Every June, Clarivate releases their Journal Citation Reports (JCR), providing updated or first Journal Impact Factors for the journals covered in the Web of Science Core Collection.

Impact Factors are a widely used metric for evaluating and comparing different journals. They are exclusively a journal-level metric, so what they can tell us about the quality of an individual article is limited. Nonetheless, the annual JCR announcement provides an exciting opportunity to celebrate what MDPI’s journals, and the scholarly communities behind them, have achieved.

This year’s JCR included 330 MDPI journals spanning varied disciplines, with each having their own unique success stories worth highlighting.

In this article, we take a closer look at 5 standout MDPI journals from the 2025 JCR, exploring how success can be measured beyond a single number.

Machine Learning & Knowledge Extraction (MAKE)

2025 Impact Factor: 8.4

Indexed in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)

Amongst the 330 MDPI journals which received an Impact Factor in 2025, MAKE (ISSN 2504-4990) holds the accolade of having the highest rating.

The journal, which provides an advanced forum for the study of machine learning and its applications, is placed in Q1 for three subject categories:

• Computer science, artificial intelligence
• Computer science, interdisciplinary applications
• Engineering, electrical & electronic

Holding Q1 positions across three subject categories is a testament to the high-quality research published in the journal.

In addition to being MDPI’s highest rated journal in this metric, MAKE achieved its highest Impact Factor to date this year. As well as continuing the pattern seen in its increase from 4.0 in 2023 to 6.0 in 2024, MAKE’s 2025 Impact Factor of 8.4 represents its largest increase yet.

MAKE’s Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Andreas Holzinger described the journal’s 2025 Impact Factor as a ‘collective achievement’. This is thanks to the authors, reviewers, editors, Editorial Board Members, and readers whose ‘combined efforts make the journal what it is’.

He continued:

“Such recognition is only possible because our authors submit innovative research, our reviewers provide rigorous and constructive evaluations, and our Editorial Board continuously upholds the highest scientific standards. Last but not least, it is also the effort of the publisher. This wonderful achievement belongs to all of them.”

Prof. Dr. Andreas Holzinger, Editor-in-Chief (2017 – present)

Visit the MAKE journal homepage to learn more.

Antioxidants  

2025 Impact Factor: 8.2

Indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE)

This year, Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921) was awarded an exceptional Impact Factor of 8.2, establishing it as the MDPI journal with the second-highest Impact Factor. In addition, the journal was placed in Q1 in three subject categories:

• Biochemistry & molecular biology
• Chemistry, medicinal
• Food science & technology

Committed to advancing the study of antioxidants, the journal has consistently held an Impact Factor of 6.0 or higher since 2020. Furthermore, in 2025, its Impact Factor of 6.6 made it MDPI’s highest rated publication in the 2024 JCR announcement.

Even more impressive, Antioxidants holds the unique achievement of ranking within the top 10% of two of its respective subject categories (Chemistry, medicinal & Food science & technology). This further demonstrates the sheer impact of the journal and its relevance across fields.

Prof. Dr. Alessandra Napolitano, Antioxidants’ Editor-in-Chief, maintains that many aspects require careful attention in order to maintain and develop a journal’s Impact Factor:

“This success is the result of multiple factors, primarily the efficiency and integrity of the manuscript management and review process, alongside short processing times from submission to acceptance and publication. It is also important to highlight the routine checks performed to evaluate plagiarism and the use of AI, as well as the protocols scrupulously applied throughout the entire reviewing process […] The strict application of these protocols guarantees uniform treatment for all manuscripts, which represents a crucial asset for authors choosing this journal.”

Prof. Dr. Alessandra Napolitano, Editor-in-Chief (2023 – present)

Visit the Antioxidants journal homepage to learn more.

Biomass

2025 Impact Factor: 6.7

Indexed in ESCI

This year, Biomass (ISSN 2673-8783) was recognised in the JCR for the first time.

A first Impact Factor is an achievement for an emerging journal. For the research communities those journals serve, it signals that the published work being is being read and built upon.

Indexed in ESCI, Biomass’ first Impact Factor of 6.7 signifies a tremendously strong debut for the journal. However, what makes this achievement even more profound is the journal’s placement in Q1 of the category Engineering, chemical.

Biomass publishes research on biomass treatment, valorisation, conversion, biorefinery, and related areas. Launched in 2021, it is a relatively new journal, which makes its accomplishment additionally impressive.

Such early inclusion in prestigious databases is not an anomaly, but a direct consequence of what happens when a journal’s authors, Editorial Board, and reviewers work together to produce impactful research.

Visit the Biomass journal homepage to learn more.

Analytica

2025 Impact Factor: 7.4

Indexed in ESCI

Remaining with the theme of growth, our next highlight from this year’s JCR announcement comes from Analytica (ISSN 2673-4532), which provides an advanced forum for all aspects of fundamental and applied analytical chemistry.

Of all MDPI journals, Analytica experienced the largest increase in this metric, based on its previous year’s score. The journal received an Impact Factor of 7.4 – an astounding 3.8-point increase from its 2024 rating (3.6).

Indexed in ESCI, Analytica is now positioned in Q1 of the Chemistry, Analytical JCR category.

Similar to Biomass, Analytica is an emerging journal. Therefore, this achievement celebrates both the efforts of its scholarly community and also MDPI’s broader commitment to nurturing new journals into high-quality, high-impact platforms for scientific exchange.

Following the journal’s recent and impressive growth in its Impact Factor, its Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Marcello Locatelli, shared how the journal’s Editorial Board has ensured consistency and quality:

“To sustain this growth and ensure rigorous quality and consistency in a rapidly expanding citation landscape, the Editorial Board relies on several key mechanisms: rigorous peer review, editorial selection and evaluation, Special Issue curation, research integrity and ethics, and, above all, the expertise of the Board. This means that as EiC and all EBMs, we must continue to work hard to maintain, consolidate, and, where appropriate, increase the results achieved this year.”

Dr. Marcello Locatelli, Editor-in-Chief (2020 – present)

Visit the Analytica journal homepage to learn more.

Batteries

2025 Impact Factor: 6.3

Indexed in SCIE

Indexed in SCIE, Batteries (ISSN 2313-0105) received an updated Impact Factor of 6.3 this year, representing an increase of 1.5 from last year’s rating.

Batteries is an international, Open Access journal of battery technology and materials. As of the 2025 JCR announcement, it is indexed in the following subject categories:

• Electrochemistry (Q1)
• Energy & Fuels (Q2)
• Materials science, Multidisciplinary (Q2)

In many ways, Batteries demonstrates that success is not defined by having the highest Impact Factor or sharp yearly increases. Success is also rooted in consistency, which often materialises as a steady trajectory of growth.

Since the journal received its 2022 Impact Factor, it has grown each year:

• 2022 – 4.0
• 2023 – 4.6
• 2024 – 4.8
• 2025 – 6.3

Steady growth demonstrates the journal’s commitment to publishing impactful research whilst also increasing its global visibility .

Visit the Batteries journal homepage to learn more.

MDPI supports inclusive research assessment

Whether it is a journal’s first Impact Factor, highest Impact Factor, or another year of steady growth and greater visibility, these 5 journals demonstrate MDPI’s success in all its forms.

As a proud signatory of DORA, MDPI reminds scholars that while a high Impact Factor provides some information about a journal’s place within its field, it shows a limited picture of the overall impact.

MDPI uses Altmetric scores, provided by Altmetric.com, for a complementary, article-level view. When used alongside traditional citation-based metrics, authors can get a more nuanced understanding of impact by considering the broader societal resonance of their research.

Learn more about MDPI in the 2025 Journal Impact Factor release.