of publications in Poland were made in Open Access
• 71% of those in Gold Open Access
• and over 344,000 publications produced in the last five years

MDPI plays a significant role in the Polish publishing ecosystem:

• #1 Open Access publisher in Poland
• 17% share of Open Access publications in 2025
• More than 12,500 publications from Polish institutions in 2025
• More than 91,000 publications overall since 1996

Looking Ahead

Events like the Poland Summit are an important part of how we evolve as an organization. They allow us to share the latest developments of MDPI and listen directly to our researchers and editors to better understand the market and align our development with the needs of the local community.

As MDPI continues to grow, this type of engagement will remain essential in ensuring that we are not only scaling globally, but doing so in a way that is aligned, trusted, and collaborative.

With Igor Matic (Office Manager, Krakow, Poland, MDPI) at the MDPI Poland Summit in Krakow.

Closing Thoughts

Recapping MDPI Serbia Salon 2026 in Belgrade (22 April)

On 22 April 2026, we hosted the MDPI Serbia Salon 2026 in Belgrade. The Salon welcomed over 50 participants, including more than 40 invited scholars from leading Serbian institutions, alongside colleagues from MDPI. The event also marked two important milestones: 30 years of MDPI and 10 years of our presence in Serbia, making it a celebration and an opportunity for reflection.

A Platform for Exchange

The Salon was designed not just as a series of presentations, but as a place for dialogue. Throughout the day, discussions focused on important topics around publishing today: research integrity and editorial standards, journal indexing and visibility, the evolving role of artificial intelligence, and funding and support for Open Access publishing.

Program Overview

• Opening the Salon MDPI Serbia 2026 – Serbia results and direction: Emir Ramadani (Operations Manager)
• Update on MDPI’s performance and growth: Stefan Tochev (CEO)
• Collaboration with MDPI – A personal perspective: Prof. Dr Srećko Stopić (Editorial Board Member)
• Linking Scientific Quality and Visibility: The role of indexing in publishing
• Research integrity and editorial ethics: Ana Stanković (Research Integrity Specialist)
• Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Publishing – Challenges, innovations and vision of MDPI: Dr Miloš Čučulović (Head of Technology Innovation)

It was encouraging to see the high level of engagement and discussion with the local academic community.

Publishing in Serbia

With 10 years of MDPI in Serbia (since 2016) and over 620 colleagues across 10 departments spread across offices in Belgrade and Novi Sad, MDPI continues to invest in the long-term development of the research community in Serbia and beyond.

Some high-level indicators illustrate both the strength of the local research ecosystem and MDPI’s role within it:

• 12,910 total publications in Serbia in 2025, of which 8,708 (67%) were Open Access (of which, in turn, 75% were Gold OA)
• A total of more than 55,000 publications (2021–2025), with 68% published Open Access
• 2,122 MDPI publications from Serbian institutions in 2025
• 25% of all Open Access publications in Serbia are published with MDPI
• More than 11,000 MDPI publications from Serbian institutions since 1996
• More than 75 Editorial Board Members from Serbia, including Editors-in-Chief and Associate Editors.

These figures reflect the growth of OA publishing in Serbia and the strong collaboration between MDPI and Serbia's research community.

Top 5 Publishers in Serbia (MDPI #1 with steady growth)

Looking Ahead

Research integrity and artificial intelligence will remain central topics for the industry. At the same time, clear communication of editorial processes will be essential in building trust and transparency.

Workshops and direct engagement remain among the most effective ways to strengthen these connections. As Open Access funding models continue to evolve, new opportunities for collaboration are emerging across institutions, publishers, and the broader research community.

Thank You!

The excellent feedback from participants shows the value of creating spaces where ideas can be exchanged openly and constructively. Sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this event: our speakers, participants, and especially the MDPI Serbia team for their great organization and support.