What Does "Publishing an EI Paper" Really Mean?

In engineering and computer science communities, you often hear phrases like:"He has already published an EI paper." But what does that actually mean?

For researchers in engineering, computer science, and applied sciences, publishing an EI paper is more than just adding another line to a CV—it can be a graduation requirement, a promotion benchmark, or a gateway to global academic recognition.

So, what is an EI paper? An "EI paper" is a research paper that has been indexed by Ei Compendex (Engineering Index), a leading engineering literature database currently managed by Elsevier.

Understanding Ei Compendex: The "Gold Standard" of Engineering Research

Ei Compendex, also known as the Engineering Index, is one of the most authoritative and comprehensive bibliographic databases in the world for engineering and technology research.

What is Ei Compendex?

• A globally recognized Engineering Index database
• Maintained and curated by Elsevier
• Used by universities, research institutions, and libraries worldwide
• Focuses on high-quality, peer-reviewed engineering content

What fields does EI Compendex cover?

Ei Compendex has extremely broad coverage, including:

• Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Chemical, etc.)
• Computer Science & Information Technology
• Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
• Applied Physics
• Materials Science
• Energy and Environmental Engineering

Because of this wide scope, EI Compendex is often considered the gold standard for applied and engineering research, especially outside purely theoretical sciences.

The Two Types of EI Papers: EI-JA vs. EI-CA

EI papers come in two main types:

EI-JA (EI Indexed Journal Article)

• Published in international academic journals
• Usually stricter peer review
• Longer review and publication cycles
• Often favored for senior researchers and tenure evaluation

EI-CA (EI Indexed Conference Article)

• Published in international conference proceedings
• Faster review and publication process
• Ideal for sharing recent or emerging research
• Widely accepted in engineering and computer science

An EI-CA paper is not "lower quality" by default. As long as the conference proceedings are indexed by Ei Compendex, the paper is a legitimate EI publication.

Which should you choose? Check: EI Conference vs. EI Journal: A Comprehensive Guide for Research

Why is Ei Compendex Indexing So Important?

Why is there such a rush to get into this database?

• Global Visibility: Ei Compendex holds over 30 million records. Being indexed means researchers from MIT to Tsinghua University can find and cite your work.
• Graduation Requirement: For many Master's and PhD students in Engineering and Computer Science, having 1 or 2 EI-indexed papers is a mandatory requirement for graduation.
• Funding and Promotions: Academic institutions often use indexing data (from Scopus or EI) to evaluate faculty performance and grant funding.

The Process: How to Get Your Paper Indexed

Many authors ask us: "How do I send my paper to EI after the conference?"
The answer is: You don't. The indexing process is handled by the conference organizers and the publisher.
Here is the standard workflow for a legitimate EI Conference:

• Submission: You submit your manuscript to the conference (e.g., via our submission system).
• Peer Review: Experts review your paper for quality and originality.
• Acceptance & Registration: If accepted, you register and present your work.
• Publication: The conference organizers send the final papers to a publisher (like IEEE, ACM, Springer, or IOP).
• Indexing: The Publisher submits the proceedings to Elsevier. Elsevier checks the quality and adds it to the Ei Compendex database.

Note on Timeline: Indexing is not instant. It typically takes 3 to 6 months after the conference proceedings are published online for the record to appear in the EI database.

For more information, please check: Understanding the EI Indexing Process: How It Works and How Long It Takes

Conclusion: EI Papers Are the Gateway for Engineering Researchers

To summarize:

• An EI paper is defined by indexing, not by format
• Ei Compendex (Engineering Index) is a trusted global database
• EI papers come in two types: JA vs. CA
• Publishing EI papers supports graduation, funding, promotion, and visibility

For many engineering researchers, an EI paper is not just a milestone—it's the first step into the international research community.

Ready to publish your first EI conference paper? Check out our Call for Papers for the upcoming 2026 International Conference,
Download the official paper template now and take your next step toward an EI-indexed publication.