CERC 2026: CERC 2026 Digital Transformation and AI Across Disciplines ATU Well Park Campus Galway, Ireland, October 16-17, 2026 |
| Conference website | https://www.cerc-conf.eu |
| Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=cerc2026 |
| Poster | download |
CERC 2026
COLLABORATIVE EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONFERENCE
The 10th Collaborative European Research Conference
CERC 2026: Digital Transformation and AI Across Disciplines
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Date: |
Friday – Saturday, 16–17 October 2026 |
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Venue: |
ATU Wellpark Road Campus, Galway, Ireland |
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Website: |
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Contact: |
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The Collaborative European Research Conference (CERC) is a peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary annual conference established in 2011 by a consortium of European university partners. Now in its 10th edition and hosted for the first time at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Galway, Ireland, CERC has grown into a forum for interdisciplinary exchange, bringing together researchers, practitioners and early-career scholars from across Europe and beyond.
The 2026 edition is themed Digital Transformation and AI Across Disciplines, reflecting one of the most significant structural shifts of our time. Artificial intelligence and digital transformation are reshaping every sector of society. The European Commission's Digital Decade 2030 policy programme sets ambitious targets for digital infrastructure in Europe, while the OECD's (2019) Artificial Intelligence in Society report highlights both the transformative potential and the governance challenges AI presents across disciplines. UNESCO's (2021) Recommendation on the Ethics of AI further underlines the urgent need for interdisciplinary, human-centred research that places people, values, and equity at the centre of technological change.
CERC 2026 invites researchers to engage critically, empirically and creatively with these issues, whether your work addresses the technical dimensions of AI systems, their social and ethical implications, their application in creative practice, or the organisational transformations they drive. We are particularly committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for early-stage researchers.
CONFERENCE TRACKS
CERC 2026 welcomes submissions across seven thematic tracks, listed below alongside examples of research topics; however, this is not an exhaustive list. Contributions that span multiple tracks or address emerging cross-disciplinary topics are encouraged. Authors should select the track that best reflects the primary focus of their work.
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1. Business, Society and Digital Innovation |
Digital transformation in business and public services, sustainable and circular business models, the digital-green transition, environmental costs and challenges of AI maintenance, AI and societal change, surveillance capitalism, algorithmic bias and discrimination. |
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2. Education, Digital Learning and AI |
AI in teaching and learning, digital pedagogy, academic integrity in the age of AI, erosion of critical thinking, inequitable access to digital learning. |
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3. Cybersecurity, Privacy and Digital Trust |
Cyber threats and resilience, data privacy, IT governance, GDPR compliance, cybergames, ethics and trust in digital systems, surveillance and loss of autonomy. |
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4. Robotics, Automation and Intelligent Systems |
Industrial robotics, human-robot interaction, autonomous systems, AI/ML engineering, workforce automation and job displacement. |
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5. AI in Health, Bioscience and Medical Technologies |
Artificial intelligence in clinical decision-making, bioinformatics, genomics, eHealth systems, precision medicine, privacy concerns in health data, ethical issues in genomic AI applications. |
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6. Smart Mobility and Connected Systems |
Smart transport, connected infrastructure, electric mobility, mobility planning, mobility policy, environmental footprint of smart infrastructure, hacking and safety concerns. |
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7. Creative Practice in a Digital Age: Arts, Design and Culture |
AI-generated and AI-assisted creative work, interactive media, cultural heritage and digitalisation, copyright conflicts, cultural homogenisation, ethical concerns in deepfakes and generative media. |
SUBMISSIONS
Authors are invited to submit their contributions in one of three categories: full papers, extended abstracts or posters. All submissions will undergo double-blind peer review by members of the Conference Programme Committee.
1. Full Paper
A Full Paper presents original, unpublished research with a clear research question, methodology, results, and discussion. Contributions may be empirical, theoretical or systematic reviews. Full Papers are eligible for
the Best Paper Award and will be published in the CERC 2026 proceedings. All accepted submissions must be presented at the conference by at least one registered author to appear in the proceedings.
- Size: maximum 10 pages / 4500 words, including references, tables and figures.
- Presentation: 20-minute slot (15 min. presentation + 5 min. Q&A).
2. Extended Abstract
An extended abstract is suitable for work in progress, preliminary findings, practice-based innovations or emerging research ideas not yet ready for a full paper.
- Size: maximum 2 pages / 1000 words, including references, tables and figures.
- Presentation: 15-minute slot (10 min. presentation + 5 min. Q&A).
3. Poster
Posters are an interactive format suited to early-stage research, practice-based projects, industry case studies or work where visual communication is central. Accepted posters will be displayed throughout the conference, and authors will present informally during a dedicated Poster Session. Posters are eligible for the Best Poster Award.
- Poster format: A1 portrait. Printing is the responsibility of the author/s.
Submission Notes
- Language: English only.
- Templates: Submission templates and formatting guidelines will be available at www.cerc-conf.eu. Manuscripts must not include author names, affiliations, or other identifying information. Author details are entered separately via the submission portal.
- Submission portal: Submission is electronic, via the conference management system EasyChair:
https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=cerc2026
PUBLICATION
Full Papers accepted and presented at CERC 2026 will be published in the CERC 2026 Conference Proceedings with ISBN/DOI. Extended Abstracts and Posters will be listed in the conference programme, but are not included in the full proceedings.
Authors of accepted high-quality full papers will be invited to develop extended manuscripts for publication in selected peer-reviewed journals.
IMPORTANT DATES
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Call for Papers opens |
2 April 2026 |
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Submission deadline |
31 May 2026 |
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Notification of decisions |
15 July 2026 |
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Final version deadline |
31 August 2026 |
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Final acceptance notification |
11 September 2026 |
REGISTRATION FEES
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PhD Student / MSc student |
€100 |
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Academic / Professional |
€200 |
The registration fee covers access to all conference sessions, the proceedings, refreshments and lunch on both days and the Conference Dinner on the evening of Saturday 17 October 2026. Accommodation must be booked separately; recommended options will be listed on the conference website.
Online registration and payment will be available ar www.cerc-conf.eu.
AWARDS
The following prizes will be awarded at the closing ceremony, during the conference dinner:
- Best Paper Award, awarded to the highest-rated Full Paper as determined by the Conference Programme Committee.
- Best Presentation Award, awarded to the highest-rated Presentation as determined by the Conference Programme Committee.
- Best Poster Award, awarded by a panel of judges during the Poster Session.
CONFERENCE ORGANISING COMMITTEE
- Gabriela Gliga (chair) - Atlantic Technological University, Galway, Ireland
- Udo Bleimann - Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Germany
- Robert Loew - Centre for Applied Informatics z.a.i. Darmstadt and Berufsbildungswerk, Germany
- Ingo Stengel - Hochschule Karlsruhe, University of Applied Sciences, Germany
A list of the Conference Programme Committee is available on the conference website.
VENUE
ATU Galway Wellpark Road Campus
The Wellpark Campus is home to ATU's creative arts disciplines and provides an inspiring, purpose-built environment for interdisciplinary exchange, with a range of seminar rooms, studio spaces and breakout facilities. Galway is one of Ireland's most celebrated cities, a UNESCO City of Culture, renowned for its vibrant arts scene, historic streetscapes, and proximity to Connemara and the Wild Atlantic Way. It is well connected by road and rail from Dublin, Shannon and Knock airports.
Travel and accommodation information: www.cerc-conf.eu