The open call for workshop proposals for ADRF26 is now open!
On behalf of the ADRF26 Programme Committee, we are pleased to invite proposals for workshops at the fourth edition of the European AI, Data and Robotics Forum (ADRF26), to be held on 13–14 October 2026 in Porto, Portugal.
Introduction
The European AI, Data and Robotics Forum (ADRF) is the annual community gathering organised by the AI, Data and Robotics Association (Adra) and INESC TEC, in collaboration with the European Commission.[OM1.1] The Forum serves as a platform for inspiration, collaboration, and matchmaking among European stakeholders, with the objective of advancing research, innovation, and deployment in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data, and Robotics (ADR). ADRF aims to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, technological leadership, resilience, and societal welfare through the convergence and adoption of ADR technologies.
Scope of the Call
The call for workshops is open to any topic spanning AI, Data, and Robotics, including but not limited to their integration, applications, and underlying advancements.
For the 2026 edition, we particularly encourage submissions in two complementary formats:[SO2.1]
1. Strategy-oriented workshops addressing Europe’s resilience, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy through ADR.
2. Real world use and value creation sessions showcasing mature ADR technologies deployed with end-users in Europe, aligned with the strategic sectors identified in the Apply AI Strategy.
Strategy-Oriented Workshops
Workshops may address, but are not limited to, the following themes. Each workshop should have a clear learning goal - i.e. what participants will know or be able to do differently after the session.
- 1. Accelerating ADR Convergence for European Resilience and Strategic Autonomy
How can AI, data, and robotics integration strengthen Europe's position across critical value chains, cybersecurity, and sovereign capacity? This theme explores the technical and strategic "convergence" of these three domains to ensure Europe can develop and deploy critical capabilities independently.
Learning goal: What strategies and frameworks are available and emerging? Example: A study mapping European integration of industrial robotics control stacks supported by novel AI approaches, and proposing or leading to a sovereign physical AI reference architecture.- 2. Value Creation and Industrial Translation
How can ADR technologies drive value creation for European industries and society, enhancing innovation, productivity, and competitiveness in line with the Draghi Report, AI Continent Action Plan, and Apply AI Strategy? This theme emphasizes the “industrial translation” of ADR state of the art into metrics that matter to executives and operators, including Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), Return on Investment (ROI), reliability, safety, scalability, maintainability, and operational efficiency across real deployment contexts.
Learning goal: What technologies are deployed and what measurable value do they generate? Example: A deployed manufacturing case study based on ADR, showing equipment and TCO productivity and sustainability gains, with the methodology used to translate technical KPIs into executive-level evidence.- 3. From Lab to Deployment: Transfer and Validation
How can Europe accelerate technology transfer and maximize the impact of ADR convergence through academia–industry collaboration, and how can we strengthen trust in mission-critical systems through rigorous validation, benchmarking, and qualification (leveraging TEFs, AI Factories, and Regulatory Sandboxes)?
Learning goal: What is available for tech transfer and what is the pathway to certified, safe industrial impact? Example: A case study of an ADR system moving from research to certified deployment, covering both the transfer mechanisms used (joint labs, shared IP, pilot funding) and the validation pathway followed (TEF benchmarking, safety case construction, qualification under sectoral regulation).- 4. Skills, Talent, and Workforce Development
How can Europe attract ADR talent and address the growing skills gap through education, lifelong learning, and interdisciplinary competence development?
Learning goal: What approaches are closing the skills gap and making Europe a magnet for talent? Example: A cross-institutional ADR curriculum with uptake evidence showing which competence combinations the market is actually paying for.- 5.Navigating the European Policy and Funding Landscape
How can ADR stakeholders contribute to and navigate major EU frameworks (Chips Act, AI Act, Data Governance Act, Cyber Resilience Act) and the funding landscape (Digital Omnibus, EU-INC, FP10, Competitiveness Fund) while aligning on compliance obligations?
Learning goal: How can stakeholders successfully structure cooperation to access instruments and navigate the evolving regulatory landscape? Example: A joint guide from an ADR research institute and an industry partner documenting how they structured their cooperation to access EU funding instruments while aligning on compliance obligations across overlapping regulations.
Application and Demonstration sessions
These application and demonstration sessions may include, but are not limited to:
1. Success stories showcasing pilot projects on deployment of ADR technologies with end-users in real-world European settings.
2. Scaling from pilot deployments to achieving ADR as the standard tool of choice in day-to-day operations: challenges, lessons learned, and best practices
3. Demonstrations of mature ADR solutions delivering measurable impacts in strategic sectors such as energy, mobility, manufacturing, healthcare, and public services.
4. Industrial and public-sector applications demonstrate cross-sector integration and interoperability of ADR technologies.
5. Showcases of collaborative initiatives, including EU-funded projects and public–private partnerships, demonstrating tangible outcomes and value creation for European stakeholders.
Workshop Format
Workshops should provide an interactive forum for discussion, collaboration, and community building. Participative methodologies (e.g., World Café) are particularly encouraged. Workshops that consist solely of listings of European projects or initiatives without meaningful audience interaction will not be prioritised.
Organisers are expected to collect audience feedback and produce a short summary report for dissemination through ADRA channels
Workshop Assessment and Selection
The ADRF26 Programme Committee will evaluate workshop and demonstration proposals based on their alignment with the themes above, relevance to the ADR community, and contribution to the overall programme. They should explicitly address:
• Cross-Domain scope Demonstrate convergence across AI, Data, and Robotics.
• Purpose and expected outcomes Clear action-oriented purpose with a concise and compelling description and 1–3 predefined discussion questions.
Where relevant, proposals are encouraged to address strategic positioning questions such as:
1. Why Europe can develop or deploy a specific ADR capability better than any other region in the world;
2. Why, even where similar capabilities already exist internationally, it is strategically important for Europe to strengthen local skills, suppliers, infrastructures, and technological sovereignty in that domain.
• Topical relevance Focus on emerging, strategic, high-impact, or high-interest topics relevant to the European ADR community.
• Agenda and contributors Clear agenda with confirmed or anticipated contributors.
• Interactivity Engaging format with discussions, Q&A, panels, or demonstrations. Avoid passive presentations.
• Balanced representation Diverse stakeholders from industry, academia, policymakers, end-users, and civil society.
For real world use and value creation sessions, the active involvement of end-users is considered essential to ensure that showcased solutions address real operational needs, practical impact, and validated deployment experiences.
• Attractive session format
• Priority will be given to workshops that combine concise presentations with interactive discussions, panel exchanges, and audience engagement around emerging ADR topics. For demonstration sessions, emphasise practical impact, lessons learned, and operational experience over promotional content.
Additional Information
Duration: Workshops up to 90 minutes; real world use and value creation sessions up to 60 minutes. Please specify your preferred duration in the proposal form.
Format: All workshops and sessions will be held in person.
Registration: All speakers and participants must register. Discounted rates for ADRA members; complimentary passes may be available through sponsorship packages. See the ADRF website for details.
Diversity & inclusion: Workshop organisers are encouraged to ensure balanced representation among speakers and contributors, including gender balance.
Proposal submission: Proposals must be submitted through the official online submission form available on the ADRF website.
Submission Deadline
The deadline for workshop applications is 30 June 2026. Approximately 26–32 workshop slots are available across the two days. Proposers are encouraged to submit early.
Submit Your Proposal
The workshop proposal form will request the following information:
• Workshop or session title
• Contact person and email address
• Organisers (name, affiliation, email)
• Short description (approximately one line)
• Full description and objectives (maximum 200 words)
• Proposed format and agenda
• Preferred session duration (60–90 minutes)
• Room and technical requirements
o Standard AV equipment is available in all rooms.
o Some rooms may support limited remote presence capabilities; however, remote participation is not encouraged and cannot be guaranteed.
• Link to ADRA Topic Groups (if relevant)
• Additional comments to the review committee
We look forward to receiving your proposals and working together to make ADRF26 a vibrant, impactful, and engaging event for the European ADR community.