IOP Publishing (IOPP) and the Japan Society of Applied Physics (JSAP) announce that Applied Physics Express (APEX) is to become fully open access (OA). From January 2024, all articles published in APEX, the journal devoted to rapid dissemination of new findings in applied physics, will be immediately and openly accessible for anyone to read. The move reflects the increasing demand for more accessible and open science, and funders' mandates requiring authors to publish their work in OA journals.
Making APEX open access means that authors will be able to inform the widest possible global audience, increasing the reach and impact of physics research. IOPP user data shows that OA content is downloaded 80% more and cited 30% more than paywalled content, demonstrating the substantial advantages of publishing research OA.
Together, IOPP and JSAP endorse equal opportunities for everyone to contribute to physical science and are committed to ensuring that the transition to OA is inclusive. IOP Publishing will support researchers based in low-income and lower-middle-income countries by covering their article publication charges (APCs), with waivers for eligible authors applied automatically.
In addition, all JSAP official members receive a 20% APC discount.
Violeta Ribarska, Head of Partner Publishing and Engagement says: "APEX has such an active, global community of researchers, so our decision to switch the journal to OA had to be geared towards demand. Open access publishing has been gaining momentum throughout the author community, so we're confident that the time is right. Where we have flipped other journals – either our own or those we publish with our partners – we have seen a marked increase in the average downloads per article and in citation rates. We're proud to be working with JSAP to help researchers realise these benefits and increase the reach of their research."
Junichi Motohisa, Chief Executive Editor of APEX says: "Since we started publishing APEX on IOPP's platform nearly a decade ago, we have seen our journal go from strength to strength. Flipping our journal to OA feels like a large but natural next step as OA is at the heart of the global movement to open science and ahead of funder mandates. We're looking forward to working with the journal community to make their work even more accessible."
About IOP Publishing
IOP Publishing is a society-owned scientific publisher, delivering impact, recognition, and value to the scientific community. Its purpose is to expand the world of physics, offering a portfolio of journals, eBooks, conference proceedings and science news resources globally. As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Institute of Physics, a not-for-profit society, IOP Publishing supports the Institute's work to inspire people to develop their knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of physics. Go to http://ioppublishing.org or follow us @IOPPublishing.
About the Japan Society of Applied Physics
The Japan Society of Applied Physics (JSAP) was established as an official academic society in 1946, and since then, it has been a leading academic society in Japan. The society's interests cover a broad variety of scientific and technological fields, and JSAP continues to explore state-of-the-art and interdisciplinary topics. Visit https://www.jsap.or.jp/english
About APEX
Applied Physics Express (APEX) is an open access letters journal devoted solely to rapid dissemination of up-to-date and concise reports on new findings in applied physics. It is published daily online. The motto of APEX is high scientific quality and prompt publication.