Mark your calendar for the 22nd European Informatics Leaders Summit (ECSS 2026), taking place 26-28 October 2026 in Porto, Portugal. Co-hosted by the Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, this year’s summit promises to be as dynamic and impactful as ever.
ECSS remains Europe’s unique forum dedicated to addressing strategic challenges in Informatics research and education. Expect high-level dialogue, inspiring keynotes and interactive workshops where leaders like you can gain insights that drive innovation and advancement within your own institution and contribute to the broader national and European progress in Informatics research and education.
Highlights of Confirmed Workshops and Speakers
- Keynote Session: headlined by Prof. Dr. Gitta Kutyniok (Bavarian AI Chair for Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence, LMU Munich | Adjunct Professor for Machine Learning, University of Tromsø | Consultant, Institute for Robotics and Mechatronics, DLR-German Aerospace Center) with a presentation on "Towards Reliable and Sustainable AI: Foundations and the Future of Informatics".
- Leaders Workshop: a tradition since the first ECSS, offering a unique space for exchanging experiences and perspectives on academic leadership. With the main theme “Beyond Plans: Strategy and Impact in Academia”, this year’s Workshop extends with a session on Wednesday morning, on “Doing Strategy in Academia: From Plans to Impact”.
- Cybersecurity Workshop: with the theme “Hackers vs Universities: Who Trains Better Cyber Talent?”, it aims to identify how universities and informal learning can better complement each other to develop the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
- Ethics, Education Research and Open Science Workshops, coordinated by the respective IE Working Groups, will engage participants in discussions around the latest WG work, from the impact of AI on Informatics Higher Education and Informatics skills as a foundation for multiple disciplines, to strengthening academia–industry relations.
Preliminary program details are now online, with further details being progressively confirmed ahead of registration opening in June. Stay tuned on LinkedIn and Bluesky for key announcements. Don’t miss your chance to connect and turn shared challenges into collective progress!
Interested in bringing ECSS to your country? IE member institutes are invited to apply for hosting future editions. Explore here.
Netlogica