Sciencesconf

Overview

Sciencesconf spans the event lifecycle: organizers can collect papers, coordinate peer review, build a program, handle registrations and proceedings, and host an event website. Once an event creation request is validated, the hosted site receives a dedicated sciencesconf.org address and does not require local IT infrastructure. That combination is useful for teams that want event administration and a public-facing site in the same service.

Access is not automatic. Creation requests are checked against CCSD criteria; the service is intended for scientific events primarily serving the scientific community and supported by higher education or research organizations or qualifying scientific associations. Event sites remain public after a conference, but their administration interfaces close after two years. Organizers who need longer-term administrative access should weigh that limit before committing.

Key features

Submissions and review

Organizers can define calls for papers, accept abstracts or full texts, set communication types and themes, select proposals, and carry accepted work into programming and proceedings. Review grids, theme-based coordination, reviewer invitations and reminders, and review distribution and follow-up support a multi-stage process. Scoring, blind review, author revisions and poster handling add useful control for events with varied submission and evaluation needs.

Event site and registration

Role-based privileges help divide organizer responsibilities. Templates and menus can be customized, while email templates, mailing lists and mailing tools support event communications. Registration periods and forms, registrant lists and participant communications cover the operational side. Paybox or Azur colloque payments can be configured, but online card transactions link to payment sites: banking information and funds do not pass through Sciencesconf.

HAL and event continuity

Sciencesconf can autocomplete author names and affiliations from HAL reference data and transfer papers to HAL, depending on event settings or an organizer request. This is a practical fit for events whose publication workflow involves HAL. For configuration duplication after the two-year administration window, the FAQ directs organizers to contact support by email.

The event website and data are hosted by the IN2P3 Computing Centre in Villeurbanne, France. The terms place GDPR and French data-protection-act compliance obligations on supervisory bodies and users. The site's accessibility statement says it is not RGAA 4.1 compliant because no accessibility audit has been conducted. Sciencesconf also lacks integrated virtual-conference tools, so events that need those capabilities will need another solution.

Pricing

The Sciencesconf plan is free for organizers of scientific events. There are no paid tiers to trade off against the free service, but the offer comes with meaningful conditions: event requests require validation, the event must fit its scientific remit, and administration interfaces are no longer available after two years. This is a strong option for eligible organizers who can work within that lifecycle; it is not a fit for those who need unrestricted event creation or continuing administrative access.

Platforms

Sciencesconf is available on the web. Its hosted event websites avoid the need for local IT infrastructure, while the service itself does not supply integrated virtual-event tools.

Who it's for

Choose Sciencesconf if you organize a qualifying scientific event and need submissions, peer review, programming, registration and a hosted event website in one free service. It is especially relevant when HAL author data or paper transfer matters. Look elsewhere if your event falls outside the eligibility criteria, requires integrated virtual-conference features, or needs administration access beyond two years.

Pros and cons

• Pros: A broad scientific-event workflow covers submissions through proceedings, reducing the need to split those tasks across separate services.
• Pros: A hosted event website with role controls, customizable menus and templates gives organizers a public home for the event without local IT infrastructure.
• Pros: HAL autocomplete and paper transfer can streamline author information and publication workflows for events using HAL.
• Cons: Event creation requires CCSD validation and is restricted to eligible scientific events, so it is not an open-purpose conference platform.
• Cons: Administration interfaces close after two years, limiting continued management even though event websites stay public.
• Cons: No integrated virtual-conference tools are provided, and the site has not had an RGAA 4.1 accessibility audit.

Alternatives

For a broader category comparison, browse Event Abstract Management Software.

• Congressio is worth comparing if a free plan capped at one active event, 100 submissions and three team seats suits your event; its Standard plan is 49.00 USD per month.
• Indico is a free, open-source option to consider if self-hosting or its Android and iOS platforms better suit your setup.
• Microsoft CMT is another free web service for managing academic conferences.
• EasyChair may suit smaller submission workflows: its free plan allows up to 20 submissions with no technical support, while Professional costs 3.90 USD per submission and allows up to 60 submissions.
• SimplyConf is an alternative if self-hosting is useful: its Core plan is free forever with unlimited events, submissions and users.
• Oxford Abstracts offers a free Basic plan with unlimited submissions, review and decisions, event ticketing, reviewer-progress tracking, and customizable forms and emails.
• HotCRP is another option to consider.
• ConfTool may fit smaller non-commercial events that can use a local installation and stay within 150 participants; its free Standard license is available on request and includes no support.

Verdict

Sciencesconf is a strong choice for eligible academic and research organizers who want a free, end-to-end event workflow and a hosted event site, particularly when HAL integration is useful. Its scientific-event gate and two-year administration cutoff are substantial limits, and the lack of virtual-conference tools narrows its scope. Choose it when those constraints fit the event; otherwise compare alternatives built around your hosting, scale or event-format needs.