ESCI stands for the Emerging Sources Citation Index, a research database managed by Clarivate, which is a global leader in research analytics. The ESCI was launched in 2015 as part of Web of Science, a platform that includes several well-known citation indices, such as the Science Citation Index (SCI), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), and Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI).

ESCI journals represent a category of scholarly journals that are in the process of being evaluated for inclusion in the more prestigious citation indices, such as SCI or SSCI. These journals are typically emerging or have demonstrated an increasing impact in their respective fields but have not yet achieved the citation levels or broad recognition necessary for inclusion in the more established indices.

In this article, we will dive into the following aspects of ESCI journals within Clarivate’s Web of Science:

1. What is ESCI?
2. Criteria for ESCI Journal Inclusion
3. Differences Between ESCI and Other Citation Indices
4. Importance of ESCI Journals
5. How ESCI Affects Researchers and Authors
6. How Journals Get Indexed in ESCI
7. List of ESCI Journals and their Scope
8. ESCI Journals and Academic Career Progression

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1. What is ESCI?

The Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) is an index introduced by Clarivate Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) to serve as a middle ground between unindexed journals and those included in well-established citation indices like the Science Citation Index (SCI) or the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI).

ESCI includes journals that may not yet meet the rigorous standards for the established indices but are still recognized as valuable sources of scholarly content. These journals often focus on emerging fields, new interdisciplinary research, or regional content that may not yet have global visibility but is still highly relevant to specific academic or scientific communities.

Inclusion in ESCI signals that a journal is considered to have academic merit and is on track to potentially gain recognition in broader academic circles. However, it does not yet have the citation impact that journals in SCI or SSCI indices typically do.

2. Criteria for ESCI Journal Inclusion

Clarivate has a set of standards for selecting journals for inclusion in the ESCI. While the specific criteria are not fully disclosed, the following factors are generally considered:

• Academic Quality: Journals must demonstrate scholarly rigor in their editorial process, peer-review practices, and the quality of articles they publish. This includes having professional editorial boards, following international standards for peer review, and ensuring transparency in publishing practices.
• Relevance: ESCI journals should have a subject focus that is emerging or growing, offering high relevance to a specific academic community or niche research area. These could include rapidly developing disciplines, innovative interdisciplinary research, or underrepresented geographical or linguistic regions.
• Citation Potential: Journals are evaluated for their citation potential. Although ESCI journals may not have extensive citation data initially, they are expected to grow in influence and impact. This is a key distinction between ESCI journals and those indexed in more established indices, which typically have higher citation numbers and long-term academic impact.
• Publication Frequency and Editorial Content: ESCI journals are expected to maintain a regular publication schedule, typically with a certain minimum number of issues published per year. The editorial content must align with scholarly communication practices, including original research articles, reviews, and other accepted types of scholarly work.
• International Coverage: Clarivate typically prefers journals that have an international scope or appeal, but regional journals that demonstrate a strong impact within a particular academic or geographic community may also be included.

3. Differences Between ESCI and Other Citation Indices

Clarivate’s citation indices, like SCI, SSCI, and AHCI, are highly selective and include journals that have achieved a certain level of citation impact, which is typically a sign of broad recognition and influence within their respective disciplines. ESCI, on the other hand, includes journals that may not yet have reached these citation thresholds but show promise and potential for future growth. Here’s a comparison:

Aspect	ESCI	SCI/SSCI/AHCI
Citation Impact	Emerging, but lower citation impact compared to SCI/SSCI	Established journals with high citation counts
Journal Selection	Based on quality and potential for growth	Based on long-term citation performance and prestige
Scope	New or emerging fields, interdisciplinary, or regional journals	Established fields with broad global reach and historical significance
Indexing Requirements	Journals must show academic merit but have limited citation history	Journals must demonstrate sustained academic impact and citation frequency
Audience	Niche, emerging scholarly communities	Global, well-established academic communities

4. Importance of ESCI Journals

While ESCI journals may not have the same level of global recognition as those indexed in SCI or SSCI, they play a vital role in the academic publishing ecosystem. Here are several reasons why ESCI journals are important:

• Supporting Emerging Research: ESCI serves as a platform for emerging or niche research areas that may not yet have significant visibility but are rapidly growing or developing. These journals can contribute to advancing knowledge in areas such as new technologies, interdisciplinary fields, or research that is regionally important.
• Increasing Journal Diversity: By including journals from different regions and less mainstream disciplines, ESCI helps diversify the global academic publishing landscape. It provides a voice for scholars working in underrepresented fields or regions.
• Providing Access to Scholarly Work: ESCI journals offer access to high-quality research in emerging fields. This is particularly useful for researchers looking for cutting-edge topics or early-stage developments that haven’t yet been widely covered by established journals.
• Facilitating Journal Growth: For journals indexed in ESCI, the index serves as a stepping stone to recognition in SCI or SSCI. ESCI inclusion increases a journal’s visibility, helping it attract higher-quality submissions and more citations over time.

5. How ESCI Affects Researchers and Authors

For researchers and authors, publishing in ESCI journals offers both opportunities and challenges:

Opportunities:

• Early Career Exposure: Researchers, especially those working in emerging or niche fields, can gain early exposure by publishing in ESCI journals. These journals may provide a platform to showcase new and innovative ideas that may not yet fit into larger, more established journals.
• Increased Visibility: Inclusion in ESCI provides visibility in Web of Science, a globally recognized academic database. Articles published in ESCI journals are discoverable and citable, providing researchers with the opportunity to gain recognition for their work.
• Potential for Future Recognition: ESCI journals are often viewed as stepping stones to inclusion in more prestigious citation indices like SCI or SSCI. Authors can contribute to the growth and development of these journals, helping them eventually achieve broader recognition.

Challenges:

• Limited Citation Impact: Due to the emerging nature of ESCI journals, articles published in these journals may not initially receive the same level of citation as those in more established journals. This could affect researchers looking to build their citation profiles early in their careers.
• Recognition and Prestige: While ESCI inclusion is a positive step, some academic institutions or funding bodies may prioritize journals indexed in more prestigious indices. For authors aiming for high recognition, publishing in ESCI journals may not have the same weight as publishing in SCI or SSCI journals.

6. How Journals Get Indexed in ESCI

Journals that wish to be indexed in ESCI must undergo a thorough evaluation process conducted by Clarivate’s editorial team. This process includes:

1. Submission of Application: Journals must submit a formal application to Clarivate for inclusion in the ESCI, providing detailed information about their editorial policies, peer-review process, citation practices, and impact potential.
2. Evaluation: Clarivate evaluates the journal’s editorial content, citation metrics, publishing frequency, and overall quality. This involves an assessment of factors like editorial board composition, adherence to best publishing practices, and the journal’s relevance within its academic field.
3. Decision and Inclusion: If the journal meets the necessary criteria, it is included in ESCI. Inclusion is based on the overall potential for the journal to grow in citation impact and academic influence.
4. Ongoing Monitoring: Once a journal is included in ESCI, it is continuously monitored for performance. Clarivate reviews journals on an ongoing basis to ensure they continue to meet the necessary standards for inclusion.

7. List of ESCI Journals and Their Scope

The ESCI includes thousands of journals from various disciplines, including:

• Sciences: Emerging areas in fields such as biotechnology, environmental science, materials science, and engineering.
• Social Sciences: New research areas in sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, and business.
• Arts and Humanities: Journals that focus on niche topics in literature, cultural studies, philosophy, and history.

A detailed list of ESCI journals can be found on the Web of Science platform, where journals are categorized by subject and scope.

8. ESCI Journals and Academic Career Progression

For academic researchers, publishing in ESCI journals can be an important step in their career progression, especially for early-career scholars. ESCI inclusion demonstrates that a journal has academic merit and is being taken seriously within the scholarly community.