The Innovation: Scopus, Scope & Submission Guide
The Innovation is the journal corresponding to the supplied Scopus Source Record ID 21101038708. Although the source input labels the title as “Innovation,” authoritative journal records identify the publication as The Innovation, an interdisciplinary, open-access scientific journal published by Cell Press/Elsevier in partnership with members of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association (YIPA), part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This distinction matters because several scholarly journals contain the word “innovation” in their names, and researchers should match the Scopus ID and ISSN rather than rely on title similarity alone.
The journal publishes cutting-edge research and high-quality reviews across scientific disciplines including physics, chemistry, materials, nanotechnology, biology, translational medicine, geoscience and engineering. It is indexed in Scopus and is also listed by ScienceDirect as covered by DOAJ and PubMed Central. For authors considering submission, the central question is therefore not simply whether the journal is visible or highly cited, but whether the manuscript demonstrates the level of scientific significance, breadth and application expected by this multidisciplinary venue.

Quick Answer: What Is The Innovation?
The Innovation is a broad-scope, open-access Cell Press journal for significant basic and applied scientific research. The official publisher description says it promotes scientific application and publishes cutting-edge research and high-quality reviews across all scientific disciplines. Its stated remit is not confined to a single branch of science; instead, it spans areas such as physics, chemistry, materials science, nanotechnology, biology, translational medicine, geoscience and engineering.
The journal began publication in 2020. ScienceDirect lists the online ISSN as 2666-6758, while the supplied Scopus record identifies Source ID 21101038708. Researchers evaluating the journal for institutional or PhD requirements should verify the live Scopus profile and their university’s rules immediately before submission because database coverage and recognition policies can change.
Key Takeaways
- Correct journal identity: The supplied Scopus Source ID 21101038708 corresponds to The Innovation, not a generic title “Innovation.”
- Publisher: Cell Press/Elsevier, in partnership with members of YIPA, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
- Scope: Broad interdisciplinary science with an emphasis on significant advances and scientific application.
- Indexing: ScienceDirect lists Scopus, DOAJ and PubMed Central among its abstracting and indexing coverage.
- Publisher-displayed metrics: ScienceDirect currently shows CiteScore 53.4 and Impact Factor 25.7; always confirm the applicable reporting year before quoting them.
- Open access: Fully open access; ScienceDirect displays an APC of USD 5,000 excluding taxes.
- Timeline: ScienceDirect displays 128 days from submission to acceptance; DOAJ reports an average of 33 weeks from submission to publication. These are different measures, not guarantees.
- Fit matters: A broad scope does not mean every technically correct paper is suitable. Significance, novelty, clarity, evidence quality and relevance to a wider scientific audience remain important.
Journal Information at a Glance
| Field | Journal information |
|---|---|
| Official journal name | The Innovation |
| Source type | Journal |
| Scopus Source ID | 21101038708 |
| Online ISSN | 2666-6758 |
| Publisher | Cell Press / Elsevier Inc. |
| Publishing partnership | Members of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association (YIPA), part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| First volume | 2020 |
| Language | English |
| Primary classification | Multidisciplinary / broad scientific scope |
| Scopus indexing | Yes; verify live status before submission |
| Other indexing shown by publisher | DOAJ; PubMed Central; SJR and SNIP are also linked in publisher insights |
| Open-access model | Open access |
| APC displayed by publisher | USD 5,000 excluding taxes |
| CiteScore displayed by publisher | 53.4 |
| Impact Factor displayed by publisher | 25.7 |
| Submission-to-acceptance figure | 128 days displayed by ScienceDirect |
| Acceptance rate | Not publicly stated in the authoritative sources reviewed |
| Official journal site | ScienceDirect journal page |
| Scopus profile | Scopus Source ID 21101038708 |
Metric caution: the ScienceDirect values above are the values displayed on the journal’s current insights surface checked for this article. The page snippet does not expose the reporting year beside each metric, so authors should confirm the year in the live source before placing a metric in a CV, thesis submission, funding document or institutional assessment.
What This Page Covers
- The Innovation aims and scope and the type of scientific contribution it seeks.
- Scopus identity, indexing and publisher-displayed journal metrics.
- Open-access arrangements, APC information and timeline indicators.
- Article types visible in recent issues and how that affects manuscript planning.
- Practical manuscript-fit checks before an author invests time in formatting.
- Submission-readiness, ethical declarations, references, figures and supporting files.
- What is known about peer review and what remains author-guideline dependent.
- How Contentxprtz can support ethical manuscript preparation without promising acceptance.
Methodology and Sources
This profile was prepared by matching the supplied Scopus Source Record ID with the official journal identity and then checking authoritative publisher and indexing sources. Priority was given to the ScienceDirect journal page, the Cell Press journal site, the DOAJ record, PubMed/PubMed Central records and the supplied Scopus source profile. Metrics, fees, editorial roles, timelines, article types and policies can change; they should be reconfirmed on the live journal site before submission.
The Innovation Aims and Scope
The Innovation is designed as an interdisciplinary scientific journal rather than a narrowly specialist title. ScienceDirect states that it aims to promote scientific application by publishing cutting-edge research and high-quality reviews across all scientific disciplines. The publisher specifically names physics, chemistry, materials, nanotechnology, biology, translational medicine, geoscience and engineering, while the wider language of the scope leaves room for strong work that crosses conventional subject boundaries.
The journal’s stated objectives connect scientific discovery with application. Its publisher description emphasizes serving scientists and the public, publishing significant advances, enabling transparent scientific exchange, promoting translation from discovery to technological achievement, and disseminating findings widely. For manuscript-fit purposes, this suggests that a paper is stronger when the authors can articulate not only what is technically new, but why the advance matters to a meaningful scientific problem or application.
What may fit well
- Original research that makes a substantial scientific advance with relevance beyond a very narrow case.
- Interdisciplinary work connecting methods or discoveries across established scientific fields.
- Research with a credible pathway from scientific finding to technological, clinical, environmental or engineering application.
- High-quality reviews that synthesize an important emerging or rapidly developing scientific area.
- Reports or perspectives that provide strong evidence, conceptual synthesis or field-level insight where the journal accepts that content type.
What may require a closer fit check
A manuscript can be scientifically correct and still be a poor match if it is highly local, incremental, descriptive without a clear advance, weakly connected to the journal’s multidisciplinary readership, or framed primarily for a specialist community better served by a field-specific journal. This is an editorial interpretation based on the journal’s broad, high-impact positioning—not an official rejection rule.
Indexing, Scopus Coverage and Journal Metrics
The Innovation is indexed in Scopus under Source ID 21101038708. This is the most important identifier for researchers whose universities explicitly require a Scopus-covered outlet. ScienceDirect also lists DOAJ and PubMed Central among its indexing coverage, which is consistent with the journal’s open-access and multidisciplinary science profile.
| Indicator | Verified information | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Scopus | Source ID 21101038708 | Check the live source profile and your institution’s current recognition rules. |
| CiteScore | 53.4 displayed by ScienceDirect | Confirm the reporting year before quoting the value. |
| Impact Factor | 25.7 displayed by ScienceDirect | Confirm the current JCR year and category context where your institution requires it. |
| DOAJ | Journal record present; open-access status and APC details listed | Useful for checking OA transparency and licensing information. |
| PubMed Central | Listed by the publisher; journal articles are discoverable in PMC | Relevant to biomedical and life-science visibility, but not equivalent to every PubMed/MEDLINE designation. |
| SJR / SNIP | Publisher links these indicators, but a current numeric value was not verified for this article | Use the current database value rather than an unverified third-party number. |
| Quartile | Not stated here because a current category-specific quartile was not verified from an authoritative live source | Check the latest Scopus/SCImago category and year; quartiles can differ by category. |
A strong metric profile can explain why the journal attracts attention, but it should not replace scope evaluation. A paper that does not match the journal’s editorial expectations is not made suitable by the journal’s ranking, and a university requirement for “Scopus” or a particular quartile should be checked against the institution’s exact policy.
What Does The Innovation Publish?
Recent issues show a varied content mix. ScienceDirect issues include research articles, reports, reviews, mini reviews, perspectives, letters, editorials, news items and commentary-style content. Some formats may be invited, commissioned or handled differently from standard unsolicited research submissions, so authors should use the latest official author instructions rather than infer eligibility from the table of contents alone.
For an original research manuscript, the safest planning approach is to identify several recent papers in the closest scientific area and compare their problem significance, evidence depth, figure strategy, methodological completeness and discussion style. For a review or perspective, confirm that the journal accepts unsolicited submissions of that type and whether a proposal or pre-submission enquiry is recommended.
Is This Journal a Good Match for Your Research?
A suitable manuscript should match both the subject scope and the journal’s level of ambition. Because The Innovation is multidisciplinary, it can accommodate diverse scientific areas, but that breadth increases rather than reduces the need for clear framing. Editors and readers should be able to understand why the result matters outside the narrowest technical niche.
| Question | Strong fit signal | Potential concern |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific advance | The study changes understanding, capability or application in a meaningful way. | The result is mainly incremental or confirmatory without a compelling advance. |
| Scope | The topic falls within the broad scientific remit and can interest a multidisciplinary audience. | The manuscript is narrowly local or specialized with little wider relevance. |
| Evidence | Methods, validation and analysis are rigorous enough to support the central claim. | Claims extend beyond what the data or study design can support. |
| Application | The work has a credible scientific, technological, clinical, environmental or engineering implication where relevant. | Application claims are speculative or disconnected from the actual findings. |
| Recent journal precedent | Recent papers show comparable themes, approaches or audience relevance. | No recent content appears close to the topic or research style. |
Open Access, APC and Waiver Considerations
The Innovation is fully open access. ScienceDirect currently displays an article publishing charge of USD 5,000 excluding taxes. DOAJ independently lists a publication fee up to USD 5,000 and notes that a waiver policy exists. The actual amount payable can depend on taxes, waivers, institutional agreements, funder arrangements or policy changes.
Before submission, the corresponding author should verify who is responsible for the APC, whether the institution has an agreement with Elsevier, whether the funder allows the selected licence, and what documentation is required for a waiver or discount. Do not assume that an open-access journal is free to publish in merely because the article is free to read.
Peer Review and What Happens After Submission
DOAJ lists The Innovation as using anonymous peer review, and the journal states that it strives to follow Cell Press peer-review and publishing standards. The precise workflow can depend on article type and current editorial policy, so the official author instructions remain the controlling source.
A typical journal workflow may include technical checks, editorial assessment, reviewer invitation, external review, revision, editorial decision, production and proofing. That sequence is general publication guidance rather than a journal-specific promise. ScienceDirect currently displays 128 days from submission to acceptance, while DOAJ reports an average of 33 weeks from submission to publication. These figures cover different intervals and should not be interpreted as guaranteed deadlines for an individual manuscript.
Editorial Leadership
The ScienceDirect editors-and-staff page dated 16 June 2025 lists Ian H. Frazer, Buxing Han and Kenneth J. Hsu as editors-in-chief, supported by a multidisciplinary steering committee and executive editors across scientific fields. Because editorial appointments can change, authors should verify the current editors and staff page when evaluating expertise or addressing a pre-submission question.
Preparing a Manuscript for Submission
Start with the current official author instructions before applying detailed formatting. The goal is to avoid spending time perfecting a manuscript structure that does not match the selected article type. Even when a journal allows flexible initial submission, authors still need complete scientific reporting, clear figures, accurate references and the required declarations.
Manuscript structure
For original research, make the research question and contribution visible early, align the methods with the claims, present results in a logical evidence sequence and ensure the discussion distinguishes findings from interpretation. Review manuscripts need a transparent organizing logic, current literature coverage and a clear synthesis rather than a descriptive list of studies.
Figures, tables and supplementary material
High-impact multidisciplinary work often depends on figures that communicate the scientific advance efficiently. Every figure should have a clear purpose, legible labeling and a caption that lets the reader understand the result without searching excessively through the main text. Supplementary files should support reproducibility or depth rather than become a place for essential results omitted from the manuscript.
References and research integrity
Check every citation against the original source, remove references that do not support the associated claim and use persistent identifiers such as DOI links where appropriate. Do not fabricate references, manipulate citations for perceived prestige or cite papers that have not been checked. Where preprints are used, label them accurately and distinguish them from peer-reviewed evidence.
Publication Ethics and Required Declarations
Authors should expect Elsevier/Cell Press publishing-ethics requirements to apply. Relevant issues commonly include originality, authorship, competing interests, funding disclosure, research ethics approval where applicable, data integrity, permissions and responsible use of generative AI. The exact wording and submission fields should be taken from the current journal instructions and Elsevier ethics policies.
As a practical publication-readiness step, confirm that every listed author meets authorship criteria, all contributors are appropriately acknowledged, data and images have not been manipulated inappropriately, permissions are available for reused content, and any use of AI-assisted tools is disclosed according to the publisher’s current rules.
Common Reasons a Manuscript May Be Unsuitable
- The work falls within a scientific discipline but does not present a sufficiently significant or clearly articulated advance.
- The manuscript is technically specialized without explaining why the finding matters to the journal’s wider readership.
- Claims of innovation or application are stronger than the evidence supports.
- Methods, validation or statistical analysis are incomplete for the central conclusion.
- The article type is not currently accepted for unsolicited submission.
- The manuscript has not been compared with recent papers from the journal, creating a mismatch in depth, framing or audience.
- Language, structure, figures or references make the contribution difficult to evaluate even when the underlying science is potentially strong.
Submission-Readiness Checklist
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Identity | You are submitting to The Innovation, ISSN 2666-6758, Scopus Source ID 21101038708. |
| Scope | The scientific problem and contribution align with the journal’s multidisciplinary aims. |
| Recent precedent | You have reviewed several recent papers in the closest topic area. |
| Article type | The intended format is currently accepted and any proposal requirement is satisfied. |
| Novelty statement | The manuscript explains the advance precisely without inflated claims. |
| Methods and data | The evidence is complete, reproducible where appropriate and consistent with the claims. |
| Figures | Figures are legible, accurately labeled and ethically prepared. |
| References | Citations are verified, complete and relevant. |
| Declarations | Authorship, funding, conflicts, ethics, data and AI-use disclosures are complete where required. |
| APC planning | Funding, waiver or institutional coverage has been checked for the USD 5,000 publisher-displayed APC. |
| Institutional requirement | Your university or funder accepts the journal under its current Scopus/JCR rules. |
| Final language review | The paper is clear enough for editors and reviewers to evaluate the science without avoidable language barriers. |
How Contentxprtz Can Support Publication Readiness
Contentxprtz can support researchers who have chosen The Innovation—or are still comparing journals—through ethical manuscript-preparation services. Support may include manuscript assessment, academic editing, language polishing, journal formatting, reference and citation consistency checks, figure-caption clarity, cover-letter editing, submission-file review and reviewer-response editing.
The purpose of this support is to help authors communicate their own research more clearly and align a manuscript with documented journal requirements. It does not include fabricated data, invented citations, deceptive authorship, manipulated peer review or any promise of acceptance. Editorial decisions remain entirely with the journal.
Explore Contentxprtz journal publication services
Summary
The Innovation is a multidisciplinary, open-access Cell Press/Elsevier journal associated with Scopus Source ID 21101038708 and online ISSN 2666-6758. Its official scope emphasizes cutting-edge research and high-quality reviews across scientific disciplines, with an explicit interest in scientific application and the translation of discovery into technological achievement. ScienceDirect currently displays a CiteScore of 53.4, an Impact Factor of 25.7, an APC of USD 5,000 excluding taxes and 128 days from submission to acceptance; these values should be reconfirmed in the live journal record before formal use.
For authors, the practical decision is not whether the journal looks prestigious, but whether the manuscript makes a sufficiently strong advance for its scope and readership. Verify the current article type, author instructions, fees and database status, compare the paper with recent journal content, and strengthen the manuscript before submission.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Innovation
What is The Innovation journal?
The Innovation is a broad-scope, interdisciplinary, open-access scientific journal published by Cell Press/Elsevier in partnership with members of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association (YIPA), part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It publishes cutting-edge basic and applied research and high-quality reviews across scientific disciplines.
Is The Innovation indexed in Scopus?
Yes. The supplied Scopus Source Record ID is 21101038708, and authoritative journal records identify that source as The Innovation. Researchers whose institutions require Scopus indexing should still check the live Scopus source profile immediately before submission because database coverage can change.
What is the Scopus Source ID of The Innovation?
The Scopus Source ID associated with The Innovation is 21101038708.
What is the ISSN of The Innovation?
The online ISSN is 2666-6758.
Who publishes The Innovation?
The Innovation is published by Cell Press/Elsevier in partnership with members of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association (YIPA), part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. ScienceDirect also identifies Youth Innovation Co., Ltd. in the publication copyright information.
What subjects does The Innovation cover?
Its official scope is interdisciplinary and includes physics, chemistry, materials, nanotechnology, biology, translational medicine, geoscience, engineering and other scientific disciplines. The publisher describes the journal as promoting scientific application and the translation of scientific discovery into technological achievement.
What are the current CiteScore and Impact Factor values shown for The Innovation?
The ScienceDirect Journal Insights page checked for this guide displays a CiteScore of 53.4 and an Impact Factor of 25.7. These are publisher-displayed current values at the time of verification; authors should reconfirm the applicable reporting year and current values before using them for institutional evaluation.
Is The Innovation open access?
Yes. The Innovation is a fully open-access journal. DOAJ records that it has published open access since 2020 and lists Creative Commons licensing options used by the journal.
What is the article processing charge for The Innovation?
ScienceDirect currently displays an article publishing charge of USD 5,000 excluding taxes. DOAJ also lists a fee up to USD 5,000 and notes that a waiver policy exists. Authors should confirm the final charge, waiver eligibility and any institutional or funder coverage before submission.
How long does publication take in The Innovation?
ScienceDirect currently displays 128 days from submission to acceptance. DOAJ separately reports an average of 33 weeks from submission to publication. These figures measure different stages and may change over time, so they should be treated as indicative rather than guaranteed timelines.
What type of peer review does The Innovation use?
DOAJ lists the journal as using anonymous peer review. The journal also states that it strives to follow Cell Press peer-review and publishing standards. Authors should consult the latest official author instructions for the precise workflow and any article-type-specific details.
What article types appear in The Innovation?
Recent ScienceDirect issues show research articles, reports, reviews, mini reviews, perspectives, letters, editorials, news items and other commentary-style content. Availability and submission eligibility can vary by article type, so authors should verify the current author guidelines before preparing a manuscript.
Is The Innovation suitable for PhD researchers?
It can be relevant to PhD researchers whose work makes a strong, significant and genuinely interdisciplinary or field-advancing contribution within the journal scope. Being a PhD scholar does not itself determine suitability; manuscript novelty, evidence quality, significance, scope alignment and article type matter more.
How can I tell whether my manuscript fits The Innovation?
Compare your research question, novelty, scientific significance, methods and intended audience with the journal aims and several recent papers in the same area. Because the journal is broad but selective in the type of advances it highlights, topical fit alone is not enough; the work should also offer a clear advance with relevance beyond a narrow local problem.
Can Contentxprtz guarantee publication in The Innovation?
No. Contentxprtz can ethically support manuscript assessment, academic editing, language polishing, journal formatting, reference consistency, cover-letter preparation and reviewer-response editing. Editorial decisions remain entirely with the journal, and no editing or publication-support service can guarantee acceptance or publication.
