|  Background · Aligning with National Development Strategies   

In recent years, China has continued to strengthen the development of academic and scientific journals as an important foundation for enhancing national scientific and technological competitiveness, cultural soft power, and international academic discourse. Under national initiatives such as the cultivation of world-class scientific journals, the prosperity of academic publishing, and the Excellence Action Plan for China’s Scientific and Technological Journals, journal development is shifting from individual-title operation toward clustered, platform-based, digitalized, and internationalized models. The establishment of journal cluster platforms therefore aligns with national policy priorities and the long-term trend of high-quality academic publishing.

    The JCH Platform of Macao Scientific Publishers (MOSP) actively responds to this development direction. Drawing on Macao’s role as a platform for cultural exchange between China and the West, and its strategic position in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, MOSP·JCH promotes a transition from single-journal services to coordinated platform-based operations. Grounded in compliance and standardization, MOSP·JCH will improve systems for ISSN application, publishing procedures, academic ethics, and copyright management, while advancing its journal cluster website, integrated submission and peer-review system, digital publishing and communication platform, and knowledge service platform. Focusing on medicine and health, education reform, engineering technology, Greater Bay Area development, and Sino-Portuguese exchanges, MOSP·JCH aims to build an academic journal cluster platform with Macao characteristics, China’s position, and an international vision.

 |  MOSP · Journal Cluster Hub (JCH)   

The MOSP · Journal Cluster Hub (JCH), developed by Macao Scientific Publishers, is an integrated academic journal operation and service platform featuring intensive management, digital publishing, international communication, and unified operations. Serving research institutions and academic organizations, MOSP·JCH provides end-to-end services for journal launch, publication, dissemination, and archiving. Leveraging Macao’s unique location and its links with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative, the platform is committed to building a modern academic publishing ecosystem that is interdisciplinary, multilingual, and cross-border.

    Through clustered empowerment, platform-based operation, and global dissemination, MOSP·JCH integrates full-chain journal services, supports standardized multi-journal management, and brings together editorial, peer-review, and research resources from China and abroad. Upholding international scholarly publishing standards, it aims to build a journal portfolio with Macao characteristics, a Chinese foundation, and an international outlook, contributing to academic exchange, journal brand development, and global scholarly communication.

• Mission: to build clustered, digital, international, and integrated capabilities, providing professional, efficient, and sustainable support for the development of academic journals operated by research institutions and academic organizations.
• Vision: to develop a digital journal cluster platform with an international outlook, cultivate first-class academic journals, and continuously enhance academic communication capacity and international influence.
• Chinese Academic Journals: moaj.mospbs.com  Click to view
• International Academic Journals: www.mospbs.com  Click to view

 |  Journal Launch Process   

Launching a journal is a systematic undertaking. It involves defining the journal’s positioning and academic direction, while also establishing publishing standards, platform infrastructure, communication mechanisms, and sustainable operational capacity. MOSP Journal Cluster Hub coordinates the full journal launch process, covering key stages such as needs assessment, material preparation, ISSN application, platform configuration, training and delivery, and regular publication. Through a clear, standardized, and efficient workflow, MOSP·JCH helps launch teams move smoothly from project preparation to official operation.

• Initial Needs Assessment: Define the journal’s positioning, target readership, content direction, cooperation model, and implementation schedule, forming a shared understanding of the launch project.
• Preparation of Launch Materials: Prepare essential materials, including the journal title, section structure, editor-in-chief information, journal description, and other foundational documents.
• ISSN Application: Proceed with the ISSN application in accordance with the project requirements, establishing the journal’s identification information and standardized publishing foundation.
• Training and Delivery: Provide training on platform use, manuscript management, editorial collaboration, and content publication, and complete system delivery and operational preparation.
• Regular Publication: After the journal is launched online, it enters the stage of continuous manuscript solicitation, editing, publication, and updating, gradually forming a stable regular publication mechanism.

 |  Journal Launch Cooperation Models   

All four journal launch models can be configured with a complete set of essential journal functions, including ISSN application support (P&O), a journal homepage, manuscript submission system, backend access permissions, editorial assistant support, electronic and physical archives, as well as configuration support for personnel appointment authority and peer-review decision-making authority. The main differences among the four models lie in ownership structure, revenue distribution, and one-time launch fee arrangements.

• Independent Journal Launch: An independent journal launch is initiated, funded, and led by a single entity. The journal’s positioning, section design, team organization, content planning, and subsequent operations are usually decided and managed by the same party.
• Partnership Journal Launch: A partnership journal launch is jointly initiated by two or more cooperating parties, who contribute resources, participate in planning, and advance the journal project together. The partners may complement one another in academic resources, brand influence, manuscript sourcing, industry channels, or financial investment, while sharing responsibilities according to prior agreement.
• Expert-Led Journal Launch: An expert-led journal launch is usually initiated by academic authorities, renowned experts, high-level research teams, or influential figures in a particular field. Their professional credibility, academic resources, and field-wide influence help drive the development of the journal platform.
• Public-Interest Journal Launch: A public-interest journal launch is developed around areas such as public education, health communication, social services, cultural dissemination, and the documentation of public-interest projects. It places greater emphasis on social value, public communication, and long-term impact.

 |  Journal Migration · Join JCH   

Academic institutions and journal teams are welcome to migrate journals currently operated on other publishing platforms to the MOSP·JCH. Our will assess each journal’s academic positioning, disciplinary orientation, publishing foundation, and development potential. Upon approval, eligible journals may be fully integrated into the platform and benefit from Macao’s location advantages, international publishing resources, intensive operation, global communication, and standardized publishing support.

    For journal migration, MOSP·JCH provides dedicated technical support, including data organization and migration, ISSN record coordination, standardized data display, and training on the editorial and publishing system, ensuring a smooth transition and stable operation. Several academic teams have already successfully migrated their journals to JCH, jointly building a high-quality international academic journal portfolio. After migration, journals may enjoy the following advantages:

• Publishing Credentials and Location Advantages: Supported by Macao’s international publishing environment and backed by Macao Scientific Publishers as a formal publishing entity, journals benefit from compliant registration, standardized publishing procedures, stronger academic credibility, and broader connections with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road academic networks.
• Platform Operation Support: JCH provides clustered operation resources, coordinated multi-journal promotion, and standardized management covering typesetting, peer review, archiving, and preservation. Its six major journal tracks support precise alignment with each journal’s disciplinary positioning while reducing operational costs and workload.
• Technical and System Advantages: MOSP·JCH offers free support for data migration, system setup, data display, and editorial system training, with one-on-one engineer assistance. Its digital and integrated publishing system is designed to enhance journal visibility, citation potential, and indexing readiness.
• Editorial Board and Academic Benefits: The platform gathers editorial board members and peer-review experts from China and abroad, helping journals expand academic networks, improve quality, and access academic activities and international exchange opportunities.
• Implementation Assurance: With successful migration cases already in place, MOSP·JCH provides one-stop support to ensure smooth transition and continuous operation without significant additional manpower or technical investment.

 |  Frequently Asked Questions（FAQs）   

Q: What are the costs of launching a journal?
A: Depending on the launch model, MOSP·JCH offers different arrangements, including fully self-funded, partially self-funded, and fully supported models. Fees generally consist of two parts: a one-time journal launch fee and an annual maintenance fee. The specific fee structure depends on the selected launch model. Please contact us directly for accurate pricing information. Optional services, such as expedited launch, cover design, typesetting and editing, DOI capacity expansion, and printed copies for collection, will be charged separately according to actual needs.

Q: How long does it usually take to launch a journal?
A: The timeline usually depends on the completeness of materials, team coordination, and application progress. If all materials are complete and the process proceeds smoothly, the launch can generally be completed within approximately 3 to 4 months. For projects involving complex planning, team coordination, or supplementary materials, the timeline may be extended. If there is a specific time requirement, a paid expedited review service may be voluntarily selected. In such cases, an ISSN may be obtained in as fast as 1 to 2 months.

Q: Is the journal officially recognized? Does it have a Mainland China CN number?
A: After being launched on the JCH platform, the journal may obtain an official international ISSN, usually including both ISSN-Print and ISSN-Online. The journal must also comply with the relevant laws and regulations of the Macao Special Administrative Region and be subject to registration, management, and supervision in accordance with applicable requirements. Please note that current launch projects do not include a CN number issued in Mainland China. The international ISSN and the Mainland China CN number differ in approval systems, scope of application, and administrative rules, and should not be regarded as equivalent.

Q: Can the journal be sold in Mainland China?
A: If the journal is to be sold in Mainland China, the relevant import procedures or compliant circulation procedures generally need to be completed first. Before such procedures are completed, it should not be sold directly as an officially publicly distributed publication in Mainland China. For specific dissemination, sales, or purchasing needs, JCH may provide appropriate assistance based on actual circumstances.

Q: Can the journal be indexed in high-level databases?
A: JCH will provide journal teams with database indexing guidance and relevant training, and will periodically organize exchanges on journal quality development to help formulate a growth pathway. The platform may also assist with standardized development, document preparation, and application readiness. Based on the journal’s discipline, content quality, and development stage, JCH will help plan pathways toward relevant databases. Final inclusion, however, depends on the journal’s quality and the independent review results of each database.

Q: What permissions does the launch team have over the journal?
A: The launch team may generally participate in and manage core aspects of journal development, including journal positioning, section design, content direction, team organization, and publication schedule. Depending on the selected launch model, the launch team may hold corresponding permissions such as personnel appointment authority, peer-review decision-making authority, and APC management authority. The specific scope of permissions and rights arrangements will be further clarified according to the launch model and mutual agreement.

Q: How can I ask further questions?
A: For more detailed information, please contact us directly. We will provide further explanations and coordination services according to your specific journal launch needs.

 |  Contact Us   

• Email: Journal-office@mospbs.com
• Tel: (+853) 6296 1666  |   (+86) 156 2226 2212