Submission Guidelines

To ensure a smooth submission and review process, authors are required to follow the steps outlined below:

1. Submission Stages

Stage 1: Abstract Submission

Authors must first submit an extended abstract (approx. 300–600 words). The abstract should outline the scope, methodology, and key contributions of the proposed paper.
The Program Committee evaluates abstracts for thematic fit and scientific relevance.

Stage 2: Full Paper Submission

Upon acceptance of the abstract, authors will be invited to submit a full paper. Only full papers submitted through the official platform or email will be reviewed.

To ensure consistency and clarity in all submissions and presentations, please use the official DSC 2026 templates:

• Abstract Template (DOCX)
  (Required for all initial submissions)
• Full Paper (Manuscript) Template (DOCX)
  (Required for all accepted abstracts)
   

2. Formatting Instructions

All papers must use the official Defense and Security Conference 2026 template. The template and formatting instructions are available on the conference website. The paper must be written in English and not exceed 10 000 words (including figures, tables, and references). Files must be submitted in .docx (MS Word) or a compatible format.

Submissions that do not comply with the formatting or length requirements may be rejected without review.

3. Submission Methods

Submissions can be made in one of the following ways:

• Preferred: Through the Microsoft CMT submission system: https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/DSC2026 
• Alternative: By email to conference@sois-ft.hr with the subject line: DSC 2026 submission – [Corresponding Author's Last Name].

Acknowledgment: The Microsoft CMT service was used for managing the peer-reviewing process for this conference. This service was provided for free by Microsoft and they bore all expenses, including costs for Azure cloud services as well as for software development and support.

4. Review Process

All submitted full papers will undergo a double-blind peer-review process coordinated by the international Program Committee. The review procedure includes the following steps:

Peer Review Procedure

Each full paper is reviewed by at least two independent reviewers who are experts in the field. Reviews are based on standardised evaluation criteria, including:

• Relevance of the topic,
• Statement of the problem,
• Theoretical/conceptual framework,
• Methodology and methods used,
• Quality of findings,
• Significance of research,
• Conclusions and contribution to the field,
• Relevance to the conference theme,
• Readability and language quality.
   

Reviewers rate each criterion on a scale from Poor (2) to Excellent (5) and provide one of the following final recommendations:

• Ready for publishing
• Minor revision needed
• Major revision needed
• Not suitable for publishing
  
   

Editorial Decision Process

The Editorial Board reviews the peer-review reports and determines the appropriate paper category.
According to the Croatian national classification of scientific and professional publications, submitted papers will be categorised as one of the following:

• Original Scientific Paper (Izvorni znanstveni članak): presents original research results and new contributions to scientific knowledge.
• Review Paper (Pregledni članak): provides an overview and critical analysis of recent research on a specific topic.
• Preliminary Communication (Prethodno priopćenje): presents early-stage results or ongoing research with significant novelty.

Additionally, the conference accepts professional papers (Stručni radovi) that focus on practical applications, experiences, or policy-oriented analysis. These will be published in a separate issue within the same proceedings volume, clearly distinguished from scientific papers.

• If the two reviewers suggest different categories, the Editorial Board may assign a third reviewer to make the final classification in the best interest of the author.

Templates & Downloads

To help you prepare for your presentation and poster session, please use the official DSC 2026 templates:

• PowerPoint Presentation Template (PPTX)
  (Required for all oral presentations)
• Poster Template (PPTX)
  (Required for all poster presenters)
   

Please follow the design and formatting instructions included within each file. If you experience issues accessing the files, contact: conference@sois-ft.hr.

Submission Guidelines