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The Academic Publishing in Europe (APE) Conference marked its 20th anniversary in Berlin on January 14–15, 2025. Organized by the Berlin Institute for Scholarly Publishing (BISP), APE 2025 provided a platform to reflect on two decades of advancements in scholarly communication and explore transformative ideas for the future. The event featured insightful keynotes, engaging panel discussions, and thought-provoking debates on topics such as research integrity, open science, artificial intelligence, and the evolving role of scholarly publishers.
The conference opened with a keynote by Caroline Sutton (STM), who highlighted key milestones in scholarly communication over the past 20 years and set the stage for discussions on the challenges and opportunities ahead. Research integrity, open research, and research security emerged as central themes, underscoring their continued importance in 2025 and beyond.
The opening panel, moderated by Sven Fund, featured Colleen Campbell (MPDL, Max Planck Society), Claudio Aspesi (Independent Consultant), and Max Mosterd (Sylla). The discussion emphasized the transformative potential of Open Access (OA) and AI technologies in scholarly publishing:
The panel concluded with a call for post-publication solutions to enhance research accessibility, transparency, and inclusivity.
A panel discussion featuring Daniel Ebneter (S. Karger AG), Hemai Parthasarathy (Hemaisphere, LLC), and Henning Schoenenberger (Springer Nature) explored how innovative formats—such as video abstracts, interactive data visualizations, and podcasts—are revolutionizing scholarly communication. The shift toward multimedia formats enhances engagement, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and accelerates knowledge dissemination.
With the increasing digitization of research, securing intellectual property and sensitive information has become a top priority. Discussions highlighted best practices in cybersecurity, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance to ensure that innovation thrives while being safeguarded against potential threats.
The afternoon sessions focused on measuring and amplifying research impact beyond traditional metrics. Panelists emphasized that:
Moderated by James Butcher (Journalology), this panel featured insights from Kamran Abbasi (BMJ), Fred Fenter (Frontiers), and Antonia Seymour (IOP Publishing). The discussion addressed the challenges of information overload and the role of AI in maintaining research quality. AI was recognized as a powerful tool for peer review, citation analysis, and editorial decision-making, but human oversight remains essential to ensuring research integrity.
The day concluded with a session on the technological foundation of scholarly publishing. Panelists, including Sami Benchekroun (Morressier), Will Schweitzer (Silverchair), and Todd Toler (Wiley), debated whether the existing infrastructure is equipped for future challenges or requires a complete overhaul. The session set the stage for ongoing discussions on the sustainability of publishing models.
Day two began with a lively debate on the true impact of Open Science. The panel, featuring Jean-Claude Guédon (Université de Montréal), Erika Pastrana (Springer Nature), Sara Rouhi (AIP Publishing), and Birgit Schmidt (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen), explored the importance of transparency in peer review and its role in fostering trust in scholarly communication.
A panel on research assessment, moderated by Bernd Pulverer (EMBO), discussed the transition away from traditional impact factors toward more comprehensive evaluation frameworks. The Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information was highlighted as a significant step toward greater transparency in research assessment.
The final sessions examined how research funding is assessed and whether current metrics truly capture its broader societal impact. The Wellcome Trust presented insights into leveraging AI and machine learning to gain a deeper understanding of research outputs and their long-term effects.
Final Thoughts
APE 2025 reinforced the need for innovation in scholarly publishing, from embracing AI and Open Access to rethinking research assessment and security. As the industry evolves, publishers, researchers, and institutions must work together to ensure that scholarly communication remains transparent, inclusive, and impactful.
Attending APE 2025 was an enlightening experience, providing valuable perspectives on the future of academic publishing. I look forward to continuing these discussions and driving innovation in scholarly communication.
Stay tuned for more updates from Integra on the evolving landscape of scholarly publishing. If you’re interested in discussing these topics further, feel free to connect with us!
About the Author
Bart, based in the Netherlands, is a multilingual professional fluent in Dutch, English, and German. As Vice President of Business Development at Integra, he helps scholarly and educational publishers improve workflow efficiency and integrate cutting-edge technology solutions. An active member of the European Association of Science Editors (EASE), he contributes to the advancement of science editing and scholarly publishing.
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