Open Access (OA) publisher MDPI and the Croatian Academic and Research Libraries Consortium ( CARLC ) today announced their renewed partnership. Until the end of 2027, more than 70 institutions across Croatia will receive benefits through MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program ( IOAP ), including discounts on article processing charges (APCs).
Since first partnering in January 2023, MDPI has published more than 7,170 articles from associated institutions. Approximately 79% of these papers have received APC discounts through the IOAP. The partnership serves to support the wider dissemination and visibility of Croatian research by making all published papers free to read, share, and download through MDPI’s OA platform. All institutions from the original agreement have renewed for a third term.
Affiliated researchers also receive discounts on processing charges for MDPI Books, Language Editing Services, and JAMS (Journal Article Management System). Meanwhile, institutions gain access to a dedicated dashboard with real-time visibility of articles submitted by their researchers. This includes detailed article metadata, COUNTER 5.1-compliant data , downloadable reports, and information about editorial engagement.
Ana Kesić, institutional partnerships manager at MDPI, said: “Renewing our partnership with CARLC reflects the strong relationships we have developed with Croatia’s academic and research community. We are pleased to support researchers in Croatia by building clearer pathways towards Open Access publishing, increasing the visibility and reach of their work.”
Open Access in Croatia
In 2012, the Croatian Open Access Declaration mandated the release of all publicly funded research through OA publications, followed by the adoption of the Croatian Open Science Plan in May 2025. These initiatives have enabled Croatia’s scientific system to align with European and international open science principles.
According to Dimensions.ai, more than 47,500 research papers from Croatia have been published in Gold OA since 2012. Collaborations between OA publishers and Croatian research institutions help to provide clear frameworks for increasing the uptake of OA, ensuring local institutions keep pace with their global counterparts.
To date, MDPI has published more than 12,350 articles affiliated with Croatian institutions, 52% of which have received APC discounts through CARLC’s IOAP membership. MDPI also collaborates with more than 210 editorial board members across Croatia, including a section editor-in-chief and an associate editor. The renewed partnership between MDPI and CARLC reflects continued demand for OA publishing services, driven by the need for greater visibility and access across global research communities.