Royal Society of Chemistry moves journals to Silverchair platform in 2024

The Royal Society of Chemistry is moving its 57 journals to the Silverchair platform. This is a big change to make research easier to find.
By Newsroom | Science, Technology |

A strategic partnership has been formed between the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and Silverchair, a leading platform for scholarly publishers. This collaboration aims to create a new, advanced journals publishing platform intended to improve the experience for authors, editors, and readers. This initiative builds upon an existing relationship, as Silverchair has been hosting the RSC's books platform since 2023. The move signals an effort by the RSC to modernize its digital offerings and expand access to chemical science knowledge.

Deepening Collaboration for Knowledge Dissemination

The Royal Society of Chemistry, an organization dedicated to advancing chemical sciences, has entered into a significant agreement with Silverchair. This partnership will bring the RSC's entire portfolio of journals onto Silverchair's platform. The stated goal is to enhance the user experience for all stakeholders involved in the publishing process and to broaden the reach of chemical research globally.

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  • The RSC has a long history, established nearly two centuries ago, of supporting the chemistry community.

  • Silverchair, described as an independent platform partner for scholarly and professional publishers, already hosts the RSC's books.

  • This expansion of their collaboration is seen as a crucial step for the RSC in its pursuit of digital innovation within chemical sciences publishing.

Enhancing the User Journey

The development of a "state-of-the-art" platform is a core objective of this partnership. The RSC anticipates that this new infrastructure will enable better engagement with its published content.

  • Authors are expected to benefit from a streamlined submission and publication process.

  • Editors may see improved tools for managing peer review and content curation.

  • Readers are anticipated to experience more intuitive access and discovery of scientific literature.

The RSC's mission involves making high-quality chemical science accessible, and this platform upgrade is intended to support that objective.

Silverchair's Role and Capabilities

Silverchair positions itself as a key technology partner for scholarly publishers. Their platform is designed to offer flexibility and support for publishers looking to innovate their digital products and sales models.

Silverchair to host Royal Society of <b>Chemistry</b> journals portfolio - Research Information - 1

  • Discovery Bridge MCP: In a separate announcement in February 2026, Silverchair introduced its Discovery Bridge, a tool designed to connect scholarly content with AI-powered research workflows. This suggests Silverchair's focus on incorporating emerging technologies into its offerings.

  • Publisher Services: The company emphasizes its role in providing flexible technology and services to a growing community of publishers.

The RSC's choice of Silverchair for its journals platform suggests a confidence in Silverchair's ability to meet their needs for a robust and adaptable digital publishing environment.

The Royal Society of Chemistry's Publishing Scope

The Royal Society of Chemistry is a prominent not-for-profit publisher that oversees a vast collection of scientific works. Their publishing activities span journals, books, and databases, covering a wide array of chemical sciences and related interdisciplinary fields.

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  • Journals: The RSC publishes 57 peer-reviewed journals, featuring research in areas such as analytical chemistry, materials science, energy, environment, and biology.

  • Books: The organization also publishes approximately 2,000 book titles.

  • Open Access: All RSC journals offer authors the option to publish under an open access license, aligning with a trend towards wider accessibility of research.

The partnership with Silverchair will encompass this extensive portfolio, aiming to enhance the accessibility and usability of all RSC publications.

Evidence of Prior Collaboration

The announcement of the journals platform partnership highlights a pre-existing and successful working relationship between the RSC and Silverchair.

  • Books Platform Launch: In January 2023, the RSC launched its books offering on the Silverchair platform. This earlier initiative involved seeking a partner with the technological flexibility to introduce new digital products and sales models.

  • Strengthened Partnership: The expansion to include journals signifies a deepening of this collaboration, building on the foundation established with the books platform.

This history suggests a measured approach by the RSC, confirming Silverchair's capabilities before committing their broader journals portfolio.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did the Royal Society of Chemistry partner with Silverchair for its journals?
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) partnered with Silverchair to build a new, better platform for its journals. This aims to make it easier for authors to submit work, editors to manage it, and readers to find chemical science research.
Q: What will change for authors and readers on the new RSC journals platform?
Authors can expect a simpler way to submit and publish their work. Readers will find it easier to search for and access scientific articles. The goal is to improve the overall experience for everyone using the RSC's research.
Q: Has the RSC worked with Silverchair before?
Yes, the RSC has worked with Silverchair since January 2023. Silverchair has been hosting the RSC's books platform, and this new partnership expands that relationship to include all of the RSC's journals.
Q: When will the new RSC journals platform with Silverchair be ready?
The announcement was made in 2024, and the move to the new Silverchair platform for the RSC's journals is expected to happen in 2024. This partnership builds on their previous work together since 2023.
Q: How many journals does the Royal Society of Chemistry publish?
The Royal Society of Chemistry publishes 57 peer-reviewed journals. These journals cover many areas of chemistry and related sciences, and all will be moved to the new Silverchair platform.