Emerging Markets Todd Hummel Editorial Director, Clinical Medicine London May 14, 2014

BRICK countries: Rapid growth in research output Traditionally most scientific research has been performed in Europe and North America – in 1973 approximately two thirds of articles in Web of Knowledge were co-authored by an author from a G7 country. Rapid growth of research output from the BRICK nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Korea. Over the past 40 years the number of publications with at least one G7 author has tripled while the number of publications with no G7 authors has increased six-fold.

Annual research output from BRICK countries Thomson Reuters Building Bricks - exploring the global research and innovation impact of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Korea (Feb ’13)

Citation impact of the BRICK countries Thomson Reuters Building Bricks - exploring the global research and innovation impact of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Korea (Feb ’13)

Increased burden on peer reviewers The rapid growth in BRICK research output has not been matched by peer–reviewing activities. China produces 18% of research articles but contributes only 6% of peer reviews. This has significantly increased the burden on peer-reviewers from established regions. Can reduce burden by: - increasing the number of peer reviewers from BRICK nations. - decreasing the number of times a given manuscript is sent out for peer review by facilitating transfer to a more appropriate journal.

Comparison of research output vs contribution to peer review Adrian Mulligan, Research Director Elsevier: The Peer Review Landscape – What do Researchers think? (Nov ’13)

Submissions to BioMed Central journals

Rejection Rates

Geographical breakdown of Editorial Board members

BioMed Central is an international company Headquarters in London Rapidly increasing our presence in New York and Shanghai – aim to have three main offices across the globe Building our presence in regional offices to provide local journal development and marketing support – Beijing, Sao Paolo, Seoul, and Tokyo

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