Scientific Events and Publications Dissemination Service
What is SEP-DS?
In today's world of rapid communication and where quick information dissemination presents valuable business advantages, the use of reliable and cost-effective ways of delivering information is proving more and more relevant. Not only this. Speedy information dissemination via electronic means not only overcomes the traditional barriers posed by conventional methods such as ordinary post ("snail mail") or fax, but also does so at significantly lower costs, leaving staff at companies and business more time to take care of other matters. This is why the Scientific Events and Publications Dissemination Service (SEP-DS) was created: the database and the service it entails aim at putting your message across, by taking advantage of the information society.
SEP-DS registered at the German and European Patent Offices in Munique and a trade mark, exists to help YOU to meet your information dissemination needs. Originally designed to promote information on environmental issues, which is still a focal theme, SEP-DS has been expanded to cover all aspects of science and technology, providing an ideal platform for the dissemination of products, events, services, training opportunities, projects and documentation. Since its creation in 1999, SEP-DS has promoted over 2000 European and worldwide events informing and mobilising over 300.000 people and institutions.
The rationale behind SEP-DS is simple: whilst a mailing shot to a sample of five hundred people (for example) normally costs around EUR 1 (US$ 1,2) for each letter sent - in respect of printing costs, envelope, handling and postage - without enabling a clear measure of the results achieved, an electronic message may pass key information to thousands of people, who may be divided into specific target groups, thus giving you the certainty they have the information you want them to receive.
There are two immediate benefits deriving from this:
Recipients will be receiving the information you want them to receive, when you want it, be it on a new product, new research findings, an event, a report/publication or a new policy, along with your contact details, thus enabling them to get in touch or directly order the relevant product or information.
Recipients will be receiving the information you want them to receive, when you want it, but instead of contacting you directly, they mass pass the information on to others.
In any case, recipients will get your information, which always implies in product exposure.
SEP-DS: Potentials and Limitations
Similarly to what happens in respect of other information systems, the success in the use of SEP-DS relies on three main components:
1. The quality of the distribution system
2. The nature of the information provided and the extent to which it is attractive
3. The ability of providers to provide support and deal with demands from potential clients
1. The quality of the distribution system
As far as item 1 is concerned, users of SEP-DS rely on state-of-the-art software and hardware, via which their messages will reach a wide audience in Europe or all over the world.
A substantial amount of efforts and staff time goes into up-dating the system, acquiring access and up-keeping it. Also, continuous investments are made in using efficient IT and AI-based technologies and in attending specialist events, where new opportunities to enhance the system are followed up.
This illustrates SEP-DS ´s main potential: a dynamic and reliable cross-sectorial information system.
2. The nature of the information provided and the extent to which it is attractive
With regard to item 2, SEP-DS already helps since a selection of items suitable for promotion via the system is made.
However, SEP-DS is unable to influence the reaction of its members who ultimately decide on whether or not they will take any action in response to a particular piece of information. In this context, there are on the one hand cases where certain types of information generate thousands of responses and cases where only a few dozen people follow things up.
Experience tells that target-group focussed events such as specialised conferences or seminars may generate a great deal of interest. But levels of response do vary and users of SEP-DS should be aware of this fact.
3. The ability of providers to provide support and deal with demands from potential clients
Finally, the importance of item 3 cannot be overemphasised. SEP-DS will help you to promote your product, event, publication or idea, but it is up to you to deal with the enquiries it generates.
Since a lot is happening in the field of science -and often at the same time- it is important that you are able to deal with queries from clients quickly and efficiently. It is to this purpose that we recommend that a certain scheme not only refers to a web site (from where people usually may obtain information and register/place orders), but also give a contact person, a telephone and an e-mail address.
The idea is to make it easier for clients to contact you. Past experiences have shown that such easy access is usually very rewarding to both yourself and your clients.
A final note on SEP-DS's potentials and limitations:
Experience tells that the more specialised information is, the more restricted responses are. This is not always bad: in some cases, having small numbers of requests for information from specialised companies, university personnel or government agencies may be far more useful and generate more targeted feed-back, than enquiries from different sorts of people from various backgrounds.
SEP-DS will in any case help you to promote your ideas among a wide audience, helping you to achieve the success you deserve.
SEP-DS partners
Thanks to its wide cooperation and networking partners which includes European and worldwide leading information systems, SEP-DS is able to promote the information to a wide audience. Some of the cooperating partners which will disseminate the information provided by EIDD are:
The European Commission CORDIS Programme
https://cordis.europa.eu/
World ConferencesAlert
https://www.worldconferencealerts.com/
World Conferences Calendar
https://www.worldconferencecalendar.com/
The wide partnership, combined with SEP-DS ´s own database make SEP-DS the world´s leading science and technology information dissemination service.
EIDD at a Glance
Rates (2023-2025)
SEP-DS has kept its rates steady since its creation in 1999. For the period 2023-2025 there are two main types of rate:
Around 7.200 recipients in Europe, along with the circulation in the Partners network, accessing over 12.000 people in institutions both in the EU 27 countries and in the 50 countries members of the UN Economic Commission for Europe.
Over 30.000 recipients worldwide (see EIDD at a glance).
Rates are inclusive of German VAT and other taxes. They are meant to provide a contribution towards the costs of using the service and do not represent conventional commercial fees.