The Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) has opened submissions for the 2027 EPIC Awards (Excellence in Publishing, Information Technology, and Communications), which recognize contributions to scholarly publishing and research communication.
The 2026 EPIC Awards received nearly 100 entries, from which judges selected 40 winners across publishing, technology, marketing, and social impact categories. The awards recognize contributions from organizations, teams, and individuals involved in advancing scholarly publishing.
The 2027 awards mark the third year of the EPIC Awards program. The categories cover five areas: Tools and Products, Publications, Marketing, Media, and Initiatives. Eligible entries include technological solutions supporting the publishing lifecycle, such as manuscript submission platforms, hosting services, and author and research integrity tools. Publications may include journals, books, magazines, reports, and short-form content.
The Marketing category recognizes branding, campaigns, and community engagement initiatives, while Media covers projects such as podcasts, videos, data visualizations, and digital humanities initiatives. The Initiatives category includes programs focused on equity, accessibility, sustainability, and education, including efforts to support the continuity of student publications.
A panel of industry professionals will evaluate submissions and select recipients based on their contributions to the field. The awards will also recognize student-led publications to provide visibility for emerging contributors to scholarly communication.
The submission deadline is January 15, 2027. Applicants can access category descriptions, eligibility criteria, and submission guidelines through the SSP awards portal. SSP is also accepting applications from industry professionals interested in serving as judges, with the aim of bringing a broad range of perspectives to the evaluation process.
The 2027 EPIC Award winners will be announced at SSP's 49th Annual Meeting, scheduled for June 2–4, 2027, in Providence, Rhode Island. Winners and finalists will be recognized during the EPIC Awards Celebration.
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