MDPI renews Open Access agreement with Austrian library consortium through 2027
The renewed deal expands participation to 23 institutions and extends discounted publishing support for researchers across MDPI’s journal portfolio.
MDPI has renewed its Open Access publishing agreement with Austria’s library consortium Kooperation E-Medien Österreich (KEMÖ), extending the partnership through the end of 2027.
MDPI is a Switzerland-headquartered fully Open Access publisher with more than 480 journals across scientific disciplines. KEMÖ coordinates the acquisition, licensing, and administration of electronic media for Austrian libraries and promotes Open Access publishing in Austria and internationally.
Under the renewed arrangement, 23 institutions and their researchers will have access to MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP), which provides discounts on Article Processing Charges (APCs).
The Medical University of Vienna and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna are the latest institutions added to the partnership, alongside other participating organizations in the consortium.
MDPI says the agreement provides APC discounts across its journal portfolio, with higher discounts available to institutions that opt for centralized funding. MDPI also says this approach includes tailored invoicing intended to reduce administrative work linked to Open Access publishing.
Centralized funding model targets administrative workload
The renewed agreement includes an option for centralized funding, which MDPI says increases discounts and supports invoicing workflows for participating institutions. The stated aim is to reduce friction for researchers publishing Open Access while shifting administrative tasks away from individual authors.
MDPI also points to Austria’s involvement in its editorial network, stating that more than 525 Austrian Editorial Board Members currently work with the publisher, including Editors-in-Chief and Section Editors-in-Chief.
MDPI frames the renewed partnership as part of a broader shift toward Open Access publishing in Austria, referencing KEMÖ’s role in national initiatives and publishing agreements with Open Access options.
Adrian Stefan Zamfir, MDPI’s institutional partnerships manager for the DACH region, says: “Austria is at a pivotal moment in its transition to Open Access. By supporting projects like the Open Access Monitor Austria, KEMÖ has become a key driver of this change. In fact, in 2025, KEMÖ members participated in over 20 agreements with OA publishing options. Working in partnership since 2019, our renewed agreement speaks to growing regional trust and the shared desire for a more open, collaborative, and innovative scholarly publishing landscape in Austria. We look forward to our continued collaboration over the next two years.”
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