12. How does BioMed Central make money?

We promise that access to the research published in all our journals will remain free. However, as there is no charge to access the research, most of the journals levy an article-processing charge on all published research articles. Waiver requests are considered before the manuscript has been submitted, BioMed Central journals routinely waive charges for authors from low-income countries; and individual waiver requests are considered on the grounds of hardship on a case-by-case basis. Authors from institutions that are Members of BioMed Central do not have to pay the article-processing charge as it is covered by a payment from their institution.

As a publisher, BioMed Central obviously has to be profitable to survive as a service for the biomedical community. We believe that if we add value to raw data, we are entitled to charge for access to it. If a journal commissions topical or thematic reviews, and so helps individuals orientate themselves amidst the complexity of available research, it may have a subscription charge.

However, once again, we promise that access to all research will remain free.