Overview
Elsevier is a Dutch academic publishing and analytics company that produces scientific, technical, and medical (STM) literature. It publishes peer-reviewed journals, reference works, books, and online databases used widely by researchers, universities, libraries, and healthcare professionals. Elsevier is a division of RELX, a multinational information and analytics group headquartered in London.
Key facts
| Name | Elsevier |
|---|---|
| Type | Subsidiary of RELX |
| Industry | Academic publishing, information analytics |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Country of origin | Netherlands |
| Parent company | RELX |
| Products | Journals, books, reference works, databases, analytics tools |
Background
Elsevier traces its name to the historic Dutch publishing house Elzevir, which operated in the 17th century. The modern company was founded in 1880 in Rotterdam and adopted the Elzevir family's printer's mark. Over the 20th century it expanded from general and scholarly publishing into a major international STM publisher, particularly after acquisitions in the post-war period brought titles in physics, medicine, life sciences, and engineering under its imprint.
Activities
Elsevier publishes thousands of journals, including long-established titles such as The Lancet and Cell. Its journal portfolio spans the physical sciences, engineering, life sciences, health sciences, and social sciences. The company also operates major research platforms and databases, including:
- ScienceDirect — a full-text platform for journals and books.
- Scopus — an abstract and citation database used in research evaluation and bibliometrics.
- SSRN — a repository of preprints and working papers across disciplines.
- Mendeley — a reference manager and research collaboration tool.
- ClinicalKey — a clinical search and reference resource for medical professionals.
It also publishes textbook and reference imprints in medicine and the health sciences, including titles formerly issued under Saunders, Mosby, and Churchill Livingstone.
Presence in India
Elsevier has operations in India serving authors, editors, academic institutions, and healthcare professionals. Indian researchers contribute to and use Elsevier journals, and Indian universities subscribe to Elsevier products through institutional licences and consortia. Elsevier maintains editorial, technology, and content operations in Indian cities, supporting its global publishing workflows. Its products are used by Indian academic agencies and libraries for research assessment and literature access, and the company participates in national-level subscription arrangements negotiated by university and library consortia.
Significance
As one of the world's largest STM publishers, Elsevier plays a substantial role in scholarly communication, citation analysis, and research evaluation. Its journals and databases are routinely cited in tenure, funding, and ranking decisions, which gives the company considerable influence over global academic publishing norms. The company has also been at the centre of debates around journal subscription pricing, open-access publishing, and the use of bibliometric indicators in research assessment.
Controversies and debates
Elsevier has been a focal point in discussions about the cost of academic journal subscriptions and the transition to open access. Library consortia and research funders in several countries have, at various times, renegotiated, paused, or restructured agreements with the company in pursuit of broader open-access terms. Researchers have also debated the role of Scopus and similar databases in shaping research evaluation practices.
Related topics
- RELX
- Academic publishing
- Open access
- Scopus
- ScienceDirect
- The Lancet
- Mendeley
- Scholarly communication
References
- Wikidata entry: Q746413
- Official website of Elsevier and RELX corporate disclosures.