In an article on growing threats to research integrity, Times Higher Education covers STM’s report Safeguarding Scholarly Communication: Publisher Practices to Uphold Research Integrity. The article describes how publishers are increasingly focused on identifying integrity issues before publication—responding to paper mills, AI-enabled fabrication, and coordinated fraud networks—while scaling up research integrity teams and collaborating on shared screening approaches.

THE highlights the STM Integrity Hub as an example of collaboration designed to improve detection capacity across publishers, while noting the continued opportunity to extend benefits to smaller publishers and those operating outside major publishing centers.

Read the full article at Times Higher Education → (subscription required)

Read STM’s report→ available here

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Now in its third year (building on the legacy of STM Week), this year’s Innovation & Integrity Days reflected a noticeable shift: more dialogue across traditional boundaries, more urgency around shared challenges, and a stronger sense of common purpose in shaping the future of research integrity and innovation — priorities that reflect this year’s theme “Building Tomorrow’s Research Integrity Framework”.

For those unable to join us in London, here are some of the key takeaways and highlights:

Day 1 Recap

Day 2 Recap

Day One: the STM Innovator Fair

The first day of STM’s Innovation & Integrity Days focused on practical progress in innovation — with a keynote, lightning talks, startup pitches and a panel that explored how technology, infrastructure and collaboration are reshaping research integrity.

In the opening keynote, Professor Rachael Gooberman-Hill (UK Committee on Research Integrity; University of Bristol) set the tone by drawing on her extensive experience to frame research integrity not as a checklist, but as the long-term work of building and maintaining trust — informed by context, relationships, and values.

The lightning talks that followed showcased a wave of innovation already underway — not just isolated tools, but signals of how the ecosystem is adapting. Key themes included:

• Workflow integration: Platforms like KGL’s Smart Publish, Proofig’s PubShield, Enago Reports, ReviewerZero and Hum’s Alchemist Review demonstrated how multiple integrity signals can be brought together in a single editorial interface. DataSeer’s SnapShot tool demonstrated how agentic LLM technology can be leveraged to support the editorial process and Scitility, a Vesalius Innovation Award finalist, added to the picture with article-level risk scoring based on co-authorship patterns and retractions.
• Upstream provenance: Solutions like Veridat’s Bench and VeriMe are moving trust signals earlier in the process — capturing the when, where and how of data creation, and validating researcher identity in a privacy-preserving way. This was echoed in Thesify AI’s pitch — using structured feedback and journal matching to support quality at submission.
• Reviewer capacity and quality: ReviewerOne, Global Campus and SinoScholar (MPS) explored ways to strengthen reviewer pools through better matching, recognition and AI-assisted support. Profectus Academy, the Vesalius Award winner, connects here too — using real-world examples to build reviewer-like feedback into the research grant writing process.
• AI-readiness, risk awareness and trust: From Cashmere’s work on preparing trusted content for LLMs to Otto-SR’s systematic review support and Dandelion’s visual literature mapping, the ecosystem is thinking ahead. AuthentiSci, another Vesalius finalist, approached this from the public trust angle — enabling ORCID-verified researchers to rate and contextualise science reporting.

The innovations on display reflected a shared aim: to embed trust earlier, deeper and more systematically into the research process — supporting not just editors and research integrity staff, but researchers, reviewers and the public.

The day also featured Karger’s Vesalius Innovation Award, spotlighting early‑stage innovation focused on trust and researcher support. Five finalists pitched from more than 100 applications worldwide; you can learn more about the winner Profectus Academy and the other finalists here.

A five-year retrospective on GetFTR offered a compelling testimony of cross-industry collaboration delivering results. Originally launched to streamline access to the version of record from discovery services, GetFTR has evolved into critical infrastructure supporting the discoverability and use of trusted scholarly content in a multitude of ways.

The Fair also created space for practical exchange. Between sessions, attendees connected with exhibitors, explored prototypes and surfaced shared challenges. In parallel, in-person Research Integrity Workshops provided case-based learning in a confidential setting — not covered in this report, but an important part of the day’s impact.

The final session, From Pitch to Partnership, explored how stakeholders assess new ventures. Investors, infrastructure leaders and acquirers shared frank insights: what works, what doesn’t, and how mission-aligned startups can grow without compromising their values.

Taken together, the Innovator Fair pointed to a clear direction of travel: innovation that embeds trust throughout the research lifecycle — supported by smart tools, shared infrastructure, and steady collaboration.

Day Two: Research Integrity Day

Held under the Chatham House Rule, Day Two of the programme was framed as a multi-stakeholder dialogue — to surface shared concerns, test one another’s assumptions, and discuss practical pathways forward. The day kicked off with an update on the STM Integrity Hub, highlighting the progress that has been made in 2025, and then featured a series of panel discussions that explored various aspects of the “Building Tomorrow’s Research Integrity Framework” theme. 

Bringing together publishers, researchers, funders, institutional integrity offices, infrastructure providers and volunteer sleuths, the day focused on how to strengthen trust in research amid evolving threats and expectations. Discussions focused on research integrity, governance and operational practice, and did not cover competitively sensitive topics such as commercial terms. Three key themes emerged:

1/ Shared Responsibility, Misaligned Incentives
Participants acknowledged that every part of the research ecosystem plays a role in upholding integrity — but also faces different incentives and pressures. From grant cycles and publication demands to institutional risk management and business models, aligning integrity incentives emerged as a long-term priority. The discussion pointed to the need for collaboration, not just isolated efforts.

2/ Shift Left: Trust Starts Earlier
There was strong support for moving integrity checks earlier in the research lifecycle. By the time a publisher’s integrity team gets involved, behaviours are already entrenched and corrections are very cumbersome. Funders and institutional representatives described very low numbers of formal complaints relative to portfolio size, with only a fraction upheld, and pointed to weak whistleblower protections, fear of reprisals and unclear reporting routes as key barriers. Suggested directions included treating role-modelling and local culture as central (not just formal training), exploring continuing professional development requirements for integrity awareness, and tightening channels and protections so that raising concerns is not perceived as a risk to one’s career. Funders described extending grant periods, building in generous leave extensions and placing greater weight on environment and process rather than on publication counts alone. Participants, including sleuths, also called for better protections for those who raise concerns, and for local research cultures that treat integrity as a shared value embedded in everyday practice, rather than a box-ticking exercise.

3/ Upstream Provenance and Workflow Integrity
Several sessions carried forward last year’s Innovation & Integrity days theme of going “beyond the manuscript”. New safeguards, in addition to checking manuscripts at the point of submission for indications of integrity concerns, are required to establish the veracity and authenticity of research outputs, especially in the age of (Gen)AI. Two options were discussed specifically: strengthening researcher identity verification, and establishing the authenticity of images and data through new technologies. Participants agreed that it will be increasingly challenging for detection to keep pace with manipulation as tools evolve, which requires us to focus our attention on provenance — capturing how and where data and images are created, and embedding that information into research workflows from the outset. Ideas included trusted research environments, data-focused peer review, and stronger signalling of provenance quality, aligned with Open Science principles. In other words, a shift from publishers investigating if something is false or fabricated, to researchers demonstrating that something is real and genuine through trustworthy workflows – requiring collaboration and new workflows throughout the research ecosystem.

A Way Forward
One clear takeaway from both days: technology can support integrity, as proven by the success of the STM Integrity Hub and the many innovators presenting their work, but it cannot guarantee it. Lasting trust depends on governance, incentives, new technologies, workflows, and especially collaboration.

STM remains committed to supporting that progress — convening dialogue, connecting expertise, and championing efforts that protect and enhance the integrity of the scholarly record.

Special thanks to Lynsey Haire, Academic Publishing Operations Consultant, for her expert summary and contribution to this post following STM’s I&I Days in London.

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Want to be sure you don’t miss next year’s event? (Hint: it will be in early December 2026 at the BMA House again!) Sign up for our newsletter so you can be the first to know when registration opens — and when virtual learning opportunities emerge. 

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This addition comes in direct response to feedback from recent attendees looking for more applied, research-integrity-focused learning ahead of STM Research Integrity Day (10 December). These optional interactive sessions offer just that — a chance to explore key topics in depth the day before, fostering peer exchange and skill-building.

Held in parallel with the Fair’s afternoon session, the 1.5 hour workshops allow attendees to choose from three focused sessions, each designed to unpack essential themes in integrity and trust. You’ll leave with fresh insights, practical tools, and ideas you can apply in your day-to-day work. Registration fee for the workshops is €99.

Take your pick of three expert-led sessions: 

Forensic Scientometrics: Enhancing Research Integrity and Security for the Scholarly Ecosystem 

• Facilitated by: Leslie McIntosh (Research Integrity & Security, Digital Science) and René Aquarius (Radboudumc)
• Explore how forensic scientometrics can be used to uncover and address manipulation in the research ecosystem — and build stronger, more transparent systems of trust. 

Communication and Collaboration with Institutions 

• Facilitated by: Elizabeth Moylan (Wiley), Luigi Longobardi (IEEE), Olivia Nippe (Elsevier) 
• Learn practical strategies for working effectively with institutions when research integrity concerns arise — from knowing who to contact to building stronger partnerships across the ecosystem
  

Helping Your Editors and Reviewers Understand Research Integrity Issues 

• Facilitated by: Sabina Alam (Taylor & Francis), Daniel Acuna (ReviewerZero AI), Jigisha Patel (Research Integrity Ltd) 
• Support your editorial teams and peer reviewers with the tools and understanding they need to identify and respond to integrity issues — with interactive discussion and expert insights.

When: 9 December, 14:30–16:00
Where: BMA House, London (during STM Innovator Fair)

Learn more & register 

 These workshops are open to all I&I Days attendees — whether you’re joining for the full two-day program or just the first day. Make the most of your time at the Fair, and walk away with new ideas and insights, actionable skills, and stronger connections across the community. 

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STM is pleased to welcome

AIP Publishing is a leading not-for-profit scholarly publisher serving the physical sciences community. With a mission to accelerate scientific discovery and ensure the quality and reliability of the scholarly record, AIP Publishing brings a strong focus on editorial excellence and integrity. 

“We’re very pleased to see AIP Publishing join the STM Integrity Hub,” said Joris van Rossum, Program Director, STM Solutions. “The Hub is designed to provide publishers with tools, infrastructure, and community insights to help address emerging integrity challenges. It’s encouraging to see momentum, with publishers like AIP Publishing joining—reflecting a shared commitment across the community to safeguarding the scholarly record.”

Launched in 2022, the STM Integrity Hub provides a secure, cloud-based environment where publishers can screen manuscripts using a suite of integrated tools. These tools—used independently by participating publishers—help identify patterns and signals associated with research integrity concerns. 

Today, more than 35 publishers use the Hub in their editorial workflows, screening over 125,000 manuscripts each month, and intercepting around 1,000 suspected paper mill submissions monthly, based on estimations from participating publishers. 

“We’re committed to investing in initiatives that strengthen confidence in the research we publish,” said Penelope Lewis, Chief Publishing Officer, AIP Publishing. “Joining the STM Integrity Hub enables our editors and authors to benefit from shared tools and insights that help safeguard the quality and credibility of the scientific record.”

Participation in the Hub is voluntary, and publishers maintain full editorial independence in how they use the tools and information it provides. 

Curious to learn more?
Join us in London on 10 December for Research Integrity Day 2025 to hear about the latest trends in research integrity, new approaches to combat paper mills, and recent advances with the STM Integrity Hub.

Learn more about the STM Integrity Hub and its impact

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Selected from a record-breaking number of submissions this year, these innovators showcase some of the most promising technologies and ideas shaping the future of trusted research.

Attendees will experience these innovations first-hand—through lightning talks, live demos on the Fair floor, and also experience the Karger Publishers 2025 Vesalius Innovation Award ceremony, spotlighting five outstanding finalists.

Learn more about this year’s theme and selected presenters — and register to join us! >>

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By combining shared tools, community intelligence, and trusted third-party integrations, the Hub enables publishers to detect potential threats earlier, strengthen editorial workflows, and uphold trust in research. 

“This Integrity Hub in Action page captures just some of the progress under way,” said Joris van Rossum, Program Director, STM Solutions. “It highlights what we can achieve together to promote research integrity—and it will continue to evolve as the Hub grows and new contributions are made.” 

With new members including JMIR Publications, IMR Press, and Maximum Academic Press, the Integrity Hub continues to expand as a collaborative force for transparency and reliability in science. 

Learn more and explore the latest infographic and case studies

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United2Act was established in October 2023, as an international multi-stakeholder project with the aim of tackling the growing problem of paper mills.

This report describes the process and outcomes of the first phase of United2Act, which was financially supported by STM and COPE, ran for 18 months and concluded in June 2025.

Guidance, publications and training resources developed by five working groups are detailed in the paper. As United2Act moves into the next phase, a 2-year collaborative project centered on implementation and outreach, we invite the community to join us in using the resources created.

“This whitepaper is both a testament to what we can achieve through collaboration and a call to action for the global research community. Phase 2 of United2Act is about putting the resources we’ve developed through the initiative into practice – ensuring that everyone in the scholarly community, including funders and universities, is informed and equipped to address the challenges posed by paper mills. Meaningful progress depends on shared responsibility and cross-sector collaboration; every stakeholder has a role to play.”  – Dr. Nandita Quaderi, Senior Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of the Web of Science, Clarivate; co-chair, United2Act

Read the report here

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In the past decade, research integrity and ethical investigations have become increasingly prevalent, as mass retractions and journal breaches continue to sweep through the publishing industry. Water research was no exception. Unfortunately, ethical breaches are not abstract problems, and they erode the trust between publishers and researchers, causing reputational damage to authors and publishers, undermining the trustworthiness of scientific research, spread of misinformation, wasted resources, harm to the society, potential legal issues, and importantly, decreased public trust in science. Like many publishers, at IWA Publishing we detected and were alerted to growing ethical concerns in both our submissions and previous publications. Despite understanding the global integrity trends, as a small publisher, we did not always have the tools to respond effectively. Nevertheless, we are not turning away, and we remain committed to learn, adapt, and face this challenge head on.

Read the full article published by IWA Publishing

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With fraud and paper mills exploiting gaps in editorial systems, STM has developed a Researcher Identity Verification Framework—a flexible, inclusive approach to help journals and institutions verify researcher identities more reliably.

Originally released in March, the framework is now open for community consultation, and we welcome your input (by May 31). This work, produced by STM’s Richard Northover, aims to support integrity without adding unnecessary barriers.

Read the Q&A in Retraction Watch here.

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To help bring clarity, STM has released a draft report: Classifying AI Use in Manuscript Preparation — that offers a clear framework to help publishers define, evaluate, and guide the transparent use of AI in manuscript preparation.

As STM Solution’s Program Director Joris van Rossum notes in the article: “We hope that publishers — and the wider ecosystem — will adopt the terminology.”

Read the full Nature article here.

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