How Springer Nature Collections power SDG research

Author: Siobhan Bates

For all researchers, particularly early career researchers (ECRs), the ultimate goal is to see their work make a tangible difference in the world. Springer Nature is committed to helping researchers bridge the gap between publication and practice. Our Collections offer a dedicated platform to ensure your work on the world's toughest challenges is published, promoted, and positioned to create real-world change. In this blog we share how Collections from Discover, BMC, and Scientific Reports support the SDGs.

Collections in action: Advancing the SDGs

Transforming promising research into real-world impact is a significant challenge, especially when tackling urgent, complex issues like those outlined in the the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a call for action from all UN member countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet.

Springer Nature supports all 17 SDGs through a dedicated Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Programme that connects researchers with policymakers and business leaders who need scientific insights to achieve these global goals. Our Collections are a key part of this commitment, designed to amplify research that addresses everything from health and well-being to climate action and social justice.

“It's part of our mission at Springer Nature to accelerate solutions to the world's greatest challenges. And one way we can influence what content we publish is by the type of Collections we launch. In Scientific Reports, for example, we launched a Collection, Long-term, sustainable solutions to radioactive waste management. I think this is a wonderful example of how we contribute to accelerating solutions to address the world's greatest challenges.”

- Daniel Korany, Executive Vice President Journals, Full OA Brands, Springer Nature

Springer Nature Collections also actively support researchers whose work aligns with the SDGs. These curated articles provide a focused platform for high-impact research, enhancing its visibility and influence. Recent collections have, for example, focused on topics ranging from social behaviour and interaction, ambient air pollution, and non-communicable diseases to the urban heat island effect and sustainable fashion.

Some of these Collections are:

Scientific Reports Collections

As an open-access multidisciplinary Nature Portfolio journal, Scientific Reports publishes original research from across all areas of the natural sciences, psychology, medicine, and engineering. Since the first article Collection was launched in 2017, the journal has continued to regularly launch and publish exciting Collections related to a multitude of research areas.

In the first two months of 2025 alone, Scientific Reports launched 19 Collections covering SDG2: Zero hunger, SDG3: Good health and well-being, SDG6: Clean water and sanitation, SDG7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG12: Responsible consumption and production, SDG13: Climate action, and SDG14 Life below water. A few of those Collections were associated with more than one SDG. 

Table: Scientific Reports Collections launched between Jan-Feb 2025 and their associated SDGs.

As it stands, Scientific Reports has 110 SDG-associated open Collections, including 78 Collections launched in 2024, covering 15 of the 17 goals.  Additionally, more than 42Collections are associated with SDG3: Good health and well-being.

For Anthony Heron, Managing Editor of Scientific Reports and Interim Editor in Chief/ Deputy Editor in Chief of the Arctic Institute, “Collections serve as vital platforms for enhancing scientific dialogue and informing global action. For example, through collections such as Understanding species redistributions under global climate change, Climate change and physical health, and Past sea level and ice sheet change.” He adds, “Scientific Reports demonstrates its commitment to advancing SDG 13 by fostering interdisciplinary research that deepens our understanding of climate impacts on ecosystems and human health.”

Explore some SDG-associated Scientific Reports Collections: Social behaviour and interaction, Ambient air pollution and noncommunicable diseases, Urban heat island effect, and Sustainable fashion.

BMC Collections

By curating high-impact Collections that align with global health priorities, BMC plays an active role in advancing scientific knowledge that supports sustainable development and improves lives around the world. The BMC portfolio features numerous Collections that directly address SDG 3 or "Good Health and Wellbeing", such as:

• The Fibrosis and Cancer Intersection (FACI) article Collection in the Journal of Translational Medicine has garnered over 40,000 article accesses, demonstrating its timeliness and relevance.
• Collections in the Malaria Journal that focus on specific, urgent topics, such as implementing the RTS, S/AS01 malaria vaccine in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. These collections enhance community engagement and research output in a vital area of public health.
• The Infectious Diseases of Poverty Journal features Collections aimed at eliminating diseases of poverty, a key factor in achieving the SDGs.

The Fibrosis and Cancer Intersection (FACI) article Collection in the BMC Journal of Translational Medicine demonstrates how Collections can accelerate progress on critical health challenges. By attracting over 40,000 article accesses, it has proved to be a timely and highly relevant platform for researchers. Moreover, the Collection's guest editors highlighted its potential to "accelerate the development of new therapies to treat cancer", directly advancing SDG 3 - “Good Health and Wellbeing” and showing how focused research can translate into tangible medical breakthroughs.

Discover Collections

With their strong emphasis on open access, inclusive publishing practices, and multidisciplinary collaboration, Discover creates a unique publishing environment where SDG-related research can thrive. Discover journals and Collections are designed not only to disseminate knowledge but to amplify its societal relevance, helping bridge the gap between research and implementation.

When developing a Discover Collection, guest editors are encouraged to identify SDGs most relevant to their Collection’s topic. What’s more, every new Discover journal is required to align with at least one SDG as part of its core scope, ensuring that all research published, including in Collections, contributes to this global effort.

In 2024 alone, Discover launched 559 SDG-related Collections, representing over half of all Collections initiated that year. Discover Sustainability led the way with 82 SDG-focused Collections, attracting 843 submissions and publishing 154 articles to date.

Key Discover journals driving SDG advancement include: Discover Sustainability, Discover Environment, Discover Education, Discover Life, Discover Public Health, Discover Civil Engineering, Discover Energy, Discover Cities, and Discover Agriculture.

“Collections play an important role in helping Discover highlight and promote research related to the SDGs. Led by expert guest editors, they focus on timely global issues and provide a platform for impactful research to reach a wider audience.” 

-  Jing Guo, Team Lead, Collections Management and Acquisition, Springer Nature

Read more in the latest Discover blog: Why Discover journals are an ideal outlet for SDG-focused research

A faster path to impact  

Collections can be launched more rapidly than traditional journals which is critical for researchers working on fast-moving topics or emerging trends. Findings can reach the communities that need them the most and make a real-world impact in real-time, a crucial factor when addressing the urgent challenges outlined in the SDGs. Accelerating the publication timeline helps advance scientific discovery when it matters most.

“Collections are such an effective way for us to respond quickly to emerging research topics. It can take years to develop, launch, and establish a new journal in a trending field, but we can be faster with a collection. For instance, we launched a Scientific Reports Collection, Virtual reality in psychological research, which was hugely appreciated by the research community.”

- Daniel Korany, Executive Vice President Journals, Full OA Brands, Springer Nature

Why choose a Collection for your research?

Publishing in a Collection offers researchers a distinct advantage by combining several benefits to advance their careers and amplify the impact of their work.

• Inclusivity: Collections provide a global platform for diverse research perspectives that traditional journals might overlook. 
• Visibility and reach: Collections are open access and actively promoted, ensuring maximum visibility and reach, making the work accessible to practitioners, policymakers, and communities worldwide.
• Collaborative environment: Collections connect authors with peers and editors to create networking opportunities. 
• Rigorous peer review: Collections ensure the research carries a trusted reputation for quality and is recognised by senior academics and decision-makers.
• Discoverable: Springer Nature Collections are also integrated with Springer Nature’s SDG Programme hub, helping readers easily locate research tied to specific goals.
  

Join the impact 

By combining open access publishing with rigorous peer review and community-driven support, Springer Nature Collections provide researchers with the platform needed to transform their work into global impact.

Ready to make a difference with your research? Visit Springer Nature Collections to discover how you can contribute to solving the world’s greatest challenges.