Sister Company Launches Berlin Academic
Berlin Verlag announces the launch of its new academic and professional division, Berlin Academic.
Berlin Academic plans to make book and journal content available online under open access criteria on a dedicated electronic publishing platform, using Creative Commons licenses. At the same time, these book titles will be sold both in various e-book formats and in hard copy, using the latest short run technology or Print on Demand.
The aim of the new company is to become the publisher of choice for German and international scholars who wish to take advantage of the newest developments in digital publishing and reach out to the international research community.
Berlin Academic will publish in English and German on subject areas withinthe Humanities and Social Sciences. A special focus will be 20th century history (e.g. Holocaust Studies), sociology (e.g. Migration and Urban Studies), the political sciences (Globalisation, Global Governance), philosophy (especially in the context of the natural sciences, such as neuroscience), cultural studies and linguistics.
In addition, the Berlin Academic platform will be available to showcase and promote book titles and content of partner institutions. Berlin Academic hopes to foster collaborations within the academic world, and through public/private partnerships around the globe. A beta version of the platform is planned for summer 2010 with a final version being launched later this year.
“Berlin Academic is thinking ahead by offering a new way of digital publishing and open access while maintaining and enhancing traditional publishing values and services,“ said Elisabeth Ruge, publisher of Berlin Verlag. “Berlin Verlag authors will also benefit from a variety of additional services as well as global reach and visibility for their work.”
Richard Charkin, Executive Director at Bloomsbury, Berlin Academic’s sister company, added: “German scholars, universities and learned societies are playing a crucial role in the academic and scientific world and Berlin Academic is determined to contribute by aiding communication and ideas through digital and print dissemination. The new platform will reflect the rapid developments of the digital age and implement traditional communication channels as well as web 2.0 features.”
The newly formed Berlin Academic team includes:
Katja Oechel, Digital Marketing Manager (formerly at Elsevier and Springer)
Catharina Maracke, Global Strategist (former Director of Crea- tive Commons International) Malcolm Campbell, Non Executive Director (Director, Earthscan Ltd; formerly Chairman, Berg Publishers Ltd and Marketing Director, Routledge)
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