No-deal situation with Springer Nature
© 2026 EPFL
The swiss negotiations with publisher Springer Nature, which began in early 2025, have not resulted in a mutually acceptable Read and Publish agreement. For the time being, they do not meet the negotiation mandate requirements of swissuniversities. While the negotiation team continues its effort to seek a resolution with Springer Nature, the EPFL Library in consultation with the Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries is now facing a scenario without agreement since the beginning of the year, given that the previous contract ended on December 31st, 2025.
Publishing options
In 2026, publishing in Springer Nature’s hybrid and gold Open Access journals remain possible for EPFL researchers. However, the benefits from the agreement 2023-2025 (no publication fees for authors publishing in Springer Nature hybrid journals) may not apply.
The APCs for articles accepted in Springer Nature Gold Open Access journals journals from 1st January 2026 can be reimbursed under the conditions of the Library Gold Open Access fund. The SNSF will stop funding APC for Gold OA journals of Springer Nature.
APCs for articles submitted in hybrid journals remain ineligible ineligible for financial support by SNSF and by the Library Open Access fund.
The EPFL Library recommends that researchers do not finance hybrid articles from their own funds. However, they can make their publications Open Access following the Green OA route:
- by depositing the accepted manuscript (peer-reviewed, before copy-editing/typesetting) in the EPFL repository Infoscience after a 12-month embargo, for Springer hybrid journals (incl. Palgrave Macmillan);
- by depositing the accepted manuscript (peer-reviewed, before copy-editing/typesetting) in the EPFL repository Infoscience after a 6-months embargo, for Nature Research hybrid journals.
Reading options
Publishers usually grant a grace period. Hence, reading access might not be disabled immediately after termination of the current contract. However, once Springer Nature disables access, journal content published from 1 January 2026 onwards will not be accessible, except if available Open Access.
In any case, perpetual access is provided to content published between 2016 and 2024. Perpetual access to content before 2016 is available with some exceptions.
The EPFL Library is available to provide support and answer your questions at any time: [email protected].
Further information on the negotiations with Springer Nature can also be found on our dedicated webpage.