MDPI opens US office as North American expansion accelerates

New Philadelphia base signals deeper engagement with US research institutions and Open Access publishing at scale.

MDPI has opened its first US office in Philadelphia, establishing a central hub for its North American operations and expanding its presence in the global Open Access publishing market.

The move brings the Switzerland-headquartered publisher closer to US research institutions, where demand for Open Access models and institutional agreements is increasing.

The Philadelphia office will act as a base for partnerships, editorial operations, and academic engagement, with a focus on building relationships with societies and supporting US-based researchers.

Partnerships and US market positioning

MDPI has already begun expanding its US partnerships, including agreements with the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN). These follow earlier North American deals, including collaborations with Canada’s Federal Science Libraries Network and the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries.

The publisher reports more than 229,700 articles affiliated with US institutions, with 98 percent indexed in Web of Science or Scopus. It also works with nearly 12,000 US-based editorial board members, including more than 300 editors-in-chief and section editors-in-chief.

The Philadelphia team will support these relationships through conferences, workshops, and local academic events. MDPI is also set to attend the STM US Conference 2026 in Washington, DC as a platinum sponsor.

Alistair Freeland, Chief Operating Officer at MDPI, says: “Last year, MDPI signed its first North American agreement with Canada’s Federal Science Libraries Network, quickly followed by our first US agreement with the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries. MDPI USA and our team in Canada will be a driving force in this new phase of development.

“Our aim is to provide US scholars with the same support enjoyed across MDPI’s other national networks, building clear pathways to Open Access publishing.”

Leadership to drive regional expansion

Bob Vrooman has been appointed Head of Business Development at MDPI USA and will lead the Philadelphia operation. He joined the company in 2025 and has been involved in developing US partnerships, including the agreement with APMA.

Before joining MDPI, Vrooman led the journals program at Mary Ann Liebert, where he developed an Open Access portfolio and managed society partnerships. He previously spent 16 years at Sage Publications, working across commercial and editorial operations for its US STM journals program.

Vrooman says: “MDPI is already a trusted partner of the North American research community, due in no small part to our dedicated team in Canada. Launching our first US office in Philadelphia is a great first step towards expanding MDPI’s market share and recognition in the US. I’m thrilled to be a part of this new phase in MDPI’s journey.”

Freeland adds: “Bob joins us at a crucial turning point in MDPI’s North American expansion. With several US events planned for 2026, we’re glad to have his expertise at the forefront, deepening MDPI’s local leadership in Open Access. Our focus is now on building long-term relationships that foster greater trust, editorial excellence, and inclusivity among the US scholarly community.”