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'''Springer Science+Business Media''' is a global publishing company that publishes books, e-books and peer-reviewed journals in science, technical and medical (STM) publishing.<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/648808Z:GR/profile Profile & Executives - Springer Science+Business Media GmbH] Bloomberg</ref> Springer also hosts a number of scientific databases, including [[SpringerLink]], [[Springer Protocols]], and [[SpringerImages]]. Book publications include major reference works, textbooks, monographs and book series; more than 88,000 titles are available as e-books in 18 subject collections.<ref>[http://link.springer.com SpringerLink]</ref> Within STM, Springer is the largest book publisher and second-largest journal publisher worldwide after [[Elsevier]], with around 55 publishing houses, almost 6,200 employees and around 2,000 journals and 7,000 new books published each year.<ref>[http://www.springer.com/index.php?id=11893 Springer key facts]</ref>

==History==
[[Julius Springer]] founded [[Springer-Verlag]] in Berlin in 1842.<ref name=springer_history>[http://www.springer.com/index.php?id=165 History]. Springer Science+Business Media.</ref><ref name=springer_chron>"[http://www.springer.com/index.php?id=199 Chronology]". Springer Science+Business Media.</ref> In 1964, Springer expanded its business internationally, opening an office in New York. 

The academic publishing company [[BertelsmannSpringer]] was formed after [[Bertelsmann]] bought a majority stake in Springer-Verlag in 1999.<ref name=springer_history/><ref name=poynder2003/> The British investment groups [[Cinven]] and [[Candover]] bought BertelsmannSpringer from [[Bertelsmann]] in 2003.<ref name=poynder2003>Poynder, Richard. "[http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/nbReader.asp?ArticleId=16696 BertelsmannSpringer is Sold to Private Equity Firms]". ''Information Today''. May 27, 2003.</ref> They merged the company in 2004 with the Dutch publisher [[Kluwer Academic Publishers]] which they bought from [[Wolters Kluwer]] in 2002,<ref>[http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb021104-1.htm "Kluwer Academic Publishers Sold to Venture Capitalists"]</ref> to form '''Springer Science+Business Media.'''

In 2009, Cinven and Candover sold Springer to two private equity firms, [[EQT Partners]] and [[Government of Singapore Investment Corporation]]. The closing of the sale was confirmed in February 2010 after the competition authorities in the USA and in Europe approved the transfer.

Springer acquired the open-access publisher [[BioMed Central]] for an undisclosed amount.

In 2011, it acquired [[Pharma Marketing and Publishing Services]] from [[Wolters Kluwer]].<ref>Shah, Maulik [http://www.springer.com/about+springer/media/pressreleases?SGWID=0-11002-6-1293721-0 Springer Acquisition]</ref>

==Conflict of interest policy==
Springer states that following conflict of interest policy for its journals:

:When an author or the institution of the author has a relationship, financial or otherwise, with individuals or organizations that could influence the author’s work inappropriately, a conflict of interest may exist. Examples of potential conflicts of interest may include but are not limited to academic, personal, or political relationships; employment; consultancies or honoraria; and finical connections such as stock ownership and funding. Although an author may not feel that there are conflicts, disclosure of relationships and interests that could be viewed by others as conflicts of interest affords a more transparent and prudent process. All authors must disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest. The Journal may publish such disclosures if judged to be important to readers.<ref>Springer [http://www.springer.com/authors?SGWID=0-111-6-791531-0 » For Authors & Editors: Conflict of Interest], accessed 5 September 2013</ref>


It is worth noting that the company makes no commitment to disclose conflict of interest statements.


==Affiliations==
Springer is a donor to the [[Science Media Centre]]. <ref>SMC, [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/funding/ Funding], accessed 29 September 2013. See also [[Science Media Centre - Funding]]</ref>

==Notes==
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[[Category:Science]][[Category:Publishers]][[Category:Science Media Centre]]