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SGEM WORLD SCIENCE · POLICIES & STATEMENTS

Privacy Policy

Contents
  1. 01Who We Are
  2. 02What Personal Data We Collect
  3. 03Why We Collect This Data
  4. 04How We Protect Your Data
  5. 05Your Rights Under GDPR
  6. 06How Long We Retain Your Data
  7. 07Cookies and Web Tracking
  8. 08Policy Updates
Contents
  1. 01Who We Are
  2. 02What Personal Data We Collect
  3. 03Why We Collect This Data
  4. 04How We Protect Your Data
  5. 05Your Rights Under GDPR
  6. 06How Long We Retain Your Data
  7. 07Cookies and Web Tracking
  8. 08Policy Updates
This Privacy Policy outlines how SGEM WORLD SCIENCE (SWS) collects, uses, stores, and protects personal information provided by visitors, participants, authors, reviewers, and partners across all SWS platforms, including our official websites, conference systems, submission portals, and publishing tools.

We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and ensuring that all personal data is processed lawfully, fairly, transparently, and in accordance with applicable data protection regulations, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Who We Are

SGEM WORLD SCIENCE (SWS) is an independent scholarly society that organizes international scientific events, publishes peer-reviewed academic content, and supports global collaboration across the sciences, arts, and humanities. Our registered websites include (but are not limited to):

  • www.sgemworld.at
  • www.sgem.org
  • www.sgemsocial.org
  • www.sgemviennagreen.org
  • www.sgemvienna.org
  • www.sgemflorence.org
  • www.sgemworldpublishing.at
  • www.sciencemeetsart.at
  • www.epslibrary.at
  • www.ssalibrary.at
  • www.kongressexpert.at

What Personal Data We Collect

We collect only the data necessary for the fulfillment of our academic and organizational mission, including:

  • Personal identification data: full name, title, affiliation, email address, country, professional role.
  • Communication data: email correspondence, inquiries, submission history.
  • Publishing data: author contributions, co-author details, peer review records, publication agreements.
  • Payment and invoicing data: billing information, transaction confirmations (processed via secure third-party gateways).
  • Website usage data: cookies, IP addresses, browser types, and navigation patterns (used solely to improve user experience).

Why We Collect This Data

Personal data is collected for specific, legitimate purposes, including:

  • Conference registration and participation management.
  • Abstract and full manuscript submission, peer review, and editorial processing.
  • Issuing certificates, proceedings, and official documentation.
  • Journal publication and open access dissemination.
  • Sending official correspondence, updates, and newsletters.
  • Ensuring system functionality, user support, and account security.

We do not collect or process sensitive personal data (e.g., race, religion, health, political beliefs) unless explicitly required and lawfully justified.

How We Protect Your Data

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your data, including:

  • SSL encryption across all platforms.
  • Controlled access to internal databases.
  • Role-based data visibility in the submission and review system.
  • Secure data backups and encrypted hosting solutions.
  • Staff and editor confidentiality agreements.

Your personal data is never sold, rented, or exchanged for commercial purposes. We share data only with third parties (e.g., payment processors, hosting services) who operate under strict data protection compliance.

Your Rights Under GDPR

You have the right to:

  • Access your personal data at any time.
  • Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Request erasure (“right to be forgotten”) if your data is no longer needed for its original purpose.
  • Object to processing or request data restriction in certain cases.
  • Withdraw consent (where applicable) without affecting previous lawful use.
  • Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if you believe your rights are violated.

All requests can be sent to:
__sws_mail_c15__

We aim to respond to all legitimate inquiries within 30 days.

How Long We Retain Your Data

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for:

  • Fulfilling our scientific and contractual obligations (e.g., citation records, publication archives).
  • Legal requirements (e.g., tax or reporting obligations).
  • Maintaining accurate historical records of conference participation and authorship.

You may request anonymization or deletion of personal records at any time, provided that such deletion does not interfere with ongoing publishing, legal, or indexing requirements.

Cookies and Web Tracking

Our websites may use cookies to:

  • Analyze site traffic and optimize performance.
  • Remember your preferences and login sessions.
  • Improve usability for returning visitors.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. By continuing to use our sites, you consent to our use of cookies in line with this policy.

Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in legislation or in our services. The latest version will always be available on our official websites. Continued use of our services implies acceptance of these terms.

Contact Us
If you have any questions about how your data is handled, or if you would like to exercise your rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer:

SGEM WORLD SCIENCE
__sws_mail_c15__
Haidingergasse 1, C/1113, 1030 Vienna, Austria
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