250€ per review

There is a new bioRxiv preprint examining traditional peer review that is slowed by delays finding reviewers and waiting for reports.

In 2025, Biology Open expanded its Fast & Fair peer review model, using pre-contracted, paid reviewers (£220 or 250€ per manuscript, paid only for timely, quality reviews) with a structured editorial timeline. The program cut time to first decision from 38 to 6 working days, and improved reviewer commitment: higher acceptance (67% vs 23%) and higher completion (98% vs 87%). Review quality and acceptance rates were unchanged.

So it is overdue to replace ad hoc reviewer recruitment with paid, deadline-driven, quality-contingent review.