Journal profile · COMPUTER SCIENCE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Complex & Intelligent Systems
ISSN 2199-4536 · eISSN 2198-6053 · Springer International Publishing · SAUDI ARABIA · Quarterly · Founded 2015
Complex & Intelligent Systems: CAS Zone 3 · Computer Science (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 4.51; fully open access; APC about USD 2,590; median 167 days to acceptance (112 articles, last 24 months); acceptance rate 26% (journal website); 468 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Complex & Intelligent Systems is published by Springer International Publishing and is in Zone 3 of Computer Science in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Multi-Criteria Decision Making, Metaheuristic Optimization Algorithms Research and Advanced Neural Network Applications, together about 26.5% of its articles. Its main subfields are Artificial Intelligence. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Complex & Intelligent Systems aims to provide a forum for presenting and discussing novel approaches, tools and techniques meant for attaining a cross-fertilization between the broad fields of complex systems, computational simulation, and intelligent analytics and visualization. The transdisciplinary research that the journal focuses on will expand the boundaries of our understanding by investigating the principles and processes that underlie many of the most profound problems facing society today. Key topics of focus include: Complexity - Complex evolutionary and adaptive Systems - Emergent properties and behavior in complex Systems - Self-organizing collective systems - Biological and social inspirations in problem solving - Systems Science and Engineering Intelligent Data Analytics - Data mining and knowledge discovery - Machine learning - Pattern recognition - Big Data Analytics and data science - Data-driven problem solving Computational Simulation - Knowledge-based Systems - Agent based Systems - Uncertainty modeling - Decision support Systems - Brain-like computing - Ubiquitous computing - Computational visualization and interaction Complex & Intelligent Systems is committed to upholding the integrity of the scientific record. As a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) the journal will follow the COPE guidelines on how to deal with potential acts of misconduct. Authors should refrain from misrepresenting research results which could damage the trust in the journal and ultimately the entire scientific endeavor. Maintaining integrity of the research and its presentation can be achieved by following the rules of good scientific practice as detailed here: https://www.springer.com/us/editorial-policies Evaluation process: After technical check and screening for English quality, all new submissions are automatically screened using CrossCheck within the editorial system to detect cases of suspected plagiarism. Editors are also able to run a similarity report at any other point during the review process or post-publication. All manuscripts are subject to a double-blind peer review process during at least 2 rounds coordinated by a Chief Editor responsible for the respective submission track (major topic). The average time from submission until the final decision is five months. The acceptance rate is around 26%. The evaluation workflow is supervised and monitored by an Editors-in-Chief.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): COMPUTER SCIENCE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Editor-in-chief Yaochu Jin TrustworthyPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 35 in mainland China (about 30%); most named Mainland China 35, United Kingdom 20, Singapore 7, Australia 6, United States 4 (118 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Multi-Criteria Decision MakingDecision Sciences10.5%
- Metaheuristic Optimization Algorithms ResearchComputer Science8.2%
- Advanced Neural Network ApplicationsComputer Science7.8%
- Advanced Multi-Objective Optimization AlgorithmsComputer Science7.1%
- Topic ModelingComputer Science5%
- Optimization and Mathematical ProgrammingEngineering4.9%
- Advanced Graph Neural NetworksComputer Science4.5%
- Anomaly Detection Techniques and ApplicationsComputer Science4.4%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Computer Science Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusDOAJLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
INSPECCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 4.51LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 4.5Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 5.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 11.6LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.09LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.61LetPub ·
- h-index
- 91OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,069OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 5.39OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 4.4%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 100%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 474LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 2,300,000Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 2,458 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 291 | 291 | 71 |
| 2025 | 468 | 468 | 2,165 |
| 2024 | 412 | 412 | 4,074 |
| 2023 | 346 | 346 | 5,793 |
| 2022 | 346 | 346 | 8,905 |
| 2021 | 370 | 370 | 14,875 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
167 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 118 days – 240 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 32 days (112 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 200 days
- Sample
- 112 articles with submission and acceptance dates (856 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 21 weeksLetPub ·
- Acceptance rate (publisher)
- 26%Publisher website ·
- Submission to first decision
- 20 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to publication (journal-reported)
- about 21 weeksDOAJ ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewDOAJ
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Fully open accessDOAJ
Every article is open access; authors usually pay an article processing charge (APC).
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOAJ | EUR 2,190 / USD 2,590 / GBP 1,890 | Yes | CC BY, CC BY-NC-ND | |
| OpenAlex | USD 2,490 / EUR 2,090 / GBP 1,790 | — | — | |
| LetPub | GBP 1,590 / USD 2,290 / EUR 1,890 | Yes | — | |
| Publisher website | Yes, amount not published | — | — |
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers3, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare3 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship
Manuscripts must be original, not under consideration elsewhere, and approved by all co-authors and responsible authorities. Model summary
Submission of a manuscript implies: that the work described has not been published before; that it is not under consideration for publication anywhere else; that its publication has been approved by all co-authors, if any, as well as by the responsible authorities – tacitly or explicitly – at the institute where the work has been carried out.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Competing Interests
Authors must disclose financial or non-financial competing interests. Model summary
Authors are requested to disclose interests that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. Interests within the last 3 years of beginning the work (conducting the research and preparing the work for submission) should be reported. Interests outside the 3-year time frame must be disclosed if they could reasonably be perceived as influencing the submitted work. Disclo…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Copyright remains with the author; no transfer required in this open access journal. Model summary
Articles in Springer Nature open access journals do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Complex & Intelligent Systems, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing
- Country or region
- SAUDI ARABIA
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 2015
- ISSN
- 2199-4536
- Electronic ISSN
- 2198-6053
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗DOAJ
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Aims & Scope ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
- APC information ↗DOAJ
- Fee waivers ↗DOAJ
- Open access statement ↗DOAJ
- License & copyright ↗DOAJ
- Peer review process ↗LetPub
- Editorial board ↗LetPub
- Plagiarism policy ↗DOAJ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Complex & Intelligent Systems
What CAS zone is Complex & Intelligent Systems in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Complex & Intelligent Systems is in Zone 3 of Computer Science, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Computer Science. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Complex & Intelligent Systems?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 4.51; CiteScore 11.6, h-index 91.
How long does peer review take at Complex & Intelligent Systems?
Based on the dates recorded on 112 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 167 days (interquartile range 118–240 days); authors report an average review time of about 21 weeks; the journal's website gives an acceptance rate of 26%. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Complex & Intelligent Systems?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Complex & Intelligent Systems based?
Of the 118 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 35 (about 30%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (35), United Kingdom (20) and Singapore (7). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Complex & Intelligent Systems?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Complex & Intelligent Systems is indexed in SCIE, Scopus and DOAJ. The journal's website also lists INSPEC and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Complex & Intelligent Systems open access, and what is the APC?
Complex & Intelligent Systems is a fully open-access journal. APC about USD 2,590.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex, DOAJ; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .