The Center for Complexity Studies is pleased to invite academics, researchers, practitioners, and students to participate in the 23rd edition of the International Conference on Smart Technologies & Education (STE 2026), hosted by Transilvania University of Brașov between March 11–13, 2026. Organized under the auspices of the International Association of Online Engineering (IAOE), together with the EduNet World Association (EWA) and the International Education Network (EduNet), this prestigious international event continues the tradition of bringing together scientists, educators, and industry leaders to discuss the future of technology and education.

Conference Theme

This year’s theme, “The Synergy of Industry and Education in Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce”, addresses the urgent challenges of digitalization, automation, and technological transformation. In a world where artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biomedical engineering, and green technologies are reshaping both industry and education, fostering dialogue between academia and industry has become more essential than ever.

STE 2026 provides a framework for debate and collaboration, where technological innovation is not only presented but tested against real-world needs, preparing the workforce for the opportunities and ethical challenges of the future. The conference aims to consolidate a shared vision of how education and industry can work together to create more adaptable, resilient, and responsible societies.

Topics of Interest

The conference welcomes contributions in areas including but not limited to:

• Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

• Cybersecurity & Data Science

• Biomedical Engineering

• Smart & Green Technologies

• Online, Remote, and Virtual Labs

• Engineering Education of the Future

• Robotics, Automation & Industry 4.0

• Ethics, Policy & Sustainability in Technology

• Vocational Training, Workforce Development & Skills for Tomorrow

• Augmented & Virtual Reality, Digital Twins, Human–Machine Interaction

Formats and Participation

STE 2026 encourages submissions in the form of full papers, short papers, posters, workshops, tutorials, interactive demonstrations, and exhibitions. Online presentations will also be possible through a dedicated conference track. More information on the conference website: ste-conference.org

Review and Publication

All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review. Accepted and presented papers will be published in Springer’s Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems series (indexed in ISI Proceedings, EI-Compendex, DBLP, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and SpringerLink). Selected award-winning papers will be recommended for publication in international journals.

Important Deadlines

• 6 Oct 2025 – Submission of structured abstracts and special session proposals

• 13 Oct 2025 – Notification of acceptance for abstracts / special sessions

• 17 Nov 2025 – Submission of complete papers, workshops, tutorials, round table proposals

• 15 Dec 2025 – Notification of acceptance

• 19 Jan 2026 – Camera-ready papers & author registration deadline

• 11 Mar 2026 – Conference opening

A Platform for Innovation and Dialogue

The STE Conference is more than a scientific meeting. It is a bridge between knowledge and practice, bringing together educators, engineers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to shape the future of education and industry in an era of complexity. By uniting academic expertise with industrial innovation, STE fosters sustainable, ethical, and practical solutions for the global challenges of digitalization.

We warmly invite all those interested in shaping the workforce of tomorrow—academics, researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and students alike—to join us in Brașov in March 2026.