Foundations of Computational Mathematics

Foundations of Computational Mathematics (FoCM) is a prestigious journal for libraries supporting high-level research at the intersection of mathematics and computation. It publishes mathematically rigorous work that advances the foundations of modern computational methods, making it a strong fit for collections in pure, applied and computational mathematics, as well as theoretical computer science. For institutions, FoCM offers a respected, cross-disciplinary title with clear value for researchers working in areas where deep mathematics and computation meet.

The figures below show the 2027 Launch to Open target for FoCM and how the projected costs of publishing the journal are distributed across the Press.

2027 Journal Transparency Report

Financial snapshot

• 2027 Launch to Open target: €120,000

• Projected EMS Press publishing cost per article: €2,485

• 2027 article output (forecast): 48

• 2027 digital subscription: €900 Early Adopter | €1,100 Standard

Key costs at a glance

• Typesetting and copyediting account for the largest share of expenditure on FoCM.

• Hosting, access and metrics form the next largest category and include core infrastructure required by library subscribers.

• Other publishing and operational costs support the remaining core functions of the Press and are more evenly distributed.

• The journal development fund provides resilience, flexibility and capacity for future development.

• A dedicated allocation supports the Society’s editorial role on behalf of the journal.

Costs in-depth

Overall cost and article output

EMS Press projects that the cost of publishing FoCM in 2027 will be approximately €120,000. This includes staffing, overheads and the full range of publishing services required to produce and disseminate the journal to the required standard. With a forecast annual output of around 48 articles averaging 40 pages each, the projected average publishing cost per article is €2,485.

Typesetting and copyediting

The largest share of expenditure for FoCM falls under typesetting and copyediting. This reflects the technical complexity of the journal’s content, which frequently includes substantial mathematical notation, complex formulae and visualisations. Producing this work to a high standard requires specialist expertise, and EMS Press therefore works with a global pool of typesetters trained in LaTeX and mathematical content to ensure consistent, high-quality production.

Production and editorial

Production and editorial represent similarly sized areas of expenditure. Production includes quality assurance, article registration and metadata, submission to major academic indexes such as Scopus and Web of Science, final publication, and associated staffing costs. It also covers the coordination of issue assembly, publishing workflows, and the checks required to ensure that articles are published accurately and consistently across formats and platforms.

Editorial includes project management of the journal, implementation and maintenance of the submission system, liaison with the editorial board, and support for editorial appointments and governance. It also covers oversight of the article pipeline, including monitoring submission volumes, workflow progression and rejection rates, which helps the Press and the journal plan effectively and maintain editorial quality and consistency over time.

Printing and distribution are also coordinated through these functions, although they are identified separately in the cost breakdown in order to show more clearly the growing costs associated with print production and shipping. These costs are borne directly by print subscribers and explain the difference between print and digital subscription prices.

Hosting, access and metrics

Approximately 13% of projected costs fall within hosting, access and metrics. This category includes much of the technical infrastructure required by a modern publishing house: our custom-built production and hosting platform, usage and access management via LibLynx, including COUNTER-compliant reporting, and other services that support library-facing workflows, such as IP Registry and OA Switchboard. It also includes the salaries of a small in-house technology team responsible for the implementation, development and maintenance of these services.

Sales and market development

For 2027, sales account for a larger share of costs than is typical. This reflects two factors: FoCM is joining EMS Press with relatively few existing direct subscribers, and Launch to Open is itself a new model. As a result, a significant proportion of sales effort in this first year will be directed towards building awareness of both the journal and the model, and towards establishing the base of institutional support needed for a successful outcome. This work includes direct outreach, webinars, conference and event activity, and site visits carried out by the Press and its sales agents. Over time, as the journal becomes more established within the portfolio, this allocation is expected to shift more towards ongoing marketing support.

Business operations and journal development

Business operations covers the general costs associated with running the Press, including rent, accountancy, legal support and related overheads. A proportion of these costs is allocated to the journal through a distributed overheads model.

The journal development fund provides a degree of resilience and flexibility. It allows the Press to respond to changes in costs, such as inflation, and to invest in developments that strengthen the journal and the services around it. This may include work on new technologies, support for changing publishing requirements, or the development of services that benefit the journal’s community, such as accessible publications.

Editorial and owner compensations

Finally, the cost model includes both editorial and owner contributions. These comprise an agreed amount paid to the journal owner – the Society for the Foundations of Computational Mathematics – in support of its role in the development and ongoing management of the journal and its community.

To subscribe to this journal, or enquire about package and multi-year offers, please contact info@ems.press.