TERMS OF USE & PRIVACY POLICY

1. PREAMBLE

Welcome to Scinder, a platform developed by SACSIS (Sociedad para el Avance Científico) with the purpose of connecting young scientists with experienced mentors to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and scientific innovation on a global scale.

Scinder provides a secure and dynamic digital ecosystem designed to facilitate networking, the development of research projects, and the dissemination of knowledge across multiple disciplines.

These Terms and Conditions govern the use of Scinder.net and all services offered through the platform. By registering and using Scinder, you agree to be legally bound by these terms. If you do not agree with any part of them, you must refrain from using the platform.

 

2. DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this document:

• • Platform: The Scinder.net website and all digital services offered through it.

  • User: Any natural or legal person who accesses or registers on the Platform.

  • Content: Any information, text, document, image, data, or material shared within the Platform.

  • Account: A personal profile created by a registered User on the Platform.

  • Services: Functionalities and tools available on Scinder, such as networking, project management, and scientific consultancy.

  • Payment: Any financial transaction made by a User to access paid services within the Platform.

  • Subscription: A recurring access model to premium services on the Platform.

  • Outreach: An environment oriented towards scientific dissemination and connection with society, through communication, outreach, and science awareness activities.

  • Hubs: Thematic virtual spaces for collaboration among Users in projects, networks, and scientific communities.

  • Confidential: A private and secure environment for managing confidential content, such as sensitive research results, documents subject to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), or data covered by contracts or regulations.

User Types:

• • Research User: A person affiliated with universities, research centres, or other scientific entities, engaged in research or technology transfer.

  • Business User: A representative of a company, investor entity, or organisation without a research affiliation.

  • Guest User: Any person browsing the public part of the Platform without having registered.

  • Moderator User: A person designated by the Scinder team with authority to supervise, moderate, and manage content and user interactions within the Platform, ensuring compliance with these Terms and Conditions.

 

3. TERMS OF USE

3.1. Registration Requirements

To access certain features of Scinder, the user must:

• • Be over the age of 18.

  • Provide truthful and up-to-date information.

  • Not impersonate others or provide false data.

Each user may register only one personal account. If false information is detected, Scinder reserves the right to suspend or delete such an account.

Registered users are responsible for safeguarding their login credentials and for the activity conducted through their devices. In case of loss, theft, or unauthorised access, they must notify scinder@sacsis.es immediately.

Scinder reserves the right to reject registrations or suspend accounts if false information or fraudulent activities are detected.

3.2. User Conduct

3.2.1 Ethical and Legal Use

Users commit to:

• • Use the platform ethically and professionally across all its environments: Outreach, Hubs, and Confidential.

  • Respect third-party intellectual property rights and privacy.

  • Not share illegal, offensive, or fraudulent content.

  • Not use the platform for unauthorised commercial activities.

  • Not use scrapers, bots, or automated tools to extract data or content without permission.

Violation of these rules may result in account suspension or deletion.

3.2.2 Measures Against Scraping and Automated Extraction

It is prohibited to:

• • Access or exploit Scinder’s database via software or automated mechanisms.

  • Share login credentials with third parties.

  • Mass download data or content without express authorisation.

 

Any infringement may lead to account suspension and potential legal action.

3.3. Automatic Deactivation of Inactive Accounts or Death of Account Holder

Scinder may deactivate or delete accounts that remain inactive for more than 12 months. Prior to doing so, we will attempt to contact the user via their registered email address.

In the event of the account holder’s death, legal heirs or authorised representatives may request deletion or preservation of the account, subject to documentary evidence. Requests must be sent to scinder@sacsis.es.

3.4. Content Publication and Management

Content published by authorised users (researchers or external contributors) must meet standards of quality, legality, and ethics, and not infringe third-party rights.

Scinder may:

• • Review content prior to publication

  • Request corrections.

  • Reject or delete content without prior notice if it violates standards.

 

Users who upload content declare that they are authorised to publish it by their institution or other rights holders (e.g., co-authors or IP owners).

Scinder may assign differentiated permissions to manage content based on the user’s verified profile, including deferred publishing and editorial reviews.

Users retain rights over content they publish but must guarantee:

• • They hold the necessary rights or authorisations for publication.

  • The content does not infringe any third-party rights.

Scinder is not liable for claims arising from user-uploaded content. Any such claims are the sole responsibility of the user who published the content.

By publishing content on Scinder, the user grants the platform a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, and revocable licence to use, reproduce, adapt, distribute, and publicly communicate such content solely for operational, scientific, or promotional purposes, excluding commercial use.

This licence is limited to Scinder’s operational scope and may be revoked by written request to scinder@sacsis.es, without prejudice to any prior use.

3.5. International Use and Local Compliance

Scinder is designed for use by users around the world. However, users are responsible for ensuring that use of the platform complies with applicable local laws in their country of residence.

In the event of a conflict between the user’s local laws and these Terms, Spanish law shall prevail, without prejudice to mandatory rights under the user’s local legislation.

3.6. Content Review and Oversight

Scinder does not systematically or automatically review user-published content. However, it reserves the right to conduct random or specific reviews as needed to ensure compliance with these Terms and Conditions. If potential violations are identified, Scinder may request changes, temporarily suspend publication, or remove content as a precaution, while informing the responsible user.

3.6.1. User Notification After Moderation Measures

If Scinder decides to suspend, delete, or modify any user-published content, or partially or fully limit its visibility, the affected user will be notified via the email linked to their account. The notification will include:

• • Specific reasons for the decision.

  • The internal rule or legal provision allegedly breached.

  • The opportunity to submit an appeal within 30 calendar days from the notification.

  • A contact link for managing the complaint.

 

Scinder reserves the right to withhold prior notice where legally, securely, or urgently required.

3.7. Activities Organized by Scinder

Scinder may occasionally organize contests, scientific challenges, awards, scholarships, webinars, or other promotional activities. Participation is voluntary and subject to specific legal bases that will be communicated in advance.

Scinder reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel these activities and will not be liable for changes beyond its control. Participation may require the processing of additional personal data or the limited transfer of rights to the submitted content, under the terms specified in each call for entries.

3.8. User Responsibility

The user agrees to use the platform in accordance with these Terms and Conditions and will be solely responsible for any actions or content they share, publish, or distribute through Scinder.

In the event that the user breaches these Terms (for example, by infringing intellectual property rights, posting illegal content, or engaging in fraudulent activities), Scinder reserves the right to claim for any direct or indirect damages that this conduct may cause to the platform, its users, or third parties.

 

4. PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION (GDPR)

4.1. Legal Basis for Data Processing

Scinder processes users’ personal data based on the following legal justifications:

• • Contractual necessity: To provide the platform’s services.

  • Legitimate interest: To improve the user experience and prevent fraud.

  • User consent: For commercial mailings and the use of cookies.

4.2. User Rights

In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), users have the following rights:

• • Access their personal data.

  • Rectify incorrect information.

  • Request the deletion of their data (Right to be Forgotten).

  • Limit the processing of your data in certain circumstances.

  • Object to processing based on legitimate interest.

  • Request portability of your data in a structured format.

Requests can be sent to scinder@sacsis.es. They will be processed within a maximum period of 30 calendar days.

4.3. Data Security

Scinder employs technical and organisational measures to ensure the security of users’ personal data. This includes the use of encryption, access controls, and backups.

4.4. Use of Cookies and Similar Technologies

Scinder uses cookies and similar tracking technologies (such as pixels and local storage) for the following purposes:

• • Improve user experience.

  • Analyze usage patterns.

  • Provide personalized features.

  • Enable basic site functionality.

When accessing Scinder, the user will be asked for consent for the use of non-essential cookies. Users may modify their cookie preferences at any time through their browser settings or through the tools available on the platform.

Scinder does not use cookies for advertising purposes or sell browsing information to third parties.

For more information, users can consult our Cookie Policy available on the platform.

4.5. Privacy Policy

For more details on how we collect, process, and protect our users’ personal data, please consult our Privacy Policy, which forms an integral part of these Terms and Conditions.

4.6.  Use of Artificial Intelligence

In order to facilitate registration and the creation of scientific profiles on Scinder, we offer an optional feature that allows users to upload their curriculum vitae (CV). This information is automatically processed by an artificial intelligence agent (infrastructure developed by OpenAI), which analyzes the content of the document and proposes a draft of the user’s professional profile on the platform.

The user will be informed before the process begins and may review, modify, or delete the generated content before its final publication. This feature is optional and does not affect the general use of the platform.

In compliance with Article 22 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we inform you that:

• • The process of generating a profile from a CV has no significant legal effects or substantial impact on the user’s rights.
  • The user may choose not to use this feature and complete their profile manually.
  • Data processing is carried out with the user’s express consent when uploading their CV and activating this feature.

 

5. PAYMENT AND SUBSCRIPTION POLICY

5.1. Payment Methods

Scinder accepts payments via credit/debit card, PayPal, and other secure payment platforms. All transactions are processed through third-party payment providers, ensuring data security.

Scinder will not be liable for errors attributable to third-party providers, such as payment gateways or hosting services.

5.2. Subscriptions and Payment Plans

Some services within Scinder may be subject to recurring subscriptions. Users can review details of available plans, prices, and benefits before purchasing.

Scinder may offer a 15-day premium trial period, after which the service will not be automatically renewed unless the user gives their express consent.

5.3. Account Cancellation and Data Deletion

The user may stop using the services and request the deletion of their account and personal data at any time by sending a request to scinder@sacsis.es.

In the event of cancellation of a subscription, partial refunds will not be issued for periods already elapsed, regardless of whether the subscription is monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual. The user may continue to enjoy the services until the end of the period already paid for.

5.4. Non-Payments and Suspension of Services

If a payment is not processed correctly, Scinder reserves the right to suspend access to paid services until the situation is rectified. The suspension of services will affect only paid services, and access to other platform features will not be affected.

 

6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Users retain all intellectual property rights over the projects, publications, and documents they share on Scinder. Scinder does not claim copyright over such content, although it may request express authorization for its use for operational, scientific, or promotional purposes within the platform.

The user grants Scinder a limited, non-exclusive license to use, store, display, and distribute the content within the platform, for as long as the content is active on Scinder.

Scinder is not responsible for the content published by users, whether in the Outreach environment (open content), in the Hubs, or in the Confidential areas. Each user is solely responsible for the legality, veracity, and originality of the content they share, and must ensure that the content does not infringe laws or third-party rights, such as copyrights, trademarks, patents, or any other intellectual property rights.

In the event of infringement of intellectual property rights by third parties, the user who uploaded the content assumes all legal liability and agrees to indemnify Scinder against any claims, damages, or losses, including legal defense costs.

6.1. Use of Google Docs:

Documents uploaded to Scinder can be managed through integration with Google Docs. Once the user uploads a document, they will be granted editing permissions within the platform, but the document will be edited within the Google Docs environment.

The user agrees that by granting editing permissions or sharing the document with other researchers, Scinder will not be responsible for the actions of the users to whom such permissions are granted. Editing or viewing permissions for documents in Google Docs are managed by the user within the Scinder platform.

Scinder has no control over the actions of users once they have been granted access to documents in Google Docs, and therefore cannot be held responsible for what researchers edit or share within that environment. In the event of misuse, unauthorised dissemination, or inappropriate editing of documents shared through Google Docs, Scinder reserves the right to temporarily suspend, restrict functionality, or terminate the account of the responsible user, without prejudice to any legal action it may take.

Furthermore, by using documents through the Google Docs environment, the user expressly accepts the terms of use, privacy policy, and legal conditions established by Google, exempting Scinder from any liability arising from the operation, management, or data processing carried out by said third-party provider.

6.2. Confidentiality in Google Docs:

Although the Google Docs environment is used for editing documents, Scinder guarantees that users interacting on the platform must comply with the confidentiality agreement established upon registration on the platform, which also extends to documents created and shared within Google Docs. Users agree not to disclose confidential information contained in the documents without the corresponding authorization.

6.3. Use of Brand and Visual Identity Elements

The use of Scinder’s name, logo, or image is prohibited without prior written authorization. Any attempt at impersonation, misuse of the brand, or unauthorised linking will be considered a serious violation and may lead to legal action.

References made on the platform to any third-party names, trademarks, logos, services, or content do not imply sponsorship, endorsement, or partnership by Scinder unless explicitly stated. Users are solely responsible for verifying the origin and credibility of third-party content accessible through the platform.

 

7. LIABILITY AND LIMITATION OF WARRANTIES

Scinder offers its services on an as-is and current basis, with no guarantee of continuous availability, absence of errors, or uninterrupted operation. Access to and use of the platform is the sole responsibility of the user.

Scinder does not guarantee that:

• • The website will operate without interruptions or be free of errors, viruses, or technical failures.

  • The content published is accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

  • The service is compatible with all browsers, devices, or operating systems.

Scinder is not liable for:

• • Any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from the use or inability to use the platform.

  • Technical failures, loss of data, network errors, system interruptions, or unauthorised access.

  • Content that is inaccurate, unlawful, or contrary to the rights of third parties posted by users.

  • Damages arising from links to third-party websites included on the platform.

  • Acts of third parties beyond its control, such as hackers, malware, or other cyberattacks.

Scinder implements reasonable security measures to prevent unauthorised access and cyberattacks. However, it does not guarantee absolute security and is not liable for damages caused by acts of third parties beyond its control.

Scinder has confidentiality agreements (NDAs) in place to protect intellectual property and information shared in the Confidential environment. However, it cannot guarantee or be held responsible for the misuse of such information by third parties.

In the event of a security incident, Scinder will act diligently to mitigate the effects, inform affected parties, and cooperate with the relevant authorities, if necessary.

Scinder will not be liable for failures, errors, or interruptions in the services provided by third parties, including web hosting providers, payment services, or any other external infrastructure used by the platform.

Scinder is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including loss of profits, business, data, or any other financial or commercial loss arising from the use or inability to use the platform.

Scinder will not be liable for decisions made by users based on their interactions with other members or content posted on the platform. The decisions and actions taken by users as a result of participating in the platform are their sole responsibility.

 

8. CHILD SAFETY AND PREVENTION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL (CSAM) POLICY

8.1. Prohibition of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

We are committed to creating a safe environment, free from all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSA). The use of our services for the generation, dissemination, or storage of material related to the sexual abuse or exploitation of minors is strictly prohibited.

Scinder is not responsible for the content posted or privately transmitted by users. Each user is solely responsible for the messages, posts, or materials sent, shared, or stored. We do not manually or automatically review or moderate content, nor do we use decision-making algorithms to filter it. We only act upon receiving a notice of violation.

8.2. Reporting and Feedback Mechanism

To report suspicious behavior, inappropriate content, errors, or concerns related to child protection, users can use our contact form available on the platform.

We strongly encourage all users to report any signs of abuse, exploitation, or inappropriate content as soon as possible so we can take urgent action.

8.3. CSAM Content Procedure

If we receive a report related to a violation of the CSAM standards, we will proceed with:

• • Immediate removal of the reported content.

  • Suspension and termination of the offending user’s account.

  • Notification to the competent authorities, in accordance with current legislation.

Since we do not use automated detection tools, we encourage users to actively report to identify and resolve these cases.

8.4. Legal Compliance

Scinder is governed by current child protection regulations, particularly at the European level, and will collaborate with international authorities if necessary. If the presence of child sexual abuse material is confirmed, we will notify the appropriate regional authorities and/or the EUROPOL – EC3 (European Cybercrime Centre).

8.5. User Conduct

Users agree to use our services responsibly and in accordance with the law. In particular, the following are prohibited:

• • Inconveniencing, harassing, abusing, mocking, humiliating, intimidating, or sending unsolicited messages, including unwanted sexual or romantic advances.

  • Sharing private communications, personal data of minors, or sensitive data of third parties without their consent.

  • Using tools, scripts, bots, or other mechanisms to extract or copy data or content.

  • Posting explicit, insulting, discriminatory, visually disturbing, offensive, or suggestive material.

  • Distributing content that contains nudity, sexual or pornographic material, or that endangers minors.

  • Sharing content that glorifies or incites harm or violence.

  • Post or share any content that violates the law, regulations, or other relevant provisions.

  • Promote crimes against minors, cyberbullying, or material depicting sexual abuse.

Violations of these rules will result in the immediate removal of the content, suspension or deletion of the account, and notification to the appropriate authorities.

8.6. Access by Minors and Parental Responsibility

Use of our services is reserved for persons over 18 years of age. Minors may only access the platform with prior authorization from their parents, guardians, or legal representatives, who will be responsible for their actions on the platform.

Legal representatives are informed of the existence of digital tools and parental control software to limit access to inappropriate content. They are fully responsible for the use of the platform by minors under their care, including actions and content shared.

8.7. Child Safety Contact Person

Any notification or complaint related to child protection or the existence of child sexual abuse and exploitation material can be sent to:

 Email: alcantara@sacsis.es

 

9. ASSIGNMENT OF SERVICE

Scinder reserves the right to assign, transfer, or subcontract all or part of its services, operational infrastructure, or property to any legal entity, provided that the rights and obligations set forth in these Terms and Conditions are respected.

In the event of such an assignment or transfer, users will be duly informed via email and/or a notification on the platform.

 

10. CHILD SAFETY AND PREVENTION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL (CSAM) POLICY

Any disputes that may arise in connection with these Terms and Conditions will preferably be resolved through mediation or arbitration, before resorting to litigation.

Applicable Law: Spanish law shall be the sole applicable law for the interpretation and enforcement of these Terms and Conditions.

Jurisdiction: Any controversy or dispute not resolved through mediation or arbitration shall be submitted to the courts of Seville, Spain, which shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

In the event of technical incidents related to cyberattacks or security maintenance, Scinder may temporarily suspend access to its services until the problem is resolved and the integrity of the system is guaranteed.

Users may send legal inquiries to scinder@sacsis.es.

10.1. Partial Invalidity

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is declared invalid, void, or unenforceable by a competent authority, such provision shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this document.

 

11. TRANSPARENCY IN AUTOMATED RECOMMENDATIONS

Scinder may use automated recommendation systems to suggest relevant content, professional connections, activities, or features within the platform. These systems are based on criteria such as user activity, preferences, professional profile, previous interactions, and browsing history within the Scinder environment.

In accordance with Article 27 of the Digital Services Regulation (DSA), Scinder informs that:

• • The recommendation system is based on user similarity models and semantic content analysis.

  • The algorithm may consider information regarding research fields, frequency of activity, participation in Hubs, public contributions, and thematic affinities.

  • No sensitive information (such as health data, race, religion, or political beliefs) is used in these systems.

  • Users can influence recommendations by adjusting their preferences from their profile or by contacting support.

Scinder does not use profiling systems with significant legal effects, nor does it use automated decisions that affect users’ fundamental rights without human intervention.

 

12. ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS AND SPECIAL CASES

12.1. Use of Artificial Intelligence in Extended Features

Scinder may integrate artificial intelligence (AI) systems for purposes beyond CV-based profile generation, such as content suggestions, project assistance, and scientific collaboration tools. These systems are based on third-party infrastructure (e.g., OpenAI) and may use user-provided data.

• • All AI-driven interactions are advisory in nature and do not constitute official evaluations or scientific recommendations.

  • Scinder shall not be held liable for factual inaccuracies, offensive content, or any reputational impact caused by AI-generated outputs.

  • Users are advised to critically review and verify any AI-generated text or insight before sharing or acting upon it.

12.2. Shared and Co-authored Content

In collaborative environments such as Hubs or Google Docs:

• • Content jointly edited or uploaded by multiple users is presumed to have shared authorship unless otherwise specified.

  • Any disputes regarding ownership, authorship, or use of collaborative content must be addressed between the users involved.

  • Scinder may facilitate a mediation process upon request but shall not be held liable for the resolution or outcome of such disputes.

12.3. Institutional User Accounts

If a university, company, or legal entity registers multiple associated user accounts (hereinafter “Institutional Accounts”):

• • The institution accepts joint responsibility for all actions performed under these accounts.

  • Scinder reserves the right to request a designated institutional administrator and audit rights for organisational accounts.

  • Misuse of Institutional Accounts may result in access restrictions or termination for the entity.

12.4. Content Security and Malware

All files uploaded to Scinder must be free of viruses, malware, or executable code.

• • Scinder reserves the right to scan documents and suspend accounts that are reasonably suspected of distributing harmful files.
    

  • Users are solely responsible for ensuring the safety and legitimacy of the files they upload.

12.5. Prohibition of Unauthorised Commercial Exploitation

It is strictly prohibited to use the platform:

• • To identify potential clients or research leads for commercial exploitation outside the Scinder environment.

  • To promote paid services without prior written authorisation from the Scinder team. Breaches may result in permanent account suspension.

12.6. Use from Non-GDPR Jurisdictions

Users accessing Scinder from countries without GDPR-equivalent data protection frameworks:

• • Do so at their own risk and must ensure local compliance with data protection laws.

  • Acknowledge that Scinder processes data under European GDPR principles and cannot guarantee alignment with third-country regulations.
    

Scinder also complies with the terms, privacy policies, and data governance frameworks of third-party platforms integrated into the service, including Meta, LinkedIn, and Google APIs, in accordance with their developer and platform use policies.

12.7. Scientific Integrity and Ethical Conduct

All users are expected to uphold the highest standards of scientific integrity. The following is prohibited:

• • Plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of data.
    

  • Misrepresentation of qualifications, affiliations, or contributions.
    

  • Harassment, sabotage, or unethical behaviour in collaborative environments.

Scinder provides a confidential reporting channel and reserves the right to investigate, restrict access, or involve institutional bodies if misconduct is reported or suspected.

 

13. LEGAL INFORMATION

In compliance with Article 10 of Spanish Law 34/2002 of July 11, on Information Society Services and Electronic Commerce, the following general information is provided:

• • Legal Owner: Sociedad para el Avance Científico (SACSIS)

  • Tax ID: ESG91917922

  • Registered Address: Edificio Ágora, C/ Vía Apia, 7, Planta 6, Office 9, 41016 – Seville (Spain). 

  • Contact Email: scinder@sacsis.es

Access to Scinder.net confers the status of user and implies full and unconditional acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. Any access or use of the platform, including by unregistered users, constitutes acceptance of the version in force at the time of access. The user is responsible for regularly reviewing the latest version.

 

14. CHANGES TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Scinder reserves the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Users will be notified 30 days before any changes take effect. Users will also be notified promptly when the new terms are updated on Scinder’s official website.

The security and privacy of our users are a priority. Thank you for trusting Scinder.

Contact for inquiries: scinder@sacsis.es

By using Scinder, you agree to the Terms and Conditions described herein.

 

COMMITMENT TO PRIVACY AND COMPLIANCE WITH EXTERNAL SERVICE POLICIES

We are committed to respecting your privacy and protecting your personal data in accordance with our own privacy policy, as well as the privacy policies of the external services we use. We comply with and respect:

• • Meta’s Platform’s Terms and Conditions and Meta’s Developer Policy.

  • LinkedIn’s Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, API’s Terms of Use, User Agreement, Data Processing Agreement and Branding Policies.

  • Google’s APIs Terms of Service, API Services User Data Policy and Custom Search JSON API Additional Terms of Service