We are pleased to present the 2024 Annual Progress Report for Open Exploration, reflecting on the achievements and positive developments across our portfolio of 14 journals.

Manuscript Submissions and Author Diversity

In 2024, Open Exploration received a total of 1,560 manuscript submissions, with authors representing over 50 countries and regions worldwide. The distribution of manuscript types reveals a healthy balance between Original Articles (571, 36.6%) and Reviews (641, 41%). The rejection rates across our 14 journals ranged from 25.7% to 81.7%. Additionally, special issue submissions accounted for 54% of the total, while regular submissions made up 46%. The editorial board contributed 9% of the total submissions. This diverse and substantial portfolio of submissions underscores the international appeal and broad academic reach of our journals, highlighting the widespread trust that scholars globally place in our publishing platform.

Publication Output and Author Impact

In 2024, Open Exploration published 572 high-quality articles, including 155 Original Articles (27.1%) and 275 Reviews (48%). The average H-index of corresponding authors of published articles stood at 22.9. These figures not only demonstrate our ability to disseminate a substantial volume of research but also emphasize the significant influence and recognition of the researchers we publish, reinforcing the credibility and impact of the work disseminated through our journals.

Peer Review and Reviewers

In 2024, our 14 journals were supported by a robust network of 1,802 reviewers, representing over 55 countries and regions. The average H-index of our reviewers was 21.7. Each manuscript submitted to our journals received an average of 3.06 substantive feedback reports, underscoring the thoroughness and rigor of our peer-review process. This level of scrutiny helps ensure the quality and credibility of the research we publish.

Database Indexing and Citescore

One of the most notable achievements of 2024 was the expanded inclusion of our journals in prestigious databases. Exploration of Immunology (EI) has successfully passed the rigorous review process and becomes a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE); Exploration of Foods and Foodomics (EFF) has passed the evaluation and is officially indexed by Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ); Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy (ENT) has been accepted for Scopus.

Meanwhile, the citation performance of our Scopus-indexed journals is particularly encouraging. As of January 2025, the Citescore trackers for our four Scopus-indexed journals were as follows: 1.8 for Exploration of Medicine (EM), 3 for Exploration of Targeted Anti-tumor Therapy (ETAT), 1.5 for Exploration of Immunology (EI), and a promising 1.9 for the newly indexed Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy (ENT), with expectations of exceeding 2 when the official Citescore is released in June 2025. These positive citation metrics indicate a strong upward trajectory for our journals, suggesting continued growth in influence and impact within their respective academic fields. 

Figure 1. CiteScore Comparison of Scopus-indexed Journals (2023 vs. 2024)

Also, below is the database indexing status of all our journals. 

Figure 2. Database Indexing Status of 14 Journals in Open Exploration

Conclusion and Acknowledgments

As we look back on 2024, it is clear that our dedication to quality and innovation in academic publishing has yielded significant results. The diverse range of submissions, coupled with our rigorous editorial processes and successful database inclusions, demonstrates our growing influence and impact within the academic community. None of these achievements would be possible without the dedication and hard work of our editorial boards, reviewers, authors, and readers. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to our success in 2024.

For those interested in delving deeper into our accomplishments, the 2024 reviewer acknowledgments and journal development reports for all our publications are now available on each journal's website (as well as below table). We invite you to explore these documents to gain further insight into the exceptional work being done across our journal portfolio.

Thank you for your continued support of our publishing house. Together, we will strive for excellence in academic publishing.

2024 Annual Progress Report of Open Exploration.pdf