The scientific publishing industry in Europe specializes in disseminating scholarly knowledge across disciplines. This sector is driven primarily by academic and professional publishers, offering journals, books, and digital platforms for researchers and institutions. Trends in this field indicate a significant shift towards open access publishing, making research more accessible and thus fostering collaboration. Furthermore, the increasing intersection of technology, such as AI and data analytics, is enhancing publication processes and promoting transparency in research dissemination. As a result, the industry's future looks promising with innovations that prioritize both efficiency and accessibility.


Our list includes a mix of corporate and venture capital investors, headquartered across key European hubs like London, Dublin, and Paris. These investors range from established firms like Taylor & Francis Group, founded in 1798, to newer entrants like LocalGlobe, established in 2019. Notably, they collectively made 474 documented investments in 2024, indicating strong support for startups and initiatives in the scientific publishing space. Whether through direct investments or funding programs, these investors are helping to shape how research is conducted and shared.


Top 14 Scientific Publishing Investors in Europe


1. European Innovation Council (EIC)


The European Innovation Council (EIC) is a public entity based in Brussels, Belgium, established to support innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe. Founded in 1958, the EIC offers various funding programs, including the EIC Accelerator and EIC Pathfinder, aimed at helping startups and SMEs develop and scale their technologies. The EIC also provides business acceleration services, networking opportunities, and prizes to foster innovation in diverse sectors. Notably, in 2023, EIC invested in Iris.ai, which raised over $12 million in a venture round and an additional $2.5 million in grants, focusing on AI tools for scientific literature analysis. Furthermore, EIC has supported Scipio Bioscience with a total of approximately $6.5 million through various funding rounds, including grants and convertible notes, indicating a commitment to advancing scientific research and technology. These transactions highlight EIC's active role in the scientific publishing landscape, making it a relevant investor in this field.


2. European Investment Bank (EIB)


The European Investment Bank (EIB) is a public entity based in Luxembourg, founded in 1958, that provides a range of financial services including loans, equity investments, guarantees, and advisory services. EIB focuses on supporting sustainable projects across various sectors, with a particular emphasis on growth and job creation. Notably, EIB has been involved in significant debt financing transactions with several prominent educational institutions, such as Ulster University, which raised $250 million in 2014, University College Dublin with $404 million in 2021, and Trinity College Dublin with multiple transactions totaling over $200 million. These investments highlight EIB's role in facilitating funding for higher education, which is integral to scientific research and publishing.


3. Digital Science


Digital Science & Research Solutions Ltd, founded in 2010 and based in London, England, is a corporate investor focused on enhancing the research lifecycle through technology. They offer a range of products including Altmetric, which tracks the online impact of research outputs, and Figshare, a platform for sharing research data and outputs. Digital Science has been involved in several relevant transactions in the scientific publishing context, such as funding for Authorea, which raised $33,000 in a grant to support collaborative writing, and Overleaf, which received seed funding to facilitate online collaborative document editing for researchers. Additionally, they have invested in Altmetric and Figshare through venture rounds, further emphasizing their commitment to improving research efficiency and collaboration in the academic publishing space.


4. Enterprise Ireland


Enterprise Ireland is a public entity that serves as the Irish government's enterprise development agency, founded in 1998. It supports Irish businesses at all stages of their growth journey by providing funding, advisory services, and market access assistance. The agency focuses on helping companies scale and compete internationally across various industries, including technology and manufacturing. Notably, Enterprise Ireland has invested in Ex Ordo, a scholarly conference workflow company, which secured over $3 million in funding to enhance its platform for scholarly events. This investment highlights Enterprise Ireland's engagement in the scientific publishing sector. Additionally, they have supported various other initiatives, such as funding for research institutions and technology companies that may intersect with scientific publishing, further demonstrating their relevance in this field.


5. SoftBank Investment Advisers


SoftBank Investment Advisers, founded in 2017 and based in London, is a venture capital firm that primarily invests in technology-focused companies, particularly those innovating in artificial intelligence. The firm has a diverse portfolio that includes significant investments in the health tech sector, which is closely tied to scientific research and publishing. Notable transactions include a $50 million investment in 10X Genomics, a company that develops advanced genomic technologies, and a $200 million investment in Synthego, which specializes in CRISPR-based genome engineering. Additionally, their investment in PatSnap, which provides AI-powered tools for intellectual property and R&D management, further emphasizes their role in supporting technologies that facilitate scientific research and publishing. These investments reflect SoftBank's commitment to fostering technological advancements that are essential for the growth of scientific knowledge and literature.


6. Taylor & Francis Group


Taylor & Francis Group is a prominent academic publisher based in Abingdon, England, founded in 1798. The company specializes in scholarly publishing across a wide range of disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, science, and technology. They provide a platform for researchers and academics to publish their work and access a vast array of journals and books, catering to authors, librarians, and institutions. In recent years, Taylor & Francis has made significant acquisitions to bolster its presence in the scientific publishing arena. Notable transactions include the acquisition of F1000 Research in January 2020, which focuses on open research publishing, and Co-Action Publishing in April 2017, enhancing their portfolio in open access. They also acquired Transaction Publishers in February 2017 and Manson Publishing in April 2013, both of which contribute to their diverse publishing capabilities. These strategic moves highlight Taylor & Francis's commitment to supporting the dissemination of knowledge and research in the scientific community.


7. Parkwalk Advisors


Parkwalk Advisors is an investment management firm based in London, England, specializing in venture capital investments in university spin-outs and innovative technologies. Founded in 2009, the firm manages various EIS funds aimed at providing capital appreciation and tax reliefs for investors. With a focus on high-growth companies, Parkwalk Advisors has made significant investments in sectors such as AI, life sciences, and cleantech. Notably, they have participated in funding rounds for companies like Fluidic Analytics, which raised £5.3m in a Series B round, and Qkine, a University of Cambridge spin-out that secured £4.3m in its latest funding round. These transactions highlight Parkwalk's commitment to supporting innovative companies that are likely to impact scientific research and publishing, making them a relevant player in the scientific publishing landscape.


8. Index Ventures

  • Website: indexventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1996
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 67
  • LinkedIn: index-ventures

Index Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 1996, based in London, England. The firm invests in innovative startups across various sectors, including technology and healthcare, providing capital and strategic support to entrepreneurs. They focus on building long-term partnerships with founders to drive success. Notable transactions include their investment in Kaggle, a platform for predictive data modeling competitions, which raised $11M in Series A funding in 2011. This platform is significant for scientific research as it encourages data-driven approaches to problem-solving. Additionally, Index Ventures participated in funding Causaly, which raised $17M in Series A and $60M in Series B funding, focusing on AI-driven insights for biomedical research. These investments highlight Index Ventures' involvement in sectors that intersect with scientific publishing, particularly in enhancing research methodologies and outputs.


9. Future Planet Capital


Future Planet Capital is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2015. The firm manages over $400 million in assets and focuses on impact-led investments that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They cater to both public and private investors looking to support high-growth companies across various sectors. Notably, Future Planet Capital has invested in Clarivate Analytics, a prominent company in the scientific publishing space, through multiple funding rounds including a Series A and subsequent convertible notes. This involvement highlights their engagement in the scientific publishing industry, alongside other investments such as those in Eagle Genomics, which, while not directly in publishing, operates in the life sciences and data analytics sectors that intersect with scientific research.


10. Seventure Partners

  • Website: seventure.fr
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 1997
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 21
  • LinkedIn: seventure-partners

Seventure Partners is a Paris-based venture capital firm founded in 1997, specializing in managing funds for innovative companies primarily in the digital technology and life sciences sectors. With a team of 11-50 professionals, they focus on supporting startups and growth-stage companies through strategic funding. Notably, Seventure has participated in several funding rounds for companies that are relevant to the scientific community, such as Scipio Bioscience, which raised EUR 6 million in a Series A funding round, and Clinical Microbiomics, which received a EUR 10 million investment. These transactions highlight Seventure's commitment to fostering innovation in life sciences, which is integral to scientific research and publishing.


11. Mercia Asset Management PLC

  • Website: mercia.co.uk
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Henley-In-Arden, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1982
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 41
  • LinkedIn: mercia-asset-management

Mercia Asset Management PLC is a venture capital firm based in Henley-In-Arden, England, specializing in providing venture capital, private equity, and debt financing to support the growth of UK businesses. Founded in 1982, Mercia focuses on ambitious startups and established companies, particularly in technology and innovation sectors. Among their notable transactions, they invested in Texere Publishing, which raised funds in 2015, indicating their involvement in the scientific publishing sector. Additionally, they participated in the funding of IN-PART, a platform that connects researchers with industry partners, further highlighting their interest in scientific and technological advancements. More recently, they led a funding round for Wobble Genomics, a spinout from the University of Edinburgh, which aims to commercialize genomic technology, showcasing their commitment to supporting scientific innovation. Overall, Mercia operates through various funds and investment vehicles, making significant contributions to the growth of businesses across the UK, including those in the scientific publishing domain.


12. Andera Partners

  • Website: anderapartners.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 1953
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 10
  • LinkedIn: anderapartners

Andera Partners is a private equity firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 1953. The firm specializes in investment management, providing financial support and strategic guidance to companies across various sectors, including life sciences and infrastructure. They have a diverse portfolio and employ a range of investment strategies tailored to the specific needs of their portfolio companies. Notably, Andera Partners has been involved in several significant transactions, including the acquisition of Mediascience S.A. in 2005, which may relate to scientific publishing through its focus on media and information in the life sciences. Additionally, their investments in companies like Greywolf Therapeutics and Bioptimus indicate a strong interest in the life sciences sector, which often overlaps with scientific publishing.


13. Bgf

  • Website: bgf.co.uk
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2011
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 53
  • LinkedIn: bgfinvestments

BGF Investment Management Limited is a venture capital firm based in London, UK, founded in 2011. The firm specializes in providing growth funding and value creation support to small and mid-sized businesses across various sectors in the UK and Ireland. BGF focuses on addressing the funding gap in the market through minority investments and extensive support services. Notably, BGF has been involved in several transactions relevant to the scientific publishing field, including a significant investment in Wobble Genomics, a spinout from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute, which raised £8.5m to commercialize its technology. Additionally, BGF led a £10 million Series A financing round for Enhanc3D Genomics, which aims to develop its proprietary technology platform for generating large datasets in immune-cell research. These investments demonstrate BGF's active role in supporting companies that contribute to scientific advancements and research, making them a relevant player in the scientific publishing landscape.


14. LocalGlobe

  • Website: localglobe.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2019
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 15
  • LinkedIn: localglobe

LocalGlobe is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2019. The firm specializes in partnering with exceptional founders and companies at various stages of growth, from pre-seed to scale-up and public markets. LocalGlobe provides venture capital funding and investment management services, focusing on supporting startups in navigating their growth challenges. Among their notable transactions, they invested in Academia.edu, a platform that allows researchers to share their papers and connect with others in their field, raising $600,000 in a seed round in 2007. This investment highlights their involvement in the scientific publishing sector. Additionally, they have invested in other startups like Curiscope, which focuses on mixed reality in education, and Kinnu, an AI edtech startup, indicating a broader interest in technology and education rather than solely scientific publishing.



Scientific Publishing Insights: Key Investors in Europe


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
European Innovation Council (EIC)Brussels, Brussels, Belgium201-500195857
European Investment Bank (EIB)Luxembourg1001-5000195899
Digital ScienceLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)501-100020100
Enterprise IrelandDublin, Dublin, Ireland501-1000199848
SoftBank Investment AdvisersLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)201-500201714
Taylor & Francis GroupAbingdon, England, United Kingdom (UK)1001-500017980
Parkwalk AdvisorsLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-50200917
Index VenturesLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200199667
Future Planet CapitalLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-5020157
Seventure PartnersParis, Île-De-France, France11-50199721
Mercia Asset Management PLCHenley-In-Arden, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200198241
Andera PartnersParis, Île-De-France, France51-200195310
BgfLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200201153
LocalGlobeLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-50201915


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