Springer Nature Explained

Springer Nature
Type:Privately held Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien with an as general partner
Industry:Publishing
Predecessors:-->
Successors:-->
Founders:-->
Hq Location:London (global)
Berlin (corporate)
New York City (sales)
Area Served:Worldwide
Key People:Frank Vrancken Peeters (CEO)
Num Employees:10,000
Num Employees Year:2019
Revenue:US$ 2.1 billion
Revenue Year:2022

Springer Nature or the Springer Nature Group[1] [2] is a German–British academic publishing company created by the May 2015 merger of Springer Science+Business Media and Holtzbrinck Publishing Group's Nature Publishing Group, Palgrave Macmillan, and Macmillan Education.[3]

History

The company originates from several journals and publishing houses, notably Springer-Verlag, which was founded in 1842 by Julius Springer in Berlin[4] (the grandfather of Bernhard Springer who founded Springer Publishing in 1950 in New York),[5] Nature Publishing Group which has published Nature since 1869,[6] and Macmillan Education, which goes back to Macmillan Publishers founded in 1843.[7]

Springer Nature was formed in 2015 by the merger of Nature Publishing Group, Palgrave Macmillan, and Macmillan Education (held by Holtzbrinck Publishing Group) with Springer Science+Business Media (held by BC Partners). Plans for the merger were first announced on 15 January 2015.[8] The transaction was concluded in May 2015 with Holtzbrinck having the majority 53% share.[9]

IPO attempts in May 2018 and Autumn 2020[10] were unfruitful due to unfavorable market conditions.[11] [12]

In 2021, Springer Nature acquired Atlantis Press, an open access publisher founded in Paris in 2006, focusing on scientific, technical, and medical (STM) content, and publication of conference proceedings.[13] [14]

Current company

After the merger, former Springer Science+Business Media CEO Derk Haank became CEO of Springer Nature.[15] When he retired by the end of 2017, he was succeeded by Daniel Ropers,[16] the co-founder and long-time CEO of bol.com.[17] In September 2019, Ropers was replaced by Frank Vrancken Peeters.[18] [19]

The company is releasing several Policies & Reports,[20] including a Modern Slavery Act statement, a Tax strategy, and a gender pay gap report for Springer Nature's UK operations.[21] [22]

Springer Nature is a signatory of the SDG Publishers Compact,[23] [24] and has taken steps to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the publishing industry.[25] [26] [27] These include becoming carbon neutral as of 2020,[26] organizing its publications into 17 SDG-related content hubs,[28] [29] and launching thematic journals such as Nature Climate Change, Nature Energy, Nature Sustainability,[30] Nature Food, Nature Human Behaviour, Nature Water and Nature Cities (appearing 2024).[31] In 2014, the Nature Portfolio series of themed online journals was launched.[32]

Springer's journal Environment, Development, and Sustainability was one of six out of 100 journals to receive the highest possible "Five Wheel" impact rating[33] from the SDG Impact Intensity™ journal rating system, based on an analysis of data from 2016–2020 that assessed relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).[34] [35]

Brands

The following major brands belong to the group (see also Subsidiaries):[36]

Controversies

In 2017, the company agreed to block access to hundreds of articles on its Chinese site, cutting off access to articles related to Tibet, Taiwan, and China's political elite.[38] [39]

The company retracted a paper in 2019, in its journal BMC Emergency Medicine due to a dubious peer-review process (a herpetologist could have denied the publication of the paper).[40]

In August 2020, Springer Nature was reported to have rejected the publication of an article at the behest of its co-publisher, Wenzhou Medical University, from a Taiwanese doctor because the word "China" was not placed after "Taiwan".[41] [42]

In July 2020, Springer Nature retracted a paper in the journal Society due to a dubious review process and criticism regarding racism.[43]

In November 2021, Springer Nature retracted 44 nonsense papers from the Arabian Journal of Geosciences after a lapse in the peer review process.[44] [45]

In August 2023, after an investigation, Springer Nature retracted a paper that claimed there is no evidence of a global climate crisis.

Lawsuits

In September 2024, Lucina Uddin, a neuroscience professor at UCLA, sued Springer Nature along with five other academic journal publishers in a proposed class-action lawsuit, alleging that the publishers violated antitrust law by agreeing not to compete against each other for manuscripts and by denying scholars payment for peer review services.[46] [47]

See also

References

  1. Web site: Über uns: Presse . de . 2021-03-09 . Springer Nature Group . 2023-06-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609104753/https://group.springernature.com/de/group/media . live .
  2. Web site: Türen für Entdeckungen Öffnen . de . 2021-03-08 . Springer Nature Group . 2023-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230923120431/https://group.springernature.com/de/group . live .
  3. Web site: Springer Nature created following merger completion . 6 May 2015 . Springer . 16 August 2015 . 9 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609134936/https://www.springer.com/gp/about-springer/media/press-releases/corporate/springer-nature-created-following-merger-completion/256626 . live .
  4. Web site: Springer celebrates 175 years since its founding . KnowledgeSpeak.com . 11 May 2017 . April 6, 2018 . 28 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181128003621/http://www.knowledgespeak.com/newsArchieveviewdtl.asp?pickUpBatch=3187 . dead .
  5. Web site: Do you mean Springer, Springer or Springer? . 2014 . Springer.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20161227145959/http://www.springer.com:80/gp/about-springer/company-information/know-your-springer/do-you-mean-springer-springer-or-springer-/18482 . 27 December 2016 . dead.
  6. Web site: Nature . Phys.org . April 6, 2018 . October 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012164040/https://phys.org/journals/nature/ . live .
  7. Web site: About Us Springer Nature Corporate Affairs Homepage Springer Nature. 2021-03-09. group.springernature.com. 2023-06-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605202652/https://group.springernature.com/de/group/about-us. live.
  8. Web site: 15 January 2015. Nature publisher to merge with Springer. April 6, 2018. Times Higher Education. 5 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200305101628/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/nature-publisher-to-merge-with-springer/2017985.article. live.
  9. News: Caroline Carpenter. May 6, 2015. Completed merger forms 'Springer Nature'. The Bookseller. July 8, 2015. July 28, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200728092755/https://www.thebookseller.com/news/completed-merger-forms-springer-nature. live.
  10. News: 2020-09-04. Springer Nature Said to Kick Off 1 Billion-Euro IPO This Month. en. Bloomberg.com. 2021-03-08. 2021-12-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20211207133134/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-04/springer-nature-said-to-kick-off-1-billion-euro-ipo-this-month. live.
  11. News: Schuetze. Arno. 2018-05-08. Weak demand forces Springer Nature to cancel $3.2 billion float at last minute. en. Reuters. 2021-03-08. 2023-07-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20230716094548/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-springer-nature-ipo-idUSKBN1I91FU. live.
  12. News: Benjamin Robertson, Ruth David, Jan-Henrik Foerster. 3 October 2020. Europe IPO Revival Peters Out as Year's Top German Deal Delayed. Bloomberg. 12 November 2020. 7 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211207133557/https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/bc-partners-backed-springer-nature-is-said-to-delay-german-ipo-kfsoqvii. live.
  13. Web site: About Atlantis Press . Atlantis Press . February 5, 2023 . February 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205000910/https://www.atlantis-press.com/about . live .
  14. Web site: Springer Nature Acquires Paris' Open Access Atlantis Pres . March 11, 2021 . Porter . Anderson . Publishing Perspectives . February 5, 2023 . February 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205000907/https://publishingperspectives.com/2021/03/springer-nature-acquires-paris-open-access-atlantis-press-covid19/ . live .
  15. Web site: Derk J Haank, Springer Science+Business: Profile and Biography. 2021-03-08. Bloomberg.com. en. 2021-12-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20211209201515/https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/3129261. live.
  16. Web site: Derk Haank, Chief Executive Officer to retire and to be succeeded by Daniel Ropers. 2021-03-08. www.springer.com. en. 2023-07-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20230716113858/https://www.springer.com/gp/about-springer/media/press-releases/corporate/derk-haank--chief-executive-officer-to-retire-and-to-be-succeeded-by-daniel-ropers-/12477540. live.
  17. Web site: Bol.com's Ropers to take Haank's role at Springer Nature . 6 May 2015 . The Bookseller . 10 April 2018 . 10 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190710092858/https://www.thebookseller.com/news/haank-depart-springer-nature-bolcom-s-ropers-takes-ceo-role-574476 . live .
  18. Web site: Executive Team Corporate Affairs Homepage Springer Nature. 2021-03-08. group.springernature.com. 2023-03-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20230314223129/https://group.springernature.com/de/group/about-us/executive-team. live.
  19. Web site: Springer Nature Announces CEO Succession: Frank Vrancken Peeters appointed Chief Executive Officer. Daniel Ropers to step down. | Corporate Affairs Homepage | Springer Nature. group.springernature.com. 2019-10-09. 2019-10-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20191009153712/https://group.springernature.com/de/group/media/press-releases/springer-nature-announces-ceo-succession/17140728. live.
  20. Web site: Policies, Reports and Acts Springer Nature Corporate Affairs Homepage Springer Nature. 2021-03-08. group.springernature.com. 2023-03-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20230314223147/https://group.springernature.com/de/group/taking-responsibility/policies-reports-acts. live.
  21. Web site: 2019-08-11. Springer Nature reports 15.12% pay gap. The Bookseller. www.thebookseller.com. 2023-07-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20230716102330/https://www.thebookseller.com/news/springer-nature-reports-1512-pay-gap-755411. live.
  22. Web site: Springer Nature Gender Pay Gap Report – April 2018 - EN Corporate Affairs Homepage Springer Nature. 2021-03-08. group.springernature.com. 2023-03-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20230317035919/https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/springer-nature-gender-pay-gap-report-april-2018-en/16508070. live.
  23. Web site: SDG Publishers Compact Members . United Nations Sustainable Development . 18 July 2023 . 26 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230726040805/https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sdg-publishers-compact-members/ . live .
  24. Web site: SDG Publishers Compact . United Nations Sustainable Development . 20 July 2023 . 21 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230721053207/https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sdg-publishers-compact/ . live .
  25. News: Springer Nature and SDSN Release Joint White Paper on How to Narrow the Policy, Research, and Community Divide . UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) . 3 May 2021 . en . 30 August 2023 . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240915184727/https://www.unsdsn.org/springer-nature-and-the-un-sustainable-development-solutions-network-sdsn-release-joint-white-paper-on-how-to-narrow-the-policy-research-and-community-divide . live .
  26. News: Anderson . Porter . Springer Nature Issues a New Sustainability Report . Publishing Perspectives . 5 April 2023 . 30 August 2023 . 11 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230811163530/https://publishingperspectives.com/2023/04/springer-nature-makes-issues-a-new-sustainability-report/ . live .
  27. Web site: Sustainable Business Summary 2021 . Springer Nature. 2022 . 4 August 2023 . en.
  28. News: Transcript: SDG Content Hub Magic Number Is 17 CCC's Velocity of Content Podcast . Velocity of Content A series of recordings from the Copyright Clearance Center . February 21, 2022 . August 30, 2023 . August 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230811163430/https://velocityofcontentpodcast.com/transcripts/sdg-content-hub-magic-number-is-17/ . live .
  29. Web site: SDG 14 Journal Collections and Special Issues incl. Call for Papers For Researchers Springer Nature . Springer Nature . 2023-08-30 . 2023-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232417/https://www.springernature.com/gp/researchers/sdg-programme/sdg14/collections . live .
  30. News: Butcher . James . Scholarly publishers and the SDGs . GEOSCIENTIST . 1 March 2023 . 30 August 2023 . 27 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927154800/https://geoscientist.online/sections/unearthed/scholarly-publishers-and-the-sdgs/ . live .
  31. News: Nature Portfolio to expand with three new journals in 2024 Springer Nature Group Springer Nature . Springer Nature . 16 March 2023 . 30 August 2023 . 11 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230811053559/https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/media/press-releases/nature-portfolio-new-journals-2024/24626522 . live .
  32. Web site: npj Series | Nature Portfolio . 2023-12-24 . 2023-10-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030170247/https://www.nature.com/nature-portfolio/about/npj-series . live .
  33. Web site: SDG-Impact Journal Rating . Cabells . 2023-08-31 . 2023-08-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230811163409/https://blog.cabells.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/SDG_Impact_Journal_Rating.pdf . live .
  34. Rodenburg . Kathleen . Rowan . Michael . Nixon . Andrew . Christensen Hughes . Julia . The Misalignment of the FT50 with the Achievement of the UN's SDGs: A Call for Responsible Research Assessment by Business Schools . Sustainability . January 2022 . 14 . 15 . 9598 . 10.3390/su14159598 . en . 2071-1050 . free .
  35. News: Linacre . Simon . Cabells launches new SDG Impact Intensity™ journal rating system in partnership with Saint Joseph's University's Haub School of Business . the source . 17 March 2021 . 31 August 2023 . 11 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230811163521/https://blog.cabells.com/2021/03/17/cabells-launches-new-sdg-impact-intensity-journal-rating-system-in-partnership-with-saint-josephs-universitys-haub-school-of-business/ . live .
  36. Web site: Springer Nature Group Corporate Affairs Homepage Springer Nature. 2021-03-08. group.springernature.com. 2023-09-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20230923120356/https://group.springernature.com/gp/group. live.
  37. Web site: Heinrich Vogel Shop. 2021-03-08. www.heinrich-vogel-shop.de. 2023-09-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20230902004403/https://www.heinrich-vogel-shop.de/. live.
  38. News: Hernández. Javier C.. 2017-11-01. Leading Western Publisher Bows to Chinese Censorship (Published 2017). en-US. The New York Times. 2021-03-08. 0362-4331. 2019-10-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20191013073850/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/world/asia/china-springer-nature-censorship.html. live.
  39. News: The Mystery of the Exiled Billionaire Whistle-Blower . The New York Times . January 10, 2018 . Hilgers . Lauren . September 2, 2019 . July 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230716150135/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/10/magazine/the-mystery-of-the-exiled-billionaire-whistleblower.html?login=email&auth=login-email . live .
  40. Web site: A snake bites once, but its picture is used twice . retractionwatch . 3 April 2020 . 24 August 2020 . 16 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230716154553/https://retractionwatch.com/2020/04/03/great-snakes-image-mixup-helps-doom-snakebite-paper/#more-119209 . live .
  41. News: Tang. Jane. 1 September 2020. Springer Nature Journal Rejects Article by Taiwan Doctor Over Country Name. Radio Free Asia. 1 September 2020. 9 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200909182115/https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/article-09012020091523.html. live.
  42. News: Taiwan academics told to identify as Chinese in journal. Charlie Parker. October 10, 2020. The Times. January 12, 2022. January 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220113024352/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/taiwan-academics-told-to-identify-as-chinese-in-journal-srsbd7jss. live.
  43. Web site: Springer Nature retracts paper that hundreds called 'overtly racist' . retractionwatch . 31 July 2020 . 24 August 2020 . 22 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230922233606/https://retractionwatch.com/2020/07/31/springer-nature-retracts-paper-that-hundreds-called-overtly-racist/ . live .
  44. News: Isaac Schultz . 6 November 2021 . Science Publisher Retracts 44 Papers for Being Utter Nonsense . Gizmodo . 14 September 2022 . 14 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220914213558/https://gizmodo.com/science-publisher-retracts-44-papers-for-being-utter-no-1848004690 . live .
  45. News: Marcus . Adam . November 4, 2021 . Springer Nature geosciences journal retracts 44 articles filled with gibberish . Retraction Watch . September 14, 2022 . September 14, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220914213559/https://retractionwatch.com/2021/11/04/springer-nature-geosciences-journal-retracts-44-articles-filled-with-gibberish/ . live .
  46. News: Scarcella . Mike . 2024-09-13 . Academic publishers face class action over ‘peer review’ pay, other restrictions . live . https://archive.today/20240914212841/https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/academic-publishers-face-class-action-over-peer-review-pay-other-restrictions-2024-09-13/ . 2024-09-14 . 2024-09-15 . Reuters.
  47. Web site: Abdur-Rahman . Sulaiman . 2024-09-13 . 'Illegal Conspiracy'?: EDNY Antitrust Class Action Challenges Publishers' Unpaid Peer Review Rule . registration . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240913230833/https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2024/09/13/illegal-conspiracy-edny-antitrust-class-action-challenges-publishers-unpaid-peer-review-rule/ . 2024-09-13 . 2024-09-15 . . en.

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