How can I comply when publishing in a Springer Nature journal?
At Springer Nature, we enable our authors to comply with the requirements of Plan S through gold OA publication, and by providing a compatible OA licence (e.g. CC BY). This means that the published version of record (VOR) will be immediately accessible on publication.
A gold OA option exists in all of our research journals and we have a number of agreements in place to support authors with OA publishing:
- Fully OA journals: Springer Nature publishes over 700 fully OA journals that publish all research via the immediate gold OA route.
Hybrid journals: enabling an immediate gold OA option for primary resarch titles, including those within the Nature portfolio
Transformative Agreements: collaborating with funders/institutions to enable centralised funding for OA payments for authors in participating/eligible institutions. Most Springer Nature hybrid journals are covered by Transformative Agreements.
We are also pleased that cOAlition S is clear that where immediate open access to the final published version exists as an option then their authors will be encouraged to select that route as it is their preferred option that the version of record is made open access, not least because “it is...the version maintained and curated by the publisher, who has the responsibility to ensure that any corrections or retractions are applied in a timely and consistent way." Gold OA is also needed to deliver the broader transition to open research. If your research article is supported by a funder with immediate OA requirements and you are submitting to a Springer Nature journal that offers a choice of gold OA or subscription publishing then you must select gold OA and choose a compatible CC licence at the point of acceptance in order to comply. For authors selecting the subscription publication route our standard self-archiving policies will continue to apply, including embargo periods, which are not compatible with Plan S requirements for immediate OA and CC BY licensing.
Which papers are subject to Plan S requirements?
All cOAlition S funders have now implemented their Plan S requirements. A complete table of these funders can be viewed on the Plan S website.
If you are submitting a primary research article to a Springer Nature journal which has been supported by a funder which is subject to Plan S requirements, we can support you to ensure you are able to comply.
How do I fund the APC for gold OA publication?
For articles made immediately accessible via the gold OA route, an article processing charge (APC) is paid to cover the services provided by the journal. In many cases, for Springer Nature authors, APCs could be covered by a Transformative or OA Agreement funded by their institution. Sometimes, authors will need to rely on the funder of their research or their institution to provide funds for the relevant APC.
You can find details below of the publishing routes available that are commonly funded for cOAlition S authors.
Journal Type | APC funding options |
Fully OA journals | cOAlition S funders will support APCs for compliant fully OA journals such as those published by Springer Nature. Your institution may also have an OA agreement or membership with us that could cover your APC. *Please note that as of 1 January 2025 the Gates foundation will no longer fund APCs for both fully OA and hybrid titles. Authors who are funded by the Gates foundation should refer to the FAQ below on complying with the Gates policy. |
Hybrid journals | Your institution may have a Transformative Agreement with us that could cover your APC. If you are not covered by a Transformative Agreement, you can check our list to see whether your APC can be supported by your institution or by other research funders that have supported the research. |
Are Springer Nature journals compliant with UKRI’s OA policy requirements?
UKRI-funded authors submitting to Springer Nature fully OA journals or hybrid journals within our Jisc transformative agreement (TA) can publish across the Springer Nature portfolio and meet the OA requirements of UKRI’s policy.
Are Springer Nature journals compliant with the Gates Foundation's 2025 Open Access policy?
As of 1 January 2025, the Gates foundation will no longer fund APCs for both fully OA and hybrid titles. Gates funded authors submitting to Springer Nature fully OA and hybrid journals can still comply with the immediate OA requirements through gold OA publication. Authors can check whether their affiliated institution has an Open Access or Transformative Agreement with us that could cover the APC. If the authors are not covered by an Agreement, they can check our list to see whether the APC can be supported by their institutions or by other research funders that have supported the research.
Who can I speak to for more information?
If you have any questions about Plan S compliance that aren’t answered here, please contact our OA funding and policy support service for assistance.
