Frontiers in Engineering Innovation Research (FEIR) places the highest importance on ethical standards at every stage of the publication process. These standards cover the responsibilities of editors and the editorial team, peer reviewers, authors, and ethical considerations for research involving human and animal subjects (where applicable), as well as the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. All parties involved are required to adhere to the following principles and guidelines.

For Editors

1. Editorial decisions are determined solely by the manuscript’s scholarly merit, originality, and relevance, independent of authors’ identity, affiliation, or personal characteristics.

2. Confidentiality of the editorial and peer-review process is maintained at all times, with full protection of author and reviewer anonymity under the double-blind review policy.

3. The integrity and fairness of peer review are upheld through the appointment of qualified, independent reviewers with appropriate subject-matter expertise.

4. Allegations of plagiarism, data manipulation, authorship misconduct, or other ethical concerns are evaluated and investigated in accordance with established journal procedures.

5. Plagiarism screening and ethical verification form a standard part of manuscript assessment, with corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern issued when ethical breaches are confirmed.

6. The Editorial Team shall disclose any potential conflicts of interest to the Publisher and shall withdraw from all review and decision-making processes related to the manuscripts concerned.

7. Citation practices within editorial recommendations are based on appropriate academic grounds and adhere to ethical standards, avoiding coercive citation or any practice that may distort journal metrics.

For Reviewers

1. Confidentiality of all manuscript content must be strictly maintained, and reviewers must not use, disclose, or share any materials for personal benefit or for purposes unrelated to the review process.

2. Objectivity and fairness are essential in all evaluations, which should be broad and balanced and grounded in the quality of the research, the rigor of the methodology, and the manuscript’s scholarly contribution.

3. Reviewers should avoid evaluating manuscripts where conflicts of interest may arise and should inform the editor promptly if such conflicts become apparent.

4. Constructive feedback should be provided to support authors in improving the manuscript, and review reports should be submitted within the agreed timeframe.

5. Reviewers should inform the editor if they identify overlap with previously published work, suspect data manipulation, or detect any ethical concerns.

 

For Authors

1. Submitted manuscripts must present research that is academically original and reliable, with no fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or inappropriate text reuse, and must accurately reflect the work genuinely conducted by the authors.

2. Authors must not submit the same manuscript, or one with substantially overlapping content, to multiple journals at the same time and should avoid redundant or duplicate publication of previously published work.

3. Relevant prior work must be cited accurately and appropriately.

4. All authors are encouraged to review and approve the final manuscript prior to submission and share collective responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of the work.

5. Authors should disclose relevant information, such as funding sources, institutional relationships, or other potential interests, that may influence the research or its interpretation.

6. Authors are encouraged to retain original research data and supporting documentation in a complete and orderly manner.

7. Authors are required to adhere to the “Author Guidelines” issued by Frontiers in Engineering Innovation Research (FEIR).

8. If the journal receives a complaint concerning research ethics or publication misconduct, the editorial team will conduct a transparent review. Where misconduct is confirmed, the editor may terminate the review process or retract the published article and may notify the authors’ affiliated institutions as appropriate.

Ethical Standards for Research Involving Human and Animal Subjects (if applicable)

For research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data, authors are encouraged to provide documentation of ethical review by an appropriate committee or relevant authority, as applicable. Research should be conducted in accordance with ethical principles, legal requirements, and relevant regulations.

Ethical Considerations in AI-Assisted Writing

Authors are encouraged to clearly disclose any use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. AI systems should not be listed as authors, and AI-generated content should not replace scholarly content or analysis that should be undertaken by the authors. Authors are expected to review AI-assisted material to ensure accuracy, appropriateness, and reliability, and to avoid plagiarism, fabricated information, or unverifiable references. Consideration should also be given to personal data protection, research confidentiality, and relevant ethical or legal requirements when using AI tools.