Article Transfer Policy

Optional manuscript transfer within the Centre for Research and Innovation journal portfolio

An article may be offered for transfer when the editors consider another CRI journal potentially more appropriate. Transfer occurs only with the author's explicit consent. Acceptance is not guaranteed. The receiving journal conducts its own editorial assessment and determines whether additional peer review is required.

1. Author Consent

Article transfer is entirely optional. A manuscript, associated files, metadata, and any reviewer or editorial reports are transferred only with the author's explicit consent. Declining a transfer invitation has no adverse effect on the author.

2. Materials That May Be Transferred

With author consent, a transfer may include the manuscript, supplementary files, submission metadata, and relevant editorial records. Reviewer reports may be transferred only where doing so is consistent with reviewer confidentiality, the journal's reviewer terms, and any consent requirements that apply. Information is transferred solely for legitimate editorial consideration by the receiving journal.

3. Independent Editorial Assessment

The receiving journal conducts its own editorial assessment. It may accept existing reviewer reports, request additional review, begin a new peer-review process, or decline the manuscript. The receiving journal's editor retains responsibility for the final decision.

4. Reviewer Reports

Where reviewer reports are transferred, they are provided to the receiving journal for editorial consideration. The receiving editor decides whether the reports are sufficient or whether additional independent review is required.

5. No Guarantee of Acceptance or Faster Publication

Transfer does not guarantee external review, acceptance, a favourable decision, faster decision-making, or publication. The receiving journal applies its own aims and scope, peer-review requirements, ethical standards, and editorial criteria.

6. Fees

No transfer fee is charged unless explicitly stated. If the receiving journal applies an Article Processing Charge or another author-facing fee, the author must be informed of that journal's current fee policy before accepting the transfer.

7. Editorial Independence and Conflicts of Interest

Article transfer does not alter editorial standards, peer-review requirements, conflicts-of-interest management, or the independence of the receiving journal's final decision. An editor with a relevant conflict of interest does not make the decision on the transferred manuscript.

8. Confidentiality

Transferred manuscripts, reviewer reports, and editorial correspondence remain confidential and are accessible only to individuals involved in legitimate editorial handling at the receiving journal.