Digital Science in WriteLaTeX investment

Macmillan Science and Education's technology division Digital Science has invested in London start-up WriteLaTex, the creator of online platform Overleaf.

Overleaf gives users the ability to author and edit scientific research and reports with real-time collaboration. The platform, "created with the goal of making science and research faster, more open and accessible", is said to bring the whole scientific process into one place, from idea and writing to review and publication.

Overleaf has been used to create over one million documents and currently has over 100,000 registered users worldwide, in 180 countries. WriteLaTex has a target of one million users worldwide.

The start-up, with a team of four, is to be based at Digital Science's London headquarters.

Timo Hannay, m.d. of Digital Science, said: "Science is increasingly asked to provide solutions to society's most pressing issues and to do so, scientists need to be able to deliver results faster and in a way that is more open, trustworthy and meaningful to those outside the scientific community. We welcome WriteLaTex into the fold and look forward to working closely together to change the way we support, deliver and measure scientific research."

WriteLaTex co-founder and c.e.o. John Hammersley said the investment would give them the opportunity "to ensure we are able to deliver a complete authoring solution for the scientific world."