APC Policy

APC Policy & Transparency Statement

StarNexus Science Press (Hong Kong) · Transparent, Fair, and Sustainable Open Access

StarNexus Science Press (Hong Kong) operates a Gold Open Access model. To ensure high-quality peer review, production, DOI registration, and long-term operational stability, we apply a standard Article Processing Charge (APC) for all our proprietary open access journals.

Standard APC: 800 USD per article.
Important: APC is invoiced only after acceptance. No submission fees are charged.

Inaugural Tiered Waiver Policy

To support the rapid dissemination of academic achievements and reduce the burden on scholars, all journals implement a tiered pricing policy during the inaugural phase:

Publication Phase APC Rate Notes
Issues 1–5 Free (0 USD) Pure academic support phase. No charges.
Issues 6–7 180 USD Covers basic typesetting and DOI registration.
Issues 8–12 400 USD Transitional phase.
Issues 13–15 600 USD Nearing standard rate.
Issue 16+ 800 USD Standard full rate restored.

Hard Baseline Rule: The APC rate is strictly determined by the issue/year at the time of formal acceptance. Delays in peer review or cross-year publication do not qualify for historical pricing based on submission date.

Editorial Board & Column Waivers

During the paid phase (Issue 6+), the following special policies apply:

Column Articles (Editorial / Commentary)
Published by the EiC, Associate Editors, or Invited Editorial Board Members. 100% Free (0 USD).
*Limited to 2,500–3,000 words. Must not contain full empirical data or research frameworks. Strictly limited to 1–2 columns per issue.
Editor-in-Chief
Applies to all article types (Research, Review, Commentary). Personal submissions or directly recommended papers are 100% Free (0 USD).
*Research articles strictly limited to 1 paper per issue.
Associate Editor
Personal submission or direct recommendation. 50% off.
(e.g., 90 USD for Issue 6; 200 USD for Issue 8)
Editorial Board Member
Personal submission or marked "Recommended by Prof. XX". 30% off.
(e.g., 126 USD for Issue 6; 280 USD for Issue 8)

Invited Papers

Authoritative reviews or original research by leading figures (e.g., Fellows, Academicians) invited directly by the Editor-in-Chief enjoy a 100% APC waiver (0 USD).

Quota Limit: Strictly limited to 1–2 papers per issue. Invited papers must be approved and recorded in the system by the EiC. Once the quota is exhausted, all other papers follow the standard rates.

Print Sample Copies

Our journals are primarily published as fully online open access. If authors require a mailed print sample copy for archival purposes, the editorial office offers a transparent flat-rate packaging service (including typesetting, color printing, and postage):

Domestic (China)
200 RMB
Free Shipping
International
100 USD
Free Shipping

*For international expedited courier requests, the author is responsible for the shipping difference.

Questions About the APC or Waivers?

Please contact our editorial office for any inquiries regarding APCs, discounts, or waiver requests.

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Published by the Greater Bay Area StarNexus Innovation Institute Limited, operating as StarNexus Science Press (Hong Kong), a non-profit academic publisher.

Contact: info@starnexus.press