Global Open Access Publisher MDPI Establishes First United States Operations Hub in Philadelphia to Anchor North American Expansion

Open Access publisher MDPI expands into North America with a new Philadelphia office led by Bob Vrooman to support U.S. scholars and society partnerships.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 1, 2026, 12:08 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from MDPI AG

Strategic Entry into the United States Market

The global landscape of academic publishing is witnessing a significant shift as Open Access provider MDPI establishes its first physical presence in the United States. Based in Philadelphia, the new office serves as a central hub designed to foster direct scholarly engagement and manage the organization’s growing North American portfolio. This expansion follows a series of successful regional agreements, including a recent partnership with the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries. By establishing a domestic base, the publisher aims to provide U.S. based scholars with localized resources and support structures that were previously managed from international locations.

Cultivating Professional Society Partnerships

A primary objective for the Philadelphia office is the cultivation of strategic alliances with prominent American professional organizations. MDPI has already secured agreements with the American Podiatric Medical Association and the International Society of Sports Nutrition, signaling a robust start to its domestic partnership strategy. These collaborations are intended to provide specialized pathways for society members to transition their research into Open Access formats. The U.S. team is currently focused on identifying further opportunities for society acquisitions and editorial cooperatives that align with MDPI’s broader mission of making scientific knowledge freely accessible.

Localized Editorial Support and Recruitment

To maintain editorial excellence within its U.S. centric portfolio, the Philadelphia hub has launched an active recruitment drive for a new team of assistant editors. These professionals will be responsible for managing the peer review process and ensuring that North American submissions meet rigorous indexing standards. This move is a direct response to the high volume of U.S. research, which currently accounts for more than 229,700 articles within the MDPI network. By placing editorial staff in the same time zones as their primary contributors, the publisher hopes to streamline communication and enhance the overall experience for American authors and reviewers.