Introduction

Welcome to Integrated Circuits and Systems (ICAS), a gold open access journal published by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) in partnership with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). ICAS is dedicated to publishing high-impact, original research in all areas of integrated circuits and systems. This guide provides detailed instructions for authors preparing manuscripts for submission. We encourage you to read these instructions carefully to ensure a smooth and efficient submission and review process.

1. Before You Submit

Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure you have checked the following:

· Aims & Scope: Confirm that your manuscript's topic fits within the Aims & Scope of ICAS.

· Editorial Policies: Familiarize yourself with our Editorial Policies, particularly our standards on publication ethics, authorship, and data sharing.

· Publishing Model & Fees: ICAS is a gold open access journal. All articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY) license.

o APC Waiver: To support our community, all Article Processing Charges (APCs) are waived for manuscripts submitted before January 1, 2027.

· IEEE Partnership: All published articles will be available on the IEEE Xplore® digital library. Submissions must adhere to IEEE formatting and style guidelines.

2. Manuscript Preparation

2.1 Cover Letter

A cover letter is mandatory for all submissions. It should be concise and include the following:

· The manuscript title and article type.

· A brief explanation of the study's significance, its main findings, and why it is a good fit for ICAS.

· A statement confirming that the manuscript has not been published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

· A declaration that all authors have approved the manuscript for submission.

· If the work extends a previously published conference paper (e.g., from an IEEE conference), this must be declared, with the original paper cited.

2.2 Manuscript Types

ICAS welcomes the following types of manuscripts. ICAS welcomes the following types of manuscripts. To ensure the quality of our print edition while providing authors with sufficient space, submissions for regular papers should not exceed 12 pages in the standard two-column IEEE format. This page limit is intentionally more generous than that of many other IEEE Transactions, allowing for a comprehensive presentation of your work. Nevertheless, we encourage all authors to present their findings as concisely as possible without compromising clarity or scientific rigor.

Manuscript Type	Description	Abstract	Main Text Structure
Research Article	Reports original, in-depth research with significant findings. Should present a novel design, methodology, fabrication technique, or analysis.	Structured, max 250 words (Objective, Methods, Results, Conclusion).	Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and Reference
Review Article	Provides a comprehensive and critical survey of recent advances in a specific field. Should identify current challenges and future directions.	Unstructured, max 250 words.	Flexible structure, but should include Introduction, Conclusion, and Reference.
Communication	A concise report of significant, time-sensitive results that merit rapid publication. Ideal for groundbreaking preliminary findings or novel concepts.	Unstructured, max 150 words.	Flexible structure, but should include Introduction, Conclusion, and  Reference. typically concise.

2.3 Manuscript Structure and Formatting

All manuscripts must be prepared using the official IEEE journal templates, which are available for both LaTeX and Microsoft Word(ICAS template.zip).

2.3.1 Front Matter

· Title: Concise and specific. Avoid abbreviations.

· Authors and Affiliations: Provide full author names, affiliations, and email addresses. Designate at least one corresponding author and provide their ORCID ID.

· Abstract: Adhere to the structure and word count specified in the Manuscript Types table.

· Keywords: Provide 4 to 6 keywords for indexing purposes.

2.3.2 Main Text

· Introduction: Provide background, state the problem, and clearly articulate the objectives and contributions of the work.

· Methodology: Describe your methods, simulation tools, fabrication processes, and experimental setups in sufficient detail to allow for reproducibility.

· Results and Discussion: Present your findings clearly and concisely. Discuss their implications in the context of existing literature and highlight the limitations of your study.

· Conclusion: Summarize the key findings and their significance.

2.3.3 Back Matter

· Acknowledgments: Acknowledge any individuals or organizations that contributed to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship.

· Authors' Contributions: We strongly encourage the use of the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) to specify each author's contribution.

· Data and Code Availability: State how the data, code, and materials supporting the research can be accessed. For the field of integrated circuits, this may include design files, simulation data, and characterization data. If data cannot be shared, provide a reason.

· Funding: Declare all sources of funding and any relevant grant numbers.

· Conflicts of Interest: Disclose any potential conflicts of interest. If none exist, state: "The authors declare no conflicts of interest."

· References: References must be formatted in IEEE style. They should be numbered in the order they appear in the text, with the number enclosed in square brackets.

o Journal Article: A. Author, B. Author, and C. Author, "Title of article," Abbrev. Title of Periodical, vol. x, no. x, pp. xxx-xxx, Abbrev. Month, year.

o Conference Paper: A. Author, "Title of paper," in Abbrev. Title of Conf. Proc., City of Conf., Abbrev. State (if USA), year, pp. xxx-xxx.

o Book: A. Author, Title of Book. Location: Publisher, year.

o Patent: A. Author, "Title of patent," U.S. Patent x xxx xxx, Abbrev. Month, day, year.

2.4 Figures, Tables, and Equations

· Figures and Tables: Must be high-resolution (300-600 dpi). They should be numbered sequentially and cited in the text (e.g., Fig. 1, Table I). Each must have a clear and concise caption.

· Equations: Should be created with MathType or LaTeX's equation editor and numbered sequentially.

3. Ethical and Legal Obligations

3.1 Publication Ethics

ICAS adheres to the highest ethical standards as defined by COPE and IEEE. Plagiarism, data fabrication/falsification, and image manipulation are strictly forbidden. All submissions are screened using iThenticate software. Any suspected misconduct will be investigated thoroughly.

3.2 Policy on AI and AI-Assisted Technologies

Authors must be transparent about their use of AI.

· AI cannot be listed as an author.

· The use of AI tools to improve the language and readability of a manuscript is permissible but must be disclosed in the acknowledgments or a dedicated section.

· Using AI to generate scientific insights, analyze data, or draw conclusions is prohibited. Authors are fully responsible for all content, including any AI-generated text.

3.3 Authorship

Authorship must be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the work. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript.

4. Submission and Peer Review

4.1 Submission

All manuscripts must be submitted through IEEE Author Portal:  https://ieee.atyponrex.com/journal/ICAS.

4.2 Peer Review Process

ICAS operates a single-blind peer review process.

1. Initial Check: The editorial office performs a check for scope, formatting, and ethical compliance.

2. Editorial Assessment: An editor assesses the manuscript for scientific merit and suitability.

3. Peer Review: The manuscript is sent to at least two independent expert reviewers.

4. Decision: Based on the reviewer reports, the editor makes a final decision (Accept, Minor/Major Revisions, or Reject).

5. Post-Acceptance

Upon acceptance, the corresponding author will be asked to complete the IEEE License to Publish agreement. Authors will then receive proofs for review before the final version is published on IEEE Xplore.

6. Contact

For any inquiries, please contact the ICAS Editorial Office at icas_editorial@sjtu.edu.cn. For more information, see “Contact us” page.