Desk Transfer

Last Updated: April 2026

The Desk Transfer Policy at ETFLIN is designed to optimize the editorial workflow, ensuring that every manuscript finds its ideal home within our portfolio. By streamlining the submission process, we aim to reduce the time researchers spend in the "rejection-and-resubmission" cycle, thereby accelerating the dissemination of scientific knowledge.

Core Principles of Manuscript Redistribution

Our transfer process is built on four fundamental pillars to ensure a high-quality experience for authors and reviewers:

  • Efficiency: We conduct prompt assessments to identify if a manuscript is better suited for a sister journal. This swift redirection minimizes delays in the publication timeline.

  • Transparency: Authors remain the primary decision-makers. We provide clear explanations for any transfer suggestion, and authors retain the absolute right to accept or decline the proposal.

  • Reviewer Continuity: Whenever possible, we aim to transfer existing peer-review reports along with the manuscript. This reduces the burden on the global reviewer pool and speeds up the decision process at the receiving journal.

  • Quality Standards: A transfer is not a guarantee of publication. The receiving journal will evaluate the manuscript against its specific quality expectations and scope to maintain editorial integrity.

The Implementation Process

The transfer workflow is a collaborative effort between editorial teams and authors:

  1. Initial Assessment: Upon submission, the editorial team evaluates the manuscript's fit regarding the journal's specific scope and focus.

  2. Identification and Notification: If a manuscript is technically sound but falls outside the current journal's scope, the editors identify a more suitable target within ETFLIN. The author is then notified of the rationale behind the suggested transfer.

  3. Transfer and Re-evaluation: Once the author provides consent, the manuscript, along with any available reviewer comments, is moved to the target journal. The new editorial team then performs a final evaluation to ensure alignment with their specific standards.

Benefits for the Research Community

This policy serves the academic community by fostering innovation and reducing administrative friction. For authors, it offers a higher probability of acceptance within a shorter timeframe. For reviewers, it prevents the duplication of effort by allowing their insights to follow the manuscript across the portfolio.

Author Choice and Ethical Integrity

It is important to note that a desk transfer is an invitation, not a requirement. If an author feels the suggested target journal does not align with their goals, they are free to withdraw their manuscript and submit elsewhere without prejudice.

Furthermore, the Desk Transfer Policy is never used to circumvent rigorous peer review. Even if a manuscript is transferred with positive reviews, the Editor-in-Chief of the receiving journal has the final authority to request additional revisions or even reject the paper if it does not meet the specific thresholds of the new title. This ensures that while we strive for efficiency, the scientific quality of ETFLIN publications remains uncompromised.