Pilot Transformative Agreement for Japan

Information for authors

Springer Nature has agreed the largest transformative agreement in Japan with 10 institutions participating in an innovative pilot. This will see nearly 900 articles published open access in the coming year, marking a significant step forward to Open Science in the region.

Starting 01 January 2023, if you’re affiliated with any of the 10 participating institutions in Japan, you can receive funding support for your publication fees* when you publish open access in Springer Nature's portfolio of hybrid journals that are included in this pilot Transformative Agreement. 

In addition, as part of the agreement, you will be able to read, use and reuse research published in Springer Nature journals across the Springer, Palgrave Macmillan and Adis portfolios and in the Academic Journals on nature.com. 

This agreement will run through 31 December 2025.

Read the author guide to learn more

*Subject to review of eligibility and approval from participating institutions

Announcement on 2023 article allowance

Please note that for 2023, a number of institutions that are part of the Japan pilot agreement have reached their maximum article allowance. This means the agreement is no longer covering OA publishing fees for affiliated authors of the following institutions until 01 January 2024.

  1. Waseda University
  2. Yokohama National University (YNU) 

If you are an author affiliated with the above institutions, the option to publish open access is still available to you, but the publishing fee will not be covered under the Japan pilot agreement until 01 January 2024. Authors should use alternative funding sources in order to publish open access or proceed with publication under subscription until the agreement is reactivated. If you need advice on what open access funding is available to you, please visit our funding & support service page.

For more information, please contact oa.verification@springernature.com. Alternatively, contact the open access team at your institution.

Learn more about your eligibility

Participating institutions
(PDF, 188.12 KB)

Publishing open access in a hybrid journal

Check the list of hybrid journals that are included in the agreement.

Ready to publish?

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FAQs

Who is considered the corresponding author?

The corresponding author is defined as the person who handles the manuscript and correspondence during the publication process – from manuscript correction and proof reading, to handling the revisions and re-submission of revised manuscripts up to the acceptance of the manuscripts. 

The corresponding author has the authority to act on behalf of all co-authors in all matters pertaining to publication of the manuscript including supplementary material. They are also responsible for obtaining such agreements and for informing the co-authors of the manuscript’s status throughout the submission, review and publication process. 

In addition, the corresponding author acts as the point of contact for any enquiries after the paper is published.

How can I make sure my article is eligible?

When you submit, use at least one of the below methods of recognition.

New Content Item

Upon acceptance of your article, you'll also be prompted to provide your institutional affiliation.

How do I know if my article has been approved?

The approval manager at your institution will approve your article's eligibility based on your institutional affiliation, article type and journal name.

Once your article is approved by your institution, you will be notified by email and your article will proceed to publication.

Which article types are covered by this agreement?

  • Original Paper: Standard article, usually presenting new results; articles published under this article type may also be referred to as Original Research, Original Article, Original Paper or Research Paper.
  • Review Paper: Standard article, interpreting previously published results.
  • Brief Communication: Short article submitted for rapid publication that exhibits the same structure as a standard article.
  • Continuing Education: Article forming integral part of further education (usually medical).

What if I'm not covered by the agreement?

There are still plenty of ways to find funding for your article processing charge (APC). Visit our open access funding page to check whether your institution or research funder makes OA funding available.

Who can I contact for more information? 

Please contact oa.verification@springernature.com if you need further assistance. Please refer to the "Participating Institutions" in the upper right corner of the page for the contact information of your institution.