Why Preprints?

Preprints have the potential to revolutionise publishing, research assessment, trust and the culture of academia

Preprint facts

Preprint adoption continues to grow rapidly, enhanced by the COVID-19 pandemic

based on Europe PMC Data (July 2025)

based on data from Sciety (2024)

based on Europe PMC Data (2024)

Increased Visibility

Preprints increase the visibility and reach of your work¹

Increased Citations

Preprints enable the reuse and citation of your work earlier, translating into more citations^1,2

Increased Equity

Preprints reduce barriers and re-focus attention onto the content rather than where a study was published

Empower ECRs and authors

Preprints put the decisions back into the hands of authors, not gatekeepers¹

Priority Claim

Preprints receive a DOI, helping to establish priority. Preprints can also be cited

Proof of Productivity

Preprints can be used to prove productivity in grant and fellowship applications

Feedback

Feedback can be provided confidentially to authors or more formally through preprint review services

New Collaborations

Preprints facilitate new collaborations and research directions

Streamline Paper Submission

Preprints are available within 48 hours of submission and can be sent directly to journals

Preprints proved to be a life-saving communication route during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the first few months of the pandemic, ~40% of COVID-19 research was first shared as a preprint, ensuring rapid and free access to the latest knowledge. These preprints were as reliable as the peer reviewed literature.

Learn more and listen to Preprints in Motion to hear from active researchers about why they preprint their work