Frequently Asked Questions
Curious about how BioCore works or what it means to be part of a society-led publishing consortium?
1. What is BioCore: A Scholarly Publishing Consortium?
BioCore is a mission-driven alliance of biological and biomedical societies working together to advance society-led publishing. The consortium provides shared infrastructure, expertise, and services that strengthen research integrity, financial stability, and community-driven impact—all while ensuring that publishing decisions remains in the hands of scientists and their societies.
2. Why was BioCore started?
BioCore was created to address growing challenges facing society publishers, from market consolidation and open access pressures to rising operational costs. Many independent societies struggle to sustain their journals alone. BioCore provides a collaborative, mission-driven alternative: uniting societies across the biological and biomedical sciences to share resources, strengthen research integrity, and ensure that society-led publishing remains viable, sustainable, and trusted for generations to come.
3. What makes BioCore different from other publishing consortia or large publishers?
Unlike commercial publishers or top-down partnerships, BioCore is build by societies, for societies. It operates on a not-for-profit, collaborative model where members retain full editorial and governance autonomy. Rather than prioritizing revenue or shareholder interests, BioCore reinvests all value back into the scientific community, funding shared infrastructure, marketing, innovation, and research integrity initiatives that directly support its member societies.
4. What value will affiliation with BioCore add to my society?
Joining BioCore allows societies to access collaborative strength without losing independence. Members benefit from shared publishing infrastructure, marketing and communications expertise, strategic and financial guidance, and a unified voice within the global research ecosystem. The consortium also provide opportunities for innovation, joint advocacy, and cost efficiencies that help societies thrive in an increasingly competitive publishing landscape, while keeping scientific integrity and community at the core.
5. Can my society join BioCore if we already publishing through another publisher?
Yes. BioCore is publisher-agnostic and designed to complement existing publishing arrangements, not replace them. Societies that currently partner with commercial or university presses can still join BioCore to access shared services, marketing support, and strategic collaboration opportunities. The goal is to strengthen society-led publishing in all forms, wherever those journals are hosted.
6. We're interested! What is the process for joining, and how long before we can become members?
If your society is interested in joining BioCore, the first step is a conversation with our team to discuss your goals, needs, and publishing models. From there, we'll walk through membership criteria and partnership options tailored to your organization. The onboarding process is designed to be flexible and collaborative, with societies typically active members within a few months of initial discussions. To begin, reach out to us using our 'Contact Us' form — we’d love to explore how your society can be part of this growing alliance.