Minerva Informatics Equality Award
Informatics Europe logo
SONO !UI
  • Register

Strategy Workshop II

The workshop  "Doing Strategy in Academia: From Plans to Impact", chaired by Michel Chaudron, Eindhoven University of Technology (the Netherlands) and Giovanni Russello, University of Auckland (New Zealand), is structured in two complementary parts.

An introductory session integrated into the Strategy Workshop I on Monday afternoon, 26 October, will present key concepts and set the scene for all participants, while a more interactive and practice-oriented follow-up workshop on Wednesday morning, 28 October, will bring together a smaller group of up to 50 participants for in-depth discussions and activities.

Workshop Rundown
Speaker bios and abstracts are available on the ECSS speakers page by clicking their photos.

Monday, 26 October (during the Strategy Workshop I)

14:00 - 16:00 Lecture with short activities

  • Welcome, Introduction & Framing
    Establish why strategy matters in an academic Informatics context
    Lower resistance by demystifying "strategy"
  • Strategy 101 for Academics
    Core concepts presentation by facilitators
    Paired discussion and report
  • Ingredients of the Strategy Discussion
    Create a shared, evidence-based view of a department's current position
    Asset Mapping

Wednesday, 28 October

09:00 - 10:30 Interactive Workshop

  • What Do We Want to Be Known for?
  • Strategic Choices & Trade-offs

10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break

11:00 - 12:10 Interactive Workshop (cont'd)

  • From Priorities to Action – How to implement and monitor the strategy?
  • Metrics, Review, and Governance

12:10 - 12:30 Close & Next Steps

 

 

 

Keynote Session

ECSS keynote session traditionally addresses pressing and innovative issues in Informatics. This year it will be held on Tuesday morning, 27 October, chaired by Ana C.R. Paiva, University of Porto (PT).

Prof. Dr. Gitta Kutyniok (Bavarian AI Chair for Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence, LMU Munich | Consultant, Institute for Robotics and Mechatronics, DLR-German Aerospace Center | Adjunct Professor for Machine Learning, University of Tromsø) will headline this year’s keynote with a presentation on "Towards Reliable and Sustainable AI: Foundations and the Future of Informatics."

This session offers an opportunity to discuss responsible AI, contributing to the dialogue on the future direction of Informatics.

Speaker bio and abstract are available on the ECSS speakers page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethics Workshop

The workshop, co-ordinated by IE's Ethics Working Group, will be held on Tuesday afternoon, 27 October. 

This year's workshop will be chaired by José Antonio Cruz from Universidad de Castilla - La Mancha (Spain) with the theme "Pushing Forward Inclusive and Ethical Interfaces".

Roundtable Speakers
featuring case studies from their universities

  • Hybrid Master's Education
    Ana Belen Gil, University of Salamanca (Spain)
  • Presential Education
    Monica Landoni, Università della Svizzera italiana (Switzerland)
  • Discovering Deceptive Designs in Travel Agency Websites
    Covadonga Rodrigo, UNED (Spain)

 

Open Science Workshop

This Workshop on Wednesday afternoon, 28 October, open to all participants, will be chaired by Michael Goedicke, University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany), with the main theme on Open Science in Informatics: Strategic Issues in Research, Teaching & Infrastructures.

More details will follow soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early Career Researchers Workshop

Informatics Europe invites early career researchers (ECRs) to participate in the "Professional Development Workshop for Early Career Researchers" (ECRWS) on Monday, 26 October, as part of ECSS 2026. The workshop will be chaired by Dimka Karastoyanova, University of Groningen (the Netherlands). 

This workshop for ECRs focuses on navigating the academic career path and building a sustainable and successful research career. Participants will explore practical guidelines for improving and maintaining academic progression, understanding evaluation criteria, and preparing for the next career step.

The workshop will address key success factors in academia, including setting clear objectives, demonstrating consistent progress, and understanding institutional monitoring and evaluation processes. Special attention will be given to mentorship, professional support structures, and tools such as SWOT analysis for career planning and self-assessment. A dedicated session will cover the publications process, including research ethics challenges, responsible authorship, peer review and publication strategies.

The program will also feature contributions from distinguished researchers, the IE 2026 Best Dissertation Award finalists, who will share personal experiences, lessons learned, and practical advice for PhD students and ECRs on building a successful academic career.

Workshop Rundown
Speaker bios and abstracts are available on the ECSS speakers page by clicking their photos.

  • Success Factors of a Research Career - Personal Experience

  • Publications’ Process and Ethics Challenges and Guidelines 
    Elisabetta Di Nitto, Politecnico di Milano (Italy)

  • Moving to the Next Career Stage in Academia
    Dimka Karastoyanova, University of Groningen (Netherlands)

Informatics Europe Session

This session offers both members and non-members a valuable opportunity to engage with Informatics Europe (IE) and better understand our mission, activities, and collective impact.

Taking place on Tuesday morning, 27 October, the 2026 edition will feature an overview of ongoing initiatives and strategic priorities for the year, reflecting the shared vision and collaborative efforts of the IE community. The session will also include IE Annual General Assembly (AGA). While voting during the AGA is reserved for representatives of member institutions, the session will be open to all ECSS participants.

It is an ideal occasion to connect with peers, explore ways to contribute, and take part in shaping a common voice and collective action for advancing Informatics research and education across Europe through Informatics Europe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accommodation

We recommend that all participants book accommodation as early as possible. Below is a curated selection of hotels near the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP), ECSS 2026 Venue, covering various budgets and all with strong ratings. Directions to FEUP are provided for each.

Porto offers diverse options, from budget-friendly to premium, both in the city centre and well-connected areas. You may also explore Airbnb or other platforms to find suitable stays.

Closest to the ECSS 2026 Venue: 

In the City Centre:  

Promo Code

Enjoy a 15% discount on the rates shown on the Turim Oporto Hotel website for your stay between 24-30 Oct 2026.
To claim the discount, simply visit https://www.turim-hotels.com/, select the hotel and your desired dates of stay, and enter the code ECSS2026 in the “promotional code” field.
This discount cannot be combined with other promotional codes or any special offers that may be running on the website.

 In Vila Nova de Gaia:

These options are a few steps from a metro station, Line D, no station changes involved to get to FEUP.

Premium options:

Award Ceremony

Every year, as part of the ECSS program, Informatics Europe hosts the Award ceremony to honour achievements in Informatics:

  • Best Dissertation Award (BDA) – launched in 2023, this Award celebrates outstanding doctoral research and aims to encourage early-career researchers while promoting excellent research within the Informatics Europe community and beyond.
  • Minerva Informatics Equality Award (MIEA) – launched in 2016, newly sponsored by SAP, this Award recognises best practices by departments or faculties of European universities and research labs that actively encourage and support the careers of women in Informatics research and education.

 The 2026 ceremony will take place on Monday afternoon, 26 October.

 

 

 

 

 

Call for Participation

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. 

 

 

 

 

Committees

ECSS 2026 Conference Chair

Chairs of the Strategy Workshop I

Chairs of the Strategy Workshop II

Chair of the Professional Development Workshop for Early Career Researchers

Chairs of the Informatics Europe Session

Chair of the Cybersecurity Workshop

  • Gert Jervan, Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia)

Chair of the Ethics Workshop

  • TBA

Chairs of the Education Research Workshop

Chair of the Open Science Workshop

Conference Steering Committee

General Organising Committee

Local Logistics

General Communications