STEM Think Tank

Aims and Scope

STEM Think Tank (STT) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by Washington University of Science and Technology that focuses on the strategic and commercial value of STEM-driven innovation. The journal publishes high-impact applied research, executive-oriented case studies, market intelligence, and policy analysis that examine how scientific and technological advances can be transformed into competitive advantage, scalable ventures, and sustainable economic outcomes.

STT is designed for scholars, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers seeking rigorous insights at the intersection of STEM and business. Priority is given to contributions that present clear commercialization pathways, investment relevance, operational implications, or measurable performance outcomes, including growth potential, market viability, efficiency gains, and return on investment.

The journal particularly welcomes interdisciplinary work that connects research and development with corporate strategy, innovation management, capital formation, technology transfer, and public policy. By linking laboratory progress with market execution, STT serves as a platform for thought leadership on how emerging technologies can shape industries, strengthen institutions, and create long-term business value in a global economy.

Scope areas include, but are not limited to:

Open Access Statement

STT is a fully open-access publication. All published articles are freely available online immediately upon publication, with no subscription or access fee for readers. Authors retain copyright of their work under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Publication costs of accepted manuscripts are covered through Article Processing Charges (APC) paid by the author or their supporting institution. Details are available on the Manuscript Submission page.

Peer Review Policy

All manuscripts submitted to STT undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. Author identities are not disclosed to reviewers, and reviewer identities are not disclosed to authors. Manuscripts are evaluated by at least two independent experts: one academic scholar and one industry executive to ensure both scientific rigor and commercial relevance. The editorial decision is based on originality, business impact, methodological soundness, and clarity of presentation.

Target review turnaround: 6–8 weeks from submission.

Publication Ethics

STT adheres to the principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scientific and business record. Key principles include:

• Originality: All submitted manuscripts must represent original, unpublished work not under review elsewhere.
• Authorship: All listed authors must have made a meaningful intellectual or practical contribution to the work.
• Plagiarism: All submissions are screened for plagiarism. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarized content will be rejected without review.
• Conflict of Interest: Authors must declare any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived to influence their work.
• Data Integrity: Authors must ensure the accuracy and authenticity of all reported data, financials, and business results.
• Human and Animal Research: Studies involving human subjects must confirm ethical approval from the relevant institutional review board and compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Abstracting and Indexing

STT is actively pursuing indexing in major academic and business databases. Current and planned indexing includes:

• Crossref (DOI assignment for all articles)
• Google Scholar
• (Additional indexing applications in progress — list to be updated)

Journal Metrics

Metrics will be populated following the launch of the inaugural issue.