Publication Policy and Statement on Proceedings
Submitting any contribution to GDI or DigiBUILT, including GDI 2025, or registering for, attending, presenting at or otherwise taking part in any GDI-related event, means you have read and accepted the Terms and Conditions of Participation and the policies they incorporate. See clause 2.
This policy explains how papers accepted at GDI and DigiBUILT are considered for publication, the role of independent publishers, and what happens when a paper is not taken forward by a publisher. It forms part of the Terms and Conditions of Participation.
1.Our agreements with Springer Nature#
GDI 2025, and GDI 2026 with DigiBUILT 2026, entered into agreements with Springer Nature for the publication of conference proceedings.
In line with Springer Nature’s guidelines and protocols for conference proceedings, which give weight to original, substantive research with clear novel outcomes, Springer Nature conducts its own quality assessment of every accepted paper and publishes the papers that meet its criteria. Abstracts, extended abstracts and papers of fewer than four pages fall outside the format of the proceedings.
2.Papers outside Springer Nature’s scope#
Springer Nature has advised that the following types of paper fall outside the scope of the proceedings and will not be considered for publication:
- literature reviews that do not introduce a novel framework, methodology or original contribution beyond the review itself;
- scientometric or bibliometric studies, such as keyword mapping or citation trend analyses;
- survey-based papers that report descriptive findings only, without advancing knowledge or theory;
- essays and opinion pieces that lack empirical grounding or methodological rigour; and
- derivative or incremental studies that apply existing tools or methods to a new context without producing new insights.
3.Independent publisher decisions#
Springer Nature, and every other publisher the Series works with, applies its requirements independently and makes its own final decision on each paper and each volume. The organisers forward accepted papers for consideration, but cannot direct, override, appeal or guarantee a publisher’s decision, its timetable, or its continued participation.
Acceptance for presentation at GDI or DigiBUILT reflects the judgement of the scientific committee. It is not a guarantee of publication by any publisher.
4.Accepted papers not taken forward by Springer Nature#
An accepted paper that Springer Nature does not take forward remains part of the GDI scholarly record. Its acceptance and its presentation at the conference stand, and authors keep their certificates of presentation.
The organisers value every contribution made to the conference. Where it is practicable, the organisers may consider such papers for publication through alternative platforms, which may include another proceedings volume, an edited book, a journal special issue or a recognised open repository. Each alternative platform applies its own review and requirements, and authors will be asked to agree before their paper is forwarded.
Consideration through an alternative platform is offered in good faith and at the organisers’ discretion. The platform, format and timetable are settled case by case, according to the requirements of the platforms available at the time.
5.Indexing#
The Series works with established academic publishers. The indexing of any proceedings, volume, journal, book or platform in Scopus, Web of Science or any other database, and any ranking or impact factor, is determined independently by the indexing services and publishers concerned, according to their own criteria and timetables, and may change over time. Authors who need to confirm the current status of an outlet are encouraged to consult its publisher or the relevant indexing service directly.
6.Journal special issues and edited books#
The scientific committee may invite the strongest papers of an Edition to be extended for journal special issues or developed as chapters of edited books. An invitation is not an acceptance. Extended papers go through each journal’s or publisher’s full review and must add substantial new material to the conference version.
7.Fees and publication outcomes#
Registration fees cover participation in the conference. They do not purchase publication. A publisher’s decision not to publish a paper, publication through an alternative platform, a delay in publication, or the indexing status of any outlet does not entitle authors to a refund or other remedy. See clause 8 of the Terms and Conditions of Participation.
8.Questions before you submit#
If you are unsure whether your work meets these requirements, please contact the organisers before submitting. The organisers would much rather advise you early than see a strong conference contribution fall outside a publisher’s scope.