Special Issues Policy and Procedures

The special issue is an important component for the IMF. Please download the Special Issue Policy and Procedure if you want to propose a Special Issue. Read the entire policy, then download the SP form and submit the form below. Our editors will respond as soon as possible. We typically expect at least 10-20 papers to be published for the proposed Special Issue to form a cohesive article collection.

The IMF relies heavily on Special Issues. The IMF will accept formal Special Issue proposals at any time. The IMF is primarily interested in emerging but understudied topics in Management, Emerging trends and technologies in innovation, Digital transformation and innovation ecosystems, Open innovation, co-creation, and collaborative networks Product, process, and business model innovation, Innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups, Sustainable and social innovation, Innovation policy and governance Cross-cultural and global perspectives in innovation management, Measuring and assessing innovation performance. To encourage and disseminate cutting-edge research, we offer the opportunity to publish special issues on focused topics within these disciplines. This document outlines the policy and procedures for proposing, managing, and publishing special issues in the IMF.

Purpose of Special Issues

Special issues aim to

1. Highlight emerging trends and innovative research in relevant fields.
2. Foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration.
3. Provide comprehensive coverage of specific topics of interest to the academic community.
4. Promote high-impact research and theoretical advancements.

To propose a Special Issue in the IMF, download the form and submit your proposal. Include (maximum 1500 words):

1. Academic qualifications and previous editing experience are required of any prospective editors.
2. Perspective and the driving force: (a) a description of the overarching topic; (b) an explanation of why the overarching topic is worthy of being the subject of a Special Issue.
3. A description of the types of papers that the Special Issue would seek to publish, which encompass a wide variety of particular topics, methods, and so on.
4. Identification of a modest but representative group of academics whose work falls within the purview of the proposed special issue in order to assist in determining the scope of the intellectual territory that the special issue intends to investigate.
5. Guest Editors: Journal Requirements

Guest Editors: Journal Requirements

Research Topics are group projects that are proposed and edited by a group of two or more Guest Editors. This not only helps to distribute the workload of the editorial staff but it also fosters collaboration. As the leader of the project, the next step for you would be to put together an editorial team consisting of people with whom you can work. The following are some of the requirements that need to be met in order to become a Guest Editor for our journal:

• At least three Subject Matter Experts (Topic Editors) should make up the team (including yourself)
• At the very least, the group ought to be composed of a senior researcher (at the Associate or Full Professor level, or its equivalent).
• Every single Topic Editor needs to have a PhD, followed by a minimum of one to two years of postdoctoral experience (if any) in a field that is related to the subject matter that you suggest.
• The Guest Editors you choose should have an established track record of publishing work in international venues that is pertinent to the focus of your collection.
• It is necessary for the team to have a variety of members (at least one should be affiliated with a different institution and should be located in a different country).

Special Issues take a long time to produce. The IMF intends to issue the Call for Papers about 6 months before the deadline for Special Issue submissions, with the issue being published along with the regular issue (with tight turnaround times for author revisions and editorial feedback). We can generally accept only a subset of the Special Issue proposals that we receive due to the large number of inquiries about special issues that the IMF receives.

Papers submitted will undergo the same IMF peer review standards. Special Issue editors must submit an introductory article but cannot submit their own research papers. Regular progress updates to the IMF Co-Editors are required.

Special Issues usually take several months. Calls for Papers should be issued approximately six months before the submission deadline.

Download Application Form: Download

For more information, contact the Editor-in-Chief at im-frontiers@icrp.org.uk.

Special Issue Management

Guest Editors' Responsibilities:

• The Guest Editor must ensure the published content within the Special Issue aligns with the title and stated scope of the journal.
• Manage the submission and peer review process in collaboration with the editorial office.
• Ensure timely communication with authors and reviewers.
• Maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical conduct.

Submission and Peer Review

• Submissions for special issues will be made through the IMF online submission system.
• All manuscripts will undergo rigorous peer review, following the journal's standard procedures.
• Guest editors will recommend reviewers and provide an initial assessment of the manuscripts.
• The editorial board retains final decision-making authority over the acceptance and publication of manuscripts.
• The editorial board will provide guidance and support to guest editors as needed.

Publication and Promotion

• Accepted manuscripts will be processed and prepared for publication by the IMF production team.
• Special issues will be published as part of a regular issue or as a standalone issue, depending on the number and quality of submissions.
• The special issue will be promoted through various channels, including the IMF website, email newsletters, and social media.
• Guest editors and authors are encouraged to actively promote the special issue within their networks.

Ethical Considerations

• All submissions for special issues must adhere to the ethical research practices of IMF.
• Plagiarism, data fabrication, and other forms of academic misconduct will not be tolerated.
• Guest editors, authors, and reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
• The IMF editorial board will take appropriate measures to manage conflicts of interest and ensure unbiased review and editorial decisions.

For full author guidelines, please visit: Authors Guidelines.