How can Transformative Journals benefit you as a Springer Nature author?

At Springer Nature we are actively committed to open access (OA), where research can be accessed and used by the widest possible audience. Springer Nature supports immediate Gold OA as the most open, least restrictive form of OA: authors can choose to publish their article in a fully OA journal, a hybrid or transformative journal, or as an OA book or OA chapter. Transformative Journals, launched in January 2021, are the latest step in our efforts to support authors in choosing OA.

A Transformative Journal (TJ) is a subscription/hybrid journal committed to becoming fully OA. TJs proactively promote the benefits of OA to increase uptake, while supporting any author who wishes to publish in the journal, regardless of their funding situation. Springer Nature has registered over 1,700 titles, including Springer Nature-owned titles and the vast majority of journals we publish on behalf of partners, with cOAlition S as Transformative Journals. That includes Nature and the Nature research journals. All these TJs now offer immediate gold open access options to empower authors to achieve more with their research. 

There are many benefits for you as an author when choosing to publish your research in a TJ, including:

• Increased researcher engagement: open access enables access by anyone with an internet connection, immediately on publication. 
• Higher visibility and greater impact: open access articles are accessed 4 times more often on average, and cited 1.6 more times on average.*
• Plan S compliant: TJs are compliant with  Plan S requirements for open access. 
• Transparent results: TJs will provide metrics and comparisons of the volume, usage, citations, and online attention for OA.
• Retain copyright for your work: our OA articles are published under a CC BY license, which enables maximum reuse of your content whilst ensuring you gain credit. You retain copyright, whilst allowing others to use, distribute and build upon your research.
• Author choice: authors can choose between gold OA or subscription publication, based on their preferences, funder or institutional requirements for OA, and availability of APC funding.
  

Find out more about Transformative Journals, their benefits and how they compare to hybrid journals.

*Within the first three years of publication. Springer Nature hybrid journal OA impact analysis, 2018.