Open Access (OA) publisher MDPI has opened its first office in the United States (US), the organization announced today. The opening marks a significant milestone in the publisher’s expansion across North America. The MDPI USA office is based in Philadelphia and will serve as a central hub for scholarly engagement across the country.
Immediate responsibilities for MDPI’s newest office include developing society partnerships, such as recent agreements with the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) . In addition, the Philadelphia office is currently recruiting a team of assistant editors to manage MDPI’s US-centric portfolio.
The new office will also provide regional support to US scholars, represent the organization at conferences throughout the country, and manage scholar visits, local editorial salons, and academic publishing workshops. In April, MDPI will attend the STM US Conference 2026 in Washington, DC as a platinum sponsor.
Alistair Freeland, chief operating officer at MDPI, said: “Last year, MDPI signed its first North American agreement with Canada’s Federal Science Libraries Network, quickly followed by our first US agreement with the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries. MDPI USA and our team in Canada will be a driving force in this new phase of development. Our aim is to provide US scholars with the same support enjoyed across MDPI’s other national networks, building clear pathways to Open Access publishing.”
To date, MDPI has published more than 229,700 articles affiliated with US institutions. A total of 98% of these publications are indexed in Web of Science or Scopus. MDPI also collaborates with nearly 12,000 editorial board members from US institutions, including 105 editors-in-chief (EiCs) and 231 section EiCs. This reflects ongoing demand for quality OA publishing services in the US, bolstered by active support from the US research community.
MDPI Appoints New Head of Business Development
Leading this expansion is Bob Vrooman, head of business development at MDPI USA. Mr. Vrooman joined MDPI in 2025 and will play a key role in the development of the new office. He has also been central to MDPI’s new agreement with APMA.
Before joining MDPI, Mr. Vrooman ran the journals program at Mary Ann Liebert publishers, where he launched an OA portfolio and oversaw all society partnerships, acquisitions, and general business development. He also spent 16 years at Sage Publications in California, first managing commercial sales before assuming management of the editorial and acquisitions operations for the US STM journals program.
Commenting on his appointment, Bob Vrooman said: “MDPI is already a trusted partner of the North American research community, due in no small part to our dedicated team in Canada. Launching our first US office in Philadelphia is a great first step towards expanding MDPI’s market share and recognition in the US. I’m thrilled to be a part of this new phase in MDPI’s journey.”
Alistair Freeland added: “Bob joins us at a crucial turning point in MDPI’s North American expansion. With several US events planned for 2026, we’re glad to have his expertise at the forefront, deepening MDPI’s local leadership in Open Access. Our focus is now on building long-term relationships that foster greater trust, editorial excellence, and inclusivity among the US scholarly community.”