FAQ

The CFC model is a decentralized framework that reimagines academic conferences for the AI era. It separates peer review, presentation, and networking into three interconnected layers: (1) unified global peer review with rolling cycles, (2) federated regional hubs for local gatherings, and (3) a digital layer for global connectivity. This addresses the crisis of centralized mega-conferences, which are environmentally unsustainable, mentally exhausting, and increasingly exclusionary.

Yes, absolutely. There are no registration fees, no publication charges, and no hidden costs. Our mission is to democratize academic knowledge exchange and make scientific conferences accessible to everyone, regardless of their institution's funding or geographic location. The entire platform and all conference features remain free forever.

Traditional conferences are centralized mega-events with fixed deadlines, single venues, and require expensive travel. The CFC model is fundamentally different: (1) Rolling peer review instead of annual deadlines - submit anytime; (2) Regional hubs (50-200 people) instead of 10,000+ attendee mega-venues; (3) 90%+ reduction in carbon emissions by eliminating long-haul flights; (4) No venue capacity limits - everyone can participate; (5) Continuous knowledge dissemination rather than outdated annual presentations.

Anyone can organize a conference - whether you're a faculty member, research lab, student group, or independent researcher. You simply define your topics, set up your community guidelines, and invite reviewers. There's no need to wait for approval from major organizations like NeurIPS or ICLR. This democratizes conference organization and enables niche communities to thrive.

Papers undergo rolling peer review throughout the year on our unified global platform, managed by academic societies. Unlike traditional conferences with frantic annual deadlines, submissions are reviewed continuously with more thoughtful feedback. Accepted papers are published in globally recognized proceedings, ensuring academic credit. This reduces reviewer burnout and allows for higher quality reviews compared to the current system where reviewers are overwhelmed.

Regional hubs are smaller, locally-organized gatherings (typically 50-200 participants) where accepted authors present their work. They can be hosted by universities, research labs, or community groups. Hubs eliminate the need for expensive long-distance travel - over 90% of attendees come from nearby regions. These intimate settings foster genuine connections and reduce the anxiety and burnout associated with mega-conferences, as evidenced by research showing 71% negative sentiment about traditional conferences.

The environmental impact is dramatically reduced. Research shows NeurIPS 2024's travel emissions alone exceeded 8,254 tCO2e - more than Vancouver's daily emissions. By enabling regional hubs, the CFC model reduces carbon footprint by over 90%. Researchers attend local gatherings instead of flying 15,000 km internationally. This aligns academic practices with global sustainability commitments while maintaining scientific rigor and community connection.

Yes. Papers accepted through our global peer review system are published in recognized proceedings managed by established academic societies. The quality standards match or exceed traditional top-tier conferences, but without the artificial scarcity and hyper-competitive gatekeeping. The rolling review cycle also ensures your work is presented while it's still fresh, not outdated by 7+ months as often happens with annual conferences.

While presentations happen at regional hubs, you're connected to the global community through: (1) Live-streamed keynotes and award talks from rotating anchor hubs; (2) Permanent digital poster halls for asynchronous discussion of all papers; (3) Thematic virtual channels (Slack/Discord) connecting researchers on similar topics worldwide. This ensures local participation remains deeply connected to global discourse without requiring physical travel.

The current system creates immense pressure - research shows 35% of conference-related discussions mention mental health concerns like anxiety and burnout. The publish-or-perish culture, with faculty now averaging 4.5+ papers annually (projected to reach 6+ by 2030), is unsustainable. Our rolling review system removes frantic deadlines, regional hubs reduce financial barriers, and smaller gatherings create supportive communities. This helps junior researchers build their careers without sacrificing mental health.

Absolutely! Unlike traditional conferences that may limit attendance due to venue capacity (NeurIPS 2024 implemented a lottery system), regional hubs are more flexible and welcoming. You can attend local gatherings to network, learn, and participate in discussions. The digital layer also provides access to all keynotes, presentations, and poster discussions regardless of your physical location.

This is a critical advantage. In traditional conferences, the lifecycle from submission to presentation can exceed 7 months - by which time AI research is often outdated (AI capabilities double approximately every 7 months). Our rolling peer review and multiple lightweight regional hubs enable more frequent dissemination of fresh results. You're not locked into waiting for the next annual cycle to share breakthrough work.