1. Preprint Policy

Inovasi Lokal fully supports the rapid dissemination of research through preprint servers. Posting a manuscript on a recognized preprint server does not constitute prior publication and will not prejudice the peer-review process or disqualify the manuscript from consideration.

•  Accepted Preprint Servers: medRxiv, bioRxiv, ResearchSquare, SSRN, OSF Preprints, arXiv, and other reputable, non-commercial preprint platforms.
• Mandatory Declaration: Authors must disclose the preprint DOI and URL during initial submission. The preprint version must be cited in the reference list of the final manuscript.
• Post-Acceptance Update: Upon acceptance, authors are encouraged to update the preprint with a link to the final published version (Version of Record) and a note indicating that the manuscript has been peer-reviewed and accepted by Inovasi Lokal.
• Commercial Preprints: Manuscripts posted on commercial platforms that charge authors for preprint hosting without peer-review infrastructure may be subject to additional editorial scrutiny.

2. Research Data Availability & Open Science

In line with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), Inovasi Lokal strongly encourages authors to make their research data openly available. A Data Availability Statement (DAS) is mandatory in all submissions.

• 
  Recommended Repositories: Mendeley Data, Figshare, Dryad, Zenodo, OSF, or discipline-specific repositories (e.g., GenBank for genomic data, ClinicalTrials.gov for trial data).
• Restricted Data: If data cannot be shared publicly (e.g., due to patient privacy, ethical restrictions, or national security), authors must clearly state the reasons in the DAS and describe the process for requesting access (e.g., "available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request with institutional ethics approval").
• 
  Data Format & Metadata: Data should be submitted in open, non-proprietary formats (e.g., CSV, JSON, XML) whenever possible, accompanied by comprehensive metadata and a README file.
• 
  Supplementary Materials: Large datasets, code, and additional figures may be uploaded as supplementary files during submission. These will be published alongside the article and archived permanently.

3. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-Assisted Technologies

Inovasi Lokal recognizes the growing role of AI tools in scholarly writing and research. However, to preserve academic integrity, the following rules apply, consistent with COPE and ICMJE guidelines:

• 
  AI Cannot Be an Author: AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot) cannot be listed as authors or co-authors, as they cannot take legal responsibility for the work, fulfill authorship criteria (ICMJE), or manage conflicts of interest.
•  Permitted Uses with Disclosure: AI may be used for language editing, grammar correction, translation, code generation, or literature summarization—provided that its use is transparently disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgements section, specifying the tool name, version, and purpose.
• 
  Prohibited Uses: AI must not be used to fabricate data, generate fake references, write substantial portions of the scientific argument without human oversight, or manipulate images in a misleading way.
• 
  Author Responsibility: Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the final manuscript, including any content generated or assisted by AI. All AI-assisted content must be rigorously verified by the authors.

4. Complaints and Appeals Procedure

Inovasi Lokal is committed to fair and transparent editorial decision-making. Authors who disagree with an editorial decision (e.g., rejection, request for major revision) may file a formal appeal.

• 
  Timeline: Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief within 14 calendar days of the editorial decision.
• 
  Required Content: The appeal letter must include: (a) manuscript ID and title, (b) specific grounds for appeal (e.g., factual errors by reviewers, methodological misunderstandings, evidence of bias), (c) new scientific evidence or clarifications not previously considered, and (d) a point-by-point response to the reviewers' comments.
• 
  Evaluation Process: Appeals are evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief, who may consult additional independent reviewers or the Editorial Board. The process typically takes 2–4 weeks.
• Final Decision: The Editor-in-Chief's decision on the appeal is final. Possible outcomes include: upholding the original decision, inviting a revised submission, or sending the manuscript to new reviewers.

For complaints regarding ethical misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, authorship disputes, reviewer misconduct), please refer to our Publication Ethics and Complaints & Appeals Policy pages, which follow COPE flowcharts.

5. Special Issue Policy

Inovasi Lokal periodically publishes Special Issues focused on emerging topics in health sciences. Special Issues are managed by Guest Editors who are experts in the relevant field.

• 
  Proposal Submission: Researchers interested in guest editing a Special Issue must submit a proposal to the Editor-in-Chief, including: (a) proposed title and scope, (b) rationale and timeliness, (c) list of potential contributors, (d) proposed timeline, and (e) CVs of the Guest Editor(s).
• 
  Editorial Oversight: All Special Issue manuscripts undergo the same rigorous double-blind peer-review process as regular submissions. The Editor-in-Chief retains final decision authority.
• 
  Conflict of Interest: Guest Editors cannot handle manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest (e.g., from their own institution or close collaborators). Such manuscripts are handled by the Editor-in-Chief or a Section Editor.

For detailed guidelines, visit our Special Issue Proposal Guidelines page.

6. Authorship Disputes

Authorship disputes (e.g., disagreements over author order, inclusion/exclusion of contributors) are handled in accordance with ICMJE authorship criteria and COPE guidelines.

• Pre-Submission Agreement: All authors must agree on the author list and order before submission. The corresponding author is responsible for confirming this agreement.
• 
  Post-Submission Changes: Any change to authorship (addition, removal, or reordering) after submission requires a completed Authorship Change Form, signed by all original authors and any new authors, with a detailed justification.
• 
  Dispute Resolution: In cases of unresolved authorship disputes, the journal may suspend the editorial process until the authors' institutions mediate and provide a formal resolution. The journal does not arbitrate authorship disputes directly.

7. Image and Data Integrity

To maintain the integrity of the scientific record, Inovasi Lokal adheres to strict standards for image and data presentation:

• 
  Image Manipulation: Minor adjustments to brightness, contrast, or color balance are acceptable if applied uniformly across the entire image and do not obscure, enhance, or misrepresent any feature. Splicing, selective erasure, or misleading enhancements are strictly prohibited.
• 
  Original Data: Authors must retain original, unprocessed data and images for at least 5 years after publication and provide them to the editorial office upon request.
• 
  Screening: All submitted images are screened using forensic tools (e.g., ImageTwin, Proofig) to detect duplication, manipulation, or reuse across publications.

8. Post-Publication Discussions and Letters to the Editor

Inovasi Lokal encourages scholarly dialogue even after publication. Readers may submit Letters to the Editor commenting on published articles.

•  Timeline: Letters should be submitted within 3 months of the article's online publication.
• 
  Format: Maximum 500 words, 5 references, 1 table/figure. Must be constructive and scientifically focused.
• Author Response: The original authors will be invited to respond. Both the letter and the response (if provided) will be published together and linked to the original article.

9. Green Open Access & Self-Archiving

As a Gold Open Access journal under CC BY-SA 4.0, Inovasi Lokal grants authors broad rights to share their work:

•  Preprints: Authors may post preprints on any server at any time.
• 
  Accepted Manuscript (Author's Version): May be deposited in institutional or subject repositories immediately upon acceptance, with a link to the final Version of Record.
• 
  Version of Record (Publisher's PDF): May be freely shared on personal websites, academic networks (e.g., ResearchGate, Academia.edu), and social media, provided the DOI and journal citation are clearly indicated.

10. Clinical Trial Registration

In accordance with ICMJE requirements, Inovasi Lokal will only consider for publication reports of clinical trials that have been registered in a WHO-approved clinical trials registry (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN, Indonesian Clinical Trials Registry).

• Timing: Registration must occur before the enrollment of the first participant. Retrospective registration is not accepted.
• Disclosure: The registry name and registration number must be stated at the end of the Abstract and in the Methods section of the manuscript.

Questions or Clarifications?

If you have questions about any of these policies, please contact the Editorial Office at suryaronal@gmail.com. We are committed to supporting authors, reviewers, and readers in navigating the evolving landscape of scholarly publishing.