STM Integrity Hub

A New, Unified Approach to Safeguard Research Integrity

Imagine if academic publishers of all sizes, from all corners of the globe, pooled together to protect research integrity. Imagine if we banded together to share knowledge, innovations and data with a single mission: to safeguard the integrity of science.

Imagine what we could accomplish, together. We have. And we invite you to join us.

Introducing the STM Integrity Hub.

The STM Integrity Hub is a robust, direct response to safeguard the integrity of science. Through a combination of shared data and experiences, and by harnessing technological innovation, the STM Integrity Hub offers a holistic approach to detect research-integrity-offending manuscripts. Here, publishers can effectively and efficiently respond to the increasing and alarming volume of materials entering scholarly communications that violate accepted research integrity.

More specifically, the STM Integrity Hub will provide a cloud-based environment for publishers to check submitted articles for research integrity issues, consistent with applicable laws and industry best practice and fully respecting the laws and ethics of data privacy and competition/anti-trust laws. In this environment, publishers may collaborate with other parties of their choosing to develop and operate screening tools for the benefit of the entire scholarly ecosystem.

Think of it as a knowledge exchange: where publishers may share experiences and learnings regarding how best to safeguard research integrity in science; a think tank for policy and legal frameworks; and a living library of infrastructure and tools.

Mission

to equip the scholarly communication community with data, intelligence, and technology to protect research integrity.

The hub exists to:

Spark + Sustain Collaboration

across publishers by allowing individuals and organizations from across the publishing ecosystem to come together. The first of its kind, the STM Integrity Hub is built from ground up to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration through legally compliant:

Knowledge and idea exchange
Development of voluntary policies, guidelines and frameworks
Cooperative innovation
Secure, safeguarded content submissions

Uphold Research Integrity

by detecting manuscripts found to violate accepted research integrity standards, serving as an ‘early warning system’ for integrity issues by analyzing manuscripts for submitted publication to participating scholarly journals, through:

Technology and screening infrastructure
Secure, protected environment that protects data privacy and is consistent with competition laws
Policies + frameworks
A modular platform to safeguard research integrity for all

Empower Publishers of Any Kind

to easily come together for the sole purpose of protecting the scientific record. The STM Integrity Hub is an accessible and secure means to identify manuscripts that violate accepted research integrity standards before getting further into the publication cycle and ecosystem — legally, adequately and efficiently.

Saved time and resources
Easy access to sharable information, data and tools
Helpful resources to get started
Collaboration between publishers of all sorts, shapes and sizes
A means to influence change — protect the scholarly record, for all.

Enable Rapid Responses

to new threats through a flexible, innovative system architecture — a hub — that integrates with a wide range of specific and individually chosen screening tools. This supports versatility and adaptability to respond as new threats arise. This is accomplished through:

Flexible system architecture
Ease of integration with other systems + tools
A scalable, versatile framework

Video Library

Image alteration and duplication in scientific publications — Module 1

The first in a series of instructional videos scholarly journal editors can use to learn how to better screen for manipulated images in submitted manuscripts.

In December of 2022, we compiled information from four providers: ImageTwin, Proofig, FigCheck and Imacheck. We set out to create an informative source of information for publishers about available tools and services. Please note that STM did not validate the claims made in this overview.

Integrity Hub Launch

Catch the initial webinar reveal of the STM Integrity Hub on April 28 2022 — where we offer an introduction, a demonstration and panel discussion.

“No single publisher will be able to solve this problem alone. We arrive at better, more affordable solutions when we share resources and expertise. This is why we created the Integrity Hub.”

Joris van Rossum,
Director of Research Integrity, STM

Latest News

Integrity Hub continues to gain momentum with inclusion of PubPeer database in screening tool | STM September 21, 2023
STM Integrity Hub incorporates Clear Skies’ Papermill Alarm screening tool | STM September 1, 2023
Detection tool developed to fight flood of fake academic papers| Financial Times April 13, 2023
The Next Step for the Research Integrity Hub | Springer Nature April 13, 2023
BMJ joins STM Integrity Hub, an industry initiative to protect research integrity | BMJ May 30, 2022
The New STM Integrity Hub | Scholarly Kitchen May 3, 2022
Tackling paper mills and bogus research: Some things are better done together | Springer Nature April 28, 2022
Increasing confidence and trust in research: cracking down on misconduct | IOP Publishing on April 28 2022
Original Announcement on Dec 21, 2021 | STM

Collaboration is at the core.

The STM Integrity Hub has been founded by STM members committed to research integrity. Its architecture is designed to evolve and grow as new data, standards and resources are added, consistent with applicable laws, data privacy and competition law. The STM Integrity Hub is developed by STM Solutions, the standards and technology enabling operational arm of STM.