The Agricultural University of Athens Successfully Hosted the EU-CONEXUS Conference 2026

The Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) successfully hosted the international conference “EU-CONEXUS Conference 2026: Challenges, Innovative Solutions and Collaborative Actions for Sustainable Urban Coastal Development”, which took place in Athens from 10 to 12 June 2026. Conference sessions were held at the AUA Conference Center and Technopolis City of Athens, bringing together more than 200 researchers, academics, students and representatives of organisations from across Europe.

The conference was organised within the framework of the European University Alliance EU-CONEXUS and served as a meeting point for the international scientific community to exchange knowledge, develop new collaborations and explore innovative solutions for the sustainable development of urban and peri-urban coastal areas. Discussions focused on critical issues including the protection of marine and aquatic ecosystems, the sustainable management of natural resources and waste, food security and production, as well as climate change adaptation and the strengthening of coastal community resilience.

The conference was officially opened by the Rector of the Agricultural University of Athens, Professor Spyros Kintzios, the Vice Rector for Academic and Administrative Affairs, Lifelong Learning and Outreach, Professor Emmanouil Flemetakis, and the Vice Rector for the European University, Internationalisation and Student Affairs, Professor Eleni Miliou. In their addresses, they highlighted the importance of international scientific cooperation and the role of European Universities in addressing contemporary societal and environmental challenges.

The conference also featured a session dedicated to the European University Alliances, bringing together representatives of EU-CONEXUS, EULiST, EUNICoast, EURECA-PRO, INVEST and EUonAIR. During the session, participants presented the work and initiatives of their alliances in the fields of education, research and innovation.

The scientific programme included keynote lectures delivered by distinguished scientists and representatives of leading universities, research centres and European organisations, including the:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),
• Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research,
• LifeWatch ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium),
• Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) – Institute of Oceanography,
• Czech University of Life Sciences Prague,
• “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați, LCC International University,
• Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, as well as
• the member universities of the EU-CONEXUS Alliance.

In addition, the programme featured scientific presentations, poster sessions, round table discussions, networking activities and thematic workshops on European funding opportunities and research collaboration, creating a dynamic environment for knowledge exchange and the development of new synergies.

Particular emphasis was placed on the participation of early-career researchers and students, who presented the outcomes of their research through more than 100 posters, actively contributing to scientific dialogue and the exchange of best practices among the alliance’s universities.

Throughout the conference, thematic exhibition stands hosted by the A.U.A. highlighted the University's research, innovation and educational activities, featuring the InnovinAgri Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer Office, the University Research and Innovation Centre (PAKEK), the HEI GreenPath and EU-CONEXUS ENABLES programmes, and Smart Agro Hub, an AUA spin-off company in the field of smart farming.

The successful completion of the EU-CONEXUS Conference 2026 reaffirmed the active role of the Agricultural University of Athens in international scientific cooperation and in shaping a strong European academic landscape. At the same time, it further strengthened collaboration among the universities of the EU-CONEXUS Alliance, creating new opportunities for joint research and educational initiatives aimed at sustainable development and addressing the major challenges faced by modern coastal societies.

A recording of the conference proceedings is available on the official EU-CONEXUS Conference 2026 website: https://www.eu-conexus.eu/en/eu-conexus-research-conference-2026/