It is interesting to note that MDPI was one of the first major publishers that Jeffrey Beall placed on his notorious "Beall List" of predatory journals/publishers. It is also interesting to note that this legacy is still in effect with many Thai universities who do not allow MDPI published papers for academic credit, even though the journals are active in both WOS and Scopus.
MDPI recorded a 12% increase in manuscript submissions in 2025, according to its latest annual report – which reported sustained demand from authors and institutions.
The publisher received more than 669,000 submissions during the year and published 261,576 peer-reviewed articles, while maintaining a rejection rate of over 60%. MDPI also expanded its journal portfolio to 500 titles.
To support this growth, the organisation added 1,700 new staff globally, with investment focused on research integrity, editorial operations and technology. Its institutional footprint also continued to expand, with more than 1,000 Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) agreements in place at the start of 2026.
Stefan Tochev, CEO at MDPI, said: “The conversation is shifting from why research should be open to how Open Access can be sustainable, inclusive, and impactful. MDPI is prioritising the infrastructure and partnerships necessary to be a key player in this next phase. It is our continued investment in people, technology, and ethical safeguards that ensures we can meet rising demand while continuing to strengthen the quality and accessibility of scientific communication.”
The publisher says author satisfaction remained high, with 96% of respondents in MDPI’s annual survey rating their experience as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’.
The report also highlights increased visibility through indexing. A total of 329 journals are now included in Web of Science, while 355 are indexed in Scopus, alongside continued performance in Journal Citation Reports.
Dr. Constanze Schelhorn, head of publishing at MDPI, said: “Comprehensive indexing in leading databases reflects that our journals meet established quality criteria and supports the trust authors and institutions place in MDPI. It also plays an important role in ensuring transparency and accountability across our publishing activities.”
