Introduction

As an open-access publishing company, we are committed to providing high-quality, peer-reviewed research to the global community without subscription barriers. Our funding model relies on article processing charges (APCs) to cover the costs associated with the publication process. Below, we outline the fees and policies for our journals.

Temporary APC Waiver

To support the dissemination of research and encourage submissions, we are pleased to announce that all our journals will waive APCs for articles accepted for publication until the end of 2028. This initiative aims to remove financial barriers and support the global research community. After 2028, to support the cost of editorial management, peer review, copyediting, typesetting, long-term archiving, and journal website maintenance, we will charge APCs for accepted articles and the APC will vary depending on the journal and manuscript types.

Costs Covered by APCs

The APCs charged are essential to cover the various costs associated with high-quality academic publishing. These include:
• Editorial management: Salaries and stipends for Editors, editorial staff, and administrative support.
• Peer review: Coordination and management of the peer review process, including communication with reviewers and handling of review reports.
• Copyediting and proofreading: Ensuring the manuscript is free from grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors and conforms to the journal's style guide.
• Typesetting: Formatting the manuscript to meet the journal's layout standards, including the preparation of figures, tables, and supplementary materials.
• Online hosting and maintenance: Costs for hosting the journal's website, maintaining the online submission system, and ensuring long-term archiving of published articles.
• Indexing and DOI registration: Fees associated with registering DOIs and ensuring that articles are indexed in major databases.
• Online hosting and maintenance: Costs for hosting the journal's website, maintaining the online submission system, and ensuring long-term archiving of published articles.
• Marketing and promotion: Activities to increase the visibility and accessibility of the journal's content, including social media promotion and participation in academic conferences.
• Technical infrastructure: Maintenance and updates of the software and hardware used for the submission system, peer review process, and online publication.
• Long-term archiving: Ensuring that all published articles are archived in a permanent and reliable manner.

Waivers and Discounts

We are committed to ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent the publication of quality research. Therefore, we offer waivers and discounts in the following cases:
• Full Waivers: Available for corresponding authors from low-income countries.
• Partial Waivers: Available for authors from lower-middle-income countries.
• Institutional Discounts: Available for authors from institutions with which we have open access agreements.

Funding Sources

We encourage authors to identify funding sources to cover APCs. Many institutions, funding agencies, and research grants include provisions for publication fees.

Payment Process

• Invoice Issuance: Upon acceptance of the article, an invoice will be issued.
• Payment methods: We accept payments via bank transfer, credit card, and institutional payment portals.
• Receipt confirmation: A receipt will be provided upon payment confirmation.

Payment Methods

To accommodate authors from around the world, we offer multiple payment options:
• Credit Card: Payments can be made using major credit cards through our secure online payment system.
• Bank transfer: Instructions for bank transfers will be provided with the invoice.
• PayPal: We accept payments through PayPal for added convenience.
• Institutional payment portal: For authors affiliated with institutions that have open access agreements with us, payments can be made through the institutional payment portal.

Refund Policy

• Withdrawal before publication: If an article is withdrawn before publication, a partial refund may be issued, minus any processing costs incurred.
• Post-publication: No refunds will be issued once an article is published.

Transparency and Accountability

We believe in transparent pricing and providing value for our authors' contributions. Detailed cost breakdowns can be provided upon request. Our APCs reflect the true costs of high-quality open-access publishing.

Contact Information

For any queries related to APCs, waivers, or funding, please contact journal editorial office. Our team is dedicated to assisting you through the publication process and ensuring a smooth and transparent experience.

By clearly communicating our publication fees and policies, we aim to foster an environment of trust and transparency with our authors and readers, ensuring that high-quality research remains accessible to all.