Applications open for the Scientific Journal Hosting Service (SARC)

The period for expressing interest and applying for the Scientific Journal Hosting Service (SARC) is now open. This service is aimed at scientific journal publishers, with a deadline of February 13, 2026.

SARC is part of the national PUB IN initiative, developed by the University of Minho and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), through its digital services unit FCCN, with the aim of responding to the current needs of scientific publishing in Portugal.

This service provides a set of infrastructures and applications to support the management and operation of scientific journals, ensuring the management and maintenance of equipment and basic software, as well as platforms associated with the editorial life cycle and content availability. All tasks related to the editorial and design components of journals are excluded from the scope of SARC.

This application focuses on the SARC Light modality, which includes initial support for the parameterization of scientific journal management and operation applications and access tothe helpdesk service. This modality does not include editorial monitoring or consulting services, focusing exclusively on the provision of software as a service.

The selection of journals to be included in the service will be based on an analysis of expressions of interest. The results will be communicated to all applicant entities.

The selected journals will be included in INDEXAR – Directory of Digital Knowledge Resources and in the RCAAP Portal. Entities that are not selected will be included in a Studentship applications for future phases of expressions of interest.

Publishers interested in hosting their scientific journals on SARC should communicate their intention by email to info@pubin.pt. For more information on the expression of interest and application process, please consult the regulations and the website pubin.pt.