Last week, Team CACTUS was at SSP 2025 and what a ride it was. From thought-provoking sessions to full-throttle booth energy, we brought our ideas, our people and a few hundred tote bags to Baltimore. And the result? One of our most rewarding SSP’s yet.
Our booth became a bit of a landmark over the three days. Whether it was the spin-the-wheel that kept spirits high, the chocolates that kept everyone going or the Frustration Wall that turned publishing pain points into real, honest conversations. Expectations were high, but we came prepared with a team that was ready to listen, connect and share.
Day One: Conversations That Mattered
The conference kicked off with energy and intention. We reconnected with familiar faces, met new ones and found ourselves in conversations that cut through the noise. Our Head of Sales & Business Development, Chirag Jay Patel, had his first session — Revolutionizing Scholarly Publishing. He was a crowd-puller, diving deep into how CACTUS AI tools are already reshaping editorial workflows. From navigating the AI frontier to building robust governance frameworks, the session laid out not just a vision, but a viable path forward for publishers, authors and reviewers.
The larger conversation on Day One reflected many of these same themes. As innovation accelerates, one point was made clear again and again: integrity is no longer optional, it is foundational. Trust is the currency of science and preserving it means blending human judgment with responsible, transparent technology. Another key message? AI is not the enemy. When paired with oversight and intent, it becomes a force for relevance, efficiency and ethical progress.
Day Two: From Insight to Action
Momentum carried forward into Day Two, where Jay returned for a second session on developing governance policies to support responsible use of AI in scholarly publishing. The response was overwhelmingly positive and the session sparked valuable discussions around real-world implementation.
Day Two also deepened the message that collaboration is now a strategic imperative. In an increasingly complex ecosystem, success isn’t about going solo, it’s about aligning with partners (sometimes even competitors) who are just as committed to moving the industry forward. We also saw clear signals that emerging markets are no longer on the periphery. From India to the Middle East, new players are taking center stage and their voices are reshaping global publishing priorities.
A Silver-Lined Celebration
A major highlight of the week? Team CACTUS brought home two Silver awards at this year’s EPIC Awards.
Digital Media Solutions received a silver in the ‘Narrative/Multidisciplinary Digital Projects’ category for its transformative work on “Open Access Workflows for OA Switchboard” and another for Paperpal, our author tool designed to simplify and strengthen manuscript submissions.
These wins are a recognition of the tangible impact we’re making across Open Access workflows through our digital media solutions and of how Paperpal continues to support authors with smarter, faster and more intuitive writing and submission experiences.
Until Next Time, Baltimore
SSP 2025 wasn’t just about presentations and panels. It was about people and Baltimore brought its charm in full force. From spirited conversations and surprise puppy visits to late-night brainstorming, it was a conference that reminded us why we do what we do.
As we are back home and reflect on the three powerful days, one message lingers:
How will you B’more?
Whether it’s optimizing editorial workflows, safeguarding research integrity with expert human oversight, or maximizing reach and discoverability, CACTUS is here to help. Contact us to explore how.
