PARTNERSHIPS & WAIVERS POLICY

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                      MSI Publishers is committed to inclusive, high‐quality open-access publishing. Our mission explicitly highlights “fostering collaborative partnerships among diverse researchers” and ensuring “equitable access to critical information”[1]. We uphold DOAJ’s principle that no policy should create an exclusionary environment[1], and as a COPE member we follow established ethics codes. In practice, this means we seek strategic partnerships and clear, fair fee waiver policies so that all authors can participate regardless of location or resources[1]. Our approach aligns with international best practices (DOAJ, COPE, UGC, ISSN) and builds on MSI’s Open Access philosophy of global knowledge dissemination[1] [2].

Institutional Partnerships

MSI welcomes formal agreements with universities, libraries, research consortia, and similar institutions. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), partners and MSI can define mutually beneficial terms. Key partnership benefits may include:

  • APC Waivers/Discounts: Reduced or waived Article Processing Charges for authors affiliated with the partner institution.
  • Dedicated Support: A liaison or institutional dashboard (e.g. submission tracking) to manage affiliated submissions efficiently.
  • Collaborative Publishing: Opportunities for co-branded special issues, conference proceedings, or joint research reports.
  • Revenue-Sharing Models: In some agreements, any surplus from partnership-funded publications (or books) can be shared per contract.
  • Visibility & Recognition: Partner logos on journal pages or marketing materials, and acknowledgement of support in published work.

Our model is similar to large publishers’ institutional programs. For example, MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program offers partners submission transparency and APC discounts for affiliated authors [1]. MSI’s agreements will likewise streamline open access publishing for partners’ researchers. All partnership arrangements will be documented in the MoU, clearly stating each party’s commitments (e.g. coverage of fees, promotional activities, data-sharing practices) and ensuring compliance with MSI’s quality and ethics standards.

Author Waiver Policy

To prevent financial barriers, MSI provides full or partial fee waivers for qualified authors. We follow DOAJ’s transparency guidelines by clearly stating eligibility and application procedures [1]. Eligible categories include, but are not limited to:

  • Country-Based Waivers: Authors from World Bank–designated low-income economies receive automatic full APC waivers [1]. Those from lower-middle-income economies may receive a 50% reduction. (This aligns with MSI’s Open Access Policy of supporting low-income authors [1].)
  • Discretionary Hardship Waivers: Independent researchers, students, early-career scholars, or unemployed authors who lack funding can apply for partial or full waivers on a case-by-case basis.
  • Institutional Funding Gaps: Authors whose institutions do not cover publishing costs may request assistance.
  • Other Special Cases: We consider authors in humanitarian or resource-limited contexts, as recommended by global waiver guidelines.

Application Process: Authors should request a waiver during submission (or by contacting the Editorial Office before final payment). A brief justification of need is sufficient; MSI does not require extensive proof beyond affiliation or status (e.g. student ID). The request is reviewed by the fees team independently of the editorial review. Importantly, in line with DOAJ and COPE best practice, fee waiver requests (or their outcomes) never influence editorial decisions [1]  [2]. All decisions are based solely on scholarly merit. Applicants will be informed of the waiver decision (usually within 1–2 weeks) and can proceed with publication if accepted.

Transparency Measures: MSI’s waiver policy is fully documented on this page. We may publish aggregate data on waivers granted (by country or category) to maintain accountability. These measures align with DOAJ’s call for clear fee/waiver information [1] and COPE’s emphasis on fairness [2]. Authors can appeal a waiver decision by providing additional information to the waiver team of MSI Publishers. 

APC Discounts, Grants & Sponsorships

MSI actively seeks to reduce APC burdens through discounts, grants, and sponsorships. For example:

  • Institutional Memberships: Institutions may pay an annual flat fee to cover unlimited APCs for their authors (akin to “read & publish” or flat-fee OA agreements).
  • Funding Agency Grants: We work with research funders and universities to allow grant money to be used for APCs.
  • Bulk Discounts: Multiple articles from a single project or lab may receive a fee reduction.
  • Reviewer Vouchers: MSI offers reviewer incentives (e.g. fee discounts on future submissions).
  • Sponsorship: Third-party sponsors (e.g. societies or grants) can underwrite special issues or events, with transparent acknowledgment.

MSI’s approach echoes other publishers’ inclusive models. For instance, Frontiers maintains an “inclusive funding model” using revenue to support authors unable to pay [1]. Likewise, MSI allocates funds to a waiver reserve so that no qualified article is rejected for lack of funds. Authors are encouraged to explore Research4Life programs and institutional funds for APC support, and to contact us about any available grants or sponsorships. All such programs are managed transparently and documented to ensure consistent access.

Partner Responsibilities & Code of Conduct

MSI and its partners agree to uphold ethical, transparent practices throughout the publishing process. Key responsibilities include:

  • Ethical Standards: All publications under a partnership must meet MSI’s publication ethics policies (see our Publication Ethics page), reflecting COPE guidelines. Partners must not influence editorial or peer-review decisions. Decisions are made independently by MSI editors [1].
  • Transparency: Any funding, sponsorship, or in-kind support provided by the partner must be disclosed. For sponsored content or supplements, MSI will label the support and separate promotional material from scholarly content.
  • No Conflicts of Interest: Neither MSI nor partners will hide or misrepresent interests. Editors and reviewers remain blind to fee payments or partnerships. This aligns with DOAJ’s requirement that author fees or waiver status “should not influence editorial decision making” [1].
  • Data Privacy: Partner institutions providing author data must comply with privacy laws (e.g. GDPR). Author consent will be obtained before any data sharing.
  • Quality Assurance: MSI’s editorial processes (peer review, ethics checks) apply uniformly. Partners support these processes by encouraging authors to adhere to MSI’s guidelines.
  • Branding and Acknowledgment: MSI and partners will follow agreed branding guidelines (e.g. use of logos) and credit each other as appropriate (e.g. in journal mastheads or issue fronts).

These responsibilities mirror COPE’s publisher code and DOAJ best practice. MSI’s CoC (Code of Conduct) requires editorial independence and fairness; partners must respect these rules. In short, partnerships are collaborations in advancing scholarship, not commercial guarantees.

Compliance & Standards

Our Partnership & Waiver policies are aligned with leading international publishing standards:

  • DOAJ/Transparency: We adhere to DOAJ’s Principles of Transparency. For example, we clearly state all fees, waivers, and eligibility criteria [1]. We publish ISSNs for each journal (print and electronic) on our site, as DOAJ (and ISSN agencies) require [1].
  • COPE: As COPE members, we follow COPE’s Core Practices. Our fee and waiver policies emphasize ethical disclosure and independence [1] [2]. COPE’s new guidance on author fees underscores the need for transparency and fairness, which MSI implements in full.
  • UGC: For our journals to meet India’s UGC (University Grants Commission) expectations, we maintain rigorous peer review, conflict-of-interest policies, and transparent fee schedules. Our policies satisfy UGC’s criteria for approved journals, ensuring authors’ work is respected in academia.
  • ISSN: All MSI journals hold valid ISSN numbers for print and online versions [1]. The ISSN Centre’s guidelines are followed for serial metadata, and ISSNs are prominently displayed in each issue and on the website.
  • Scopus & Other Indexes: Scopus and similar indexes require high publication ethics and visible policies. By implementing a clear Waiver Policy and robust publication ethics (e.g. COPE/COPE-approved statement [1]), MSI ensures our journals meet Scopus title evaluation requirements. A public publication ethics statement (per Scopus’ guidelines [1]) is maintained.

Through these measures, authors and partners can be confident that MSI’s practices meet global best-practice benchmarks [1] [2].

Ready to collaborate? If your institution is interested in exploring a partnership (or if you have questions about waivers and discounts), please Contact Us.

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