Preprints as an emerging practice in Brazilian scientific communication: analysis of adoption by institutions and areas of knowledge

The Open Science movement has encouraged the use of preprints as a way to accelerate scientific communication, increase transparency in research processes, and expand access to knowledge. This study investigates the production of preprints registered in the Lattes Platform, analyzing approximately 12.8 million articles published in journals declared by more than 9 million Brazilian researchers. Based on the identification of 5,644 records explicitly classified as preprints, it was possible to characterize the profile of the authors, the areas and major areas of knowledge involved, the institutions to which they are affiliated, and the temporal evolution of these publications. The results reveal a recent growth in the adoption of preprints, although their presence in national scientific production remains incipient. Most authors with preprints are affiliated with public universities and work in the areas of Biological, Health, and Exact Sciences. The analysis also highlights a positive correlation between the use of preprints and open science practices, such as the use of the ORCID identifier. The study contributes to understanding how preprints have been incorporated into Brazilian scientific practice and points out ways to strengthen them as a strategic component of open scientific communication.