Publication Support Grant Policy

Welcome to Plethoryt Publication Support Grant, a program designed to help deserving researcher transform their manuscript into a publishable work with the guidance of expert consultant/s from Plethoryt. This program provides personalized consultancy, strategic journal guidance, and hands-on advisory support to ensure that valuable research doesn’t remain on the shelf, but contributes meaningfully to the academic community. This policy provides transparent rules for participation in the Plethoryt Publication Support Grant (“Grant” or “Program”), and to describe how submitted manuscript data may be used, shared, and governed.

1. About the Program and Effectivity:

The Plethoryt Publication Support Grant is part of Plethoryt’s Free Programs—capacity-building initiatives that provide mentorship and expert collaboration at no initial cost to participants, with the objective of helping research move from manuscript to publication. The Program centers Plethoryt’s consultancy approach: mentorship, strategic guidance, and collaborative manuscript refinement.

Effectivity: Upon publication on Plethoryt's official program page.

2. Eligibility:

The Program is open to Filipinos who are at least 18 years old during the time that their applications are submitted. Researchers, graduate students, early-career scholars, and professionals with unpublished, research-based manuscripts are encouraged to apply.

Authors with the following manuscript formats are allowed to participate: 1. Full-length research papers (original research with data, methodology, and results). 2. Thesis- or dissertation-derived manuscripts (condensed versions prepared for journal publication). 3. Systematic reviews or meta-analyses (structured, evidence-based reviews). 4. Applied or technical papers (engineering reports, case studies with innovation/solution focus). 5. Short communications / brief reports (compact research articles with novel findings). 6. Research-based educational or social development studies (studies with measurable outcomes).

Authors with the following manuscript formats are not eligible: 1. Opinion pieces, essays, or purely theoretical/philosophical papers. 2. Creative writing, literature analyses, or artistic critiques. 3. Business plans, white papers, or corporate research reports. 4. Manuscripts already accepted or published in a journal. 5. Drafts under 3,000 words (to ensure enough substance).

Eligibility criteria not expressly mentioned/allowed are at the discretion of Plethoryt.

3. Program Duration and Cycle:

The Program operates in cycles (application → review → award → mentorship). Exact dates and cycle schedules will be announced through Plethoryt’s official channels (website, email, and social media) for each opening. The Program may reopen occasionally; applicants should check official channels for current timelines. The exact dates and schedules may vary each cycle.

4. Prize:

The selected winner(s) will receive the Plethoryt Publication Mentorship Package, valued at ₱50,000 and offered as mentorship and collaborative services (non-cashable, non-transferable). The package includes (but is not limited to): Comprehensive manuscript editing and structural refinement Journal recommendation strategy (including Scopus-indexed, open access, or local journal options) Submission guidance (cover letters, formatting, compliance) Peer-style review (mock review and advisory revisions) Post-acceptance mentorship to assist with reviewer responses and revisions.

The number of winners and prize validity per program cycle is not fixed and will be determined by Plethoryt for each cycle based on program objectives and quality of submissions. The exact number of winners for each cycle will be explicitly stated in that cycle’s official call for applications and program timeline.

Non-winning applicants may be offered a discount voucher or a feedback summary, at Plethoryt’s discretion.

5. Fees, Cost, and Commercial Services:

Participation in the Publication Support Grant is free of charge. Notwithstanding the foregoing, participants may independently elect to purchase Plethoryt’s paid services or packages (including packages comparable in scope to the Publication Mentorship Package). Any such purchases will be governed by Plethoryt’s standard service terms, fees, and payment policies in effect at the time of purchase.

Nothing in this Program Policy, the Grant description, or any promotional material shall be construed as creating an entitlement to free services, free purchases, or ongoing free access to Plethoryt’s commercial products beyond the specific, non-cashable prize awarded to the winner. If any discounts, vouchers, or promotional credits are offered to non-winners, they are subject to their own terms and expiry rules and do not constitute a cash or guaranteed service purchase. Applicants remain responsible for any taxes, duties, or additional fees that may apply to paid services they acquire.

6. Submission Requirements:

Applicants must be legitimate Filipino citizens aged 18 or older and submit substantive, research-based manuscripts that have undergone institutional or scholastic evaluation (for example, review by a thesis/dissertation panel, school committee, or equivalent). The applicant must own the copyright to the submitted material and confirm that the manuscript complies with Plethoryt’s Academic Integrity Policy (no plagiarism; correct citations; ethical compliance). Manuscripts that are opinion pieces, creative works, or already published are not eligible.

To apply, complete the official Grant application and upload/link the required supporting documents, including the manuscript (PDF or DOCX), an abstract, proof of institutional evaluation, a government-issued ID, a copyright declaration, an academic integrity statement (or originality report), and a short CV or author bio, which ever are required during the time of application submission through the official portal/s of Plethoryt.

Plethoryt reserves the right to request additional documentation, verify eligibility, and deem submissions ineligible if they materially fail to meet the requirements of each cycle.

7. Selection Process:

The review panel for the Program may be composed of internal Plethoryt staff, external advisers, or a mixed committee. Reviews may be conducted blind (reviewers do not know applicant identity) or non-blind, at Plethoryt’s discretion. The composition of the review panel and the review methodology (blind or non-blind) may be disclosed to participants, but Plethoryt is not obliged to do so in every cycle. Plethoryt will use reasonable efforts to ensure that selection decisions are objective, unbiased, and ethically sound; panel members will be asked to declare conflicts of interest and recuse themselves where appropriate.

Submissions will be evaluated primarily against the following core criteria: (1) clarity and quality of the research, (2) potential impact and novelty, and (3) readiness for publication. The panel will use these criteria to assess each manuscript’s suitability for mentorship and likely benefit from the Publication Mentorship Package. Plethoryt may adopt additional subcriteria or scoring rubrics as needed for a given cycle; such details may or may not be provided in the cycle’s official call for applications, at Plethoryt discretion.

The duration of the selection process is variable and will be specified in each cycle’s official program details. Plethoryt’s selection decisions are final and not subject to appeal; in the event of ties or disputes over selections, Plethoryt will apply internal tie-breaking procedures determined by the panel chair or designated officer. Plethoryt will use reasonable efforts to ensure the review is objective, unbiased, and ethically conducted.

8. Non-guarantees:

The Program provides professional mentorship and advisory services only. Plethoryt does not guarantee journal acceptance, indexing, or publication timelines. Final submission decisions and interactions with journals remain the responsibility of the author. Participants acknowledge and agree that:

• No guarantee of additional benefits. Non-winners are not guaranteed vouchers, discounts, feedback, or any other consolation benefits; such benefits are discretionary and may vary by cycle.

• No guarantee of publication outcomes. The Program does not guarantee acceptance, indexing (e.g., Scopus), or any particular editorial outcome from third-party journals, publishers, or indexing services.

• Third-party representations. Plethoryt does not warrant or guarantee promises, representations, services, or commitments made by third parties (including journals, aggregators, or other service providers) and is not responsible for any misrepresentations made by such third parties.

• No guarantee of uninterrupted service. Plethoryt does not guarantee uninterrupted access to the Program, Manuskrito, or Plethoryt systems; technical failures, interruptions, or delays may occur and Plethoryt will use reasonable efforts to mitigate them.

• No coverage of publication fees. Unless explicitly stated in a cycle’s call for applications, the Program does not cover article processing charges (APCs), page charges, publication fees, or other costs levied by publishers.

• No guarantee of confidentiality beyond stated policies. While Plethoryt will handle personal data in accordance with Plethoryt's privacy policy, applicants should not assume the Program provides confidentiality protections beyond those policies and should avoid submitting sensitive proprietary information unless necessary and accompanied by appropriate disclosures.

9. Your Content:

By participating in the Program, you acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for all information, documents, materials, and digital files ("Content") that you submit, transmit, upload, attach, post, or send through Plethoryt, including through its email and contact information disclosed on the site. You are solely responsible for ensuring that your files and any attachments does not contain any material that is illegal, is false, intentionally misleading, defamatory, or violates any third-party right.

As between you and Plethoryt, you own all right, title and interest in and to your Content. You grant Plethoryt a royalty-free, irrevocable, and fully sublicense to display, host, copy, store and use your content solely to the extent necessary for us to provide the Program and operate Plethoryt, which includes but not limited to purposes that includes service and product improvements, research, technology and security improvements, development of new services or products, and derivation of new work. We will not use your Content for any other purposes without your consent.

After your Content has been received, it can only be withdrawn by sending us a withdrawal request as described below under "Withdrawal Policy". You are solely responsible to your Content and you assume all risks associated with your research manuscript, including its accuracy, reliability, quality, or any disclosure by you of information that makes you personally identifiable.

You agree and undertake not to submit Content that infringes any trademark, copyright, patent, intellectual property or other proprietary rights of other people. You are not allowed to submit for another person. You are not allowed to submit Content that wholly or contains information that belongs to another person. You warrant and guarantee that you are the owner of the Content you send through Plethoryt. You certify that your submission or any part of your submission is not associated with any legal or academic investigation, suit, proceeding, or case that could violate any law or regulations.

10. Sharing of Manuscript Data:

By applying, participants explicitly consent to the following:

• Sharing of manuscript metadata and manuscript files with Manuskrito Philippines, an academic manuscript repository and open-search platform, for the purposes of indexing, discoverability, and program integration. Manuskrito supports various submission types (institutional or community submissions) and submission options (open access, royalty access, reserved access) to help increase research visibility. Applicants are encouraged to read Manuskrito’s Terms of use and Privacy statement.

• Submission of a manuscript to Manuskrito will be treated as either an institutional or community submission (at Plethoryt's discretion) and is intended to support open access via links to the manuscript. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review and accept Manuskrito’s policies prior to applying: Terms of use and Privacy statement.

• Applicants may opt in to Plethoryt’s Continuity Program by selecting the relevant option during application. Opting in means the applicant understands and accepts the Continuity Program policies (e.g., licensing, monetization/royalty options) as published by Plethoryt. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review and accept Continuity Program policies prior to applying: Program policy.

11. Withdrawal Policy:

Participants may withdraw their application from the Publication Support Grant by submitting a written withdrawal request through Plethoryt’s official program channels. Withdrawal requests for manuscripts submitted to third-party (e.g., Manuskrito Philippines) or program partners (e.g., Continuity Program) are governed by the respective withdrawal and removal policies of those platforms. Applicants should consult the platforms' withdrawal policies for the withdrawal procedures and any conditions that apply.

12. Suspension and Early Termination

Plethoryt may, at its sole discretion, suspend, modify, or terminate the Program or any Program cycle at any time and without prior notice where continuation would, in Plethoryt’s reasonable judgment, be impracticable, unlawful, unsafe, or economically unviable. Such circumstances include, without limitation:

• Financial hardship, insolvency, or material adverse changes in Plethoryt’s funding or operational budget that prevent fulfilment of the Program;

• Natural disasters, severe weather events, or other calamities that materially impair Plethoryt’s ability to operate;

• Public health emergencies, pandemics, or government health orders that prevent ordinary Program operations;

• Governmental orders, legal or regulatory changes that prohibit or materially restrict the Program;

• Acts of war, terrorism, civil unrest, or severe security threats;

• Large-scale cyber incidents, data breaches, or network outages that materially affect Program systems; or

• Any other circumstances beyond Plethoryt’s reasonable control (force majeure).

If Plethoryt suspends or terminates the Program under this section, Plethoryt will endeavor to notify applicants and participants through official channels as soon as reasonably practicable. Plethoryt shall not be liable for any losses, costs, or damages arising from such suspension or termination. No participant shall have a right to claim compensation for lost opportunity, indirect or consequential losses, or other damages arising solely from suspension or termination of the Program, except to the extent such exclusion is prohibited or limited by applicable law.

13. Indemnity & Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, participants agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Plethoryt, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, and partners (collectively, the “Plethoryt Parties”) from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to: (a) the participant’s breach of these Program Policy terms or any representations or warranties made herein; (b) any allegation that the submitted manuscript infringes or misappropriates a third party’s intellectual property rights or violates any applicable law; (c) participant’s negligent, willful, fraudulent, or unlawful acts or omissions; or (d) the participant’s use of any services obtained from third parties in connection with the Program.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Plethoryt Parties’ aggregate liability arising out of or in connection with the Program (whether in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability or otherwise) shall be limited to the total monetary value of the prize awarded to the applicable participant(s) for the cycle in which the claim arises. In no event shall Plethoryt be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, exemplary or unforeseeable damages (including lost profits, loss of opportunity, loss of data, or personal loss) even if Plethoryt has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Nothing in this section is intended to exclude or limit liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

14. Communications

All program-related questions, inquiries, clarifications, or requests (including withdrawal requests) must be submitted through Plethoryt’s official program channels or support contact points listed on the Plethoryt website. Plethoryt will not accept claims, disputes, or requests submitted over unofficial or third-party channels. For support and inquiries, applicants may use Plethoryt’s official contact mechanisms (support form or inquiry email listed on the site).

16. Publicity and Marketing:

By participating, applicants agree that Plethoryt may use their name, institutional affiliation, manuscript title, and non-confidential manuscript summaries for program promotion, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. Plethoryt may feature the winner and shortlisted candidates in marketing materials, case studies, or stakeholder reports. No monetary compensation will be paid for such promotional use.

15. Amendments and Governing Law

Plethoryt reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to amend or modify these Program Policy terms, at any time and for any reason. Changes will be published through Plethoryt’s official channels. When reasonably practicable, Plethoryt will post notice of significant changes. This Program Policy shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Philippines. Any dispute arising under or in connection with this Program shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Philippines.

This Publication Support Grant Policy is current and effective as of September 4, 2025