20 Years of Open Access Books: A Milestone for IntechOpen

IntechOpen, a pioneer and leader in open access book publishing, proudly celebrated its 20th anniversary since publishing its first open access book. Since 2005, we have been at the forefront of access to knowledge, championing innovation, and evolving to serve the needs of the global research community.

Open access is now widely recognised as a publishing model, but when we began our IntechOpen journey, this was not the case. 

The Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities, a foundational document of the Open Access (OA) movement, was released in 2003. A year later, inspired by the challenges of accessing academic research and this global shift in thinking, IntechOpen launched its first open access journal—the first-ever OA journal in robotics.

This was followed, in 2005, by another significant milestone, our first open access book, “Cutting Edge Robotics.” Since then, our titles have gained recognition across the academic community, leading to the publication of nearly 8,000 books. Our commitment to openness has helped remove barriers for researchers across the globe, providing free and permanent access to research. Today, our mission remains clear: to foster global knowledge-sharing through a growing network of authors and editors advancing science across disciplines.

Alex Lazinica, Founder and Executive Chairman of IntechOpen, commented:  “As the founder of IntechOpen, reflecting on our accomplishments over the last 20 years makes me incredibly proud of how far we have come as a community. Our story started with innovative roots, propelling us to become a prominent open access book publisher in Science, Technology, and Medicine. Originating from the challenge of freely accessing academic research, IntechOpen has evolved into a platform where academics and innovators can publish their work and contribute their knowledge to solve global challenges. Pioneering open access books and the commitment to our vision have led to enduring success, and our published content has reached millions of readers worldwide.“

Our open access books have gathered an international community of more than 200,000 Authors and Academic Editors from 175 countries. Among our esteemed contributors, we are especially proud to highlight ten Nobel Laureates who have contributed chapters or served as editors of open access books with us, from our early days in 2008 to the most recent in 2025.

Sara Uhac, CEO, added: “We are grateful to our international community of authors, editors, reviewers, readers, funders, libraries, collaborators, partners, and dedicated employees. Your invaluable contributions, dedication and shared vision have been an essential part of our story, making our progress possible. IntechOpen remains committed to its mission to keep openness, innovation and collaboration at the heart of what we do, and we look forward to continuing this journey with you.”

Pioneering Open Access and Innovation

Building on the success of the book programme, IntechOpen continued to innovate open access book formats. The launch of the IntechOpen Book Series introduced a new model, with editorial boards overseeing topics that are continuously open for submissions, leading to the publication of annual volumes. The innovative concept provides researchers with a dynamic, ongoing opportunity for knowledge dissemination.

To support our vision, IntechOpen has also become a pioneer of new technology, developing a unique cloud-based manuscript submission and review tracking system, designed specifically for open access books and chapters. This platform integrates with research integrity and other publishing standard services and has streamlined the publishing process, making it easier for academics to collaborate and participate in the creation of a book.

Our approach enables researchers to discover, share and collaborate more effectively.

A Vision for the Future

This milestone reflects not only the company’s achievements but also the growing recognition of open access books as a vital model for academic publishing, contributing to the transformation of how knowledge is shared worldwide.

As we celebrate two decades of open access book publishing, we continue to launch new publishing projects, expand our catalogue, and adapt to the evolving needs of the global research community. With hundreds of thousands of citations highlighting their influence, our books continue to support researchers worldwide. Having published nearly 87,000 scientific works to date, IntechOpen remains committed to advancing open science, democratizing knowledge, and fostering equity and innovation across disciplines.

Want to know more about our story? Visit our About Us page.