ERCIM Latest News

Liverpool, UK, 2-4 September 2026

FMICS is the annual conference of the ERCIM Working Group on Formal Methods for Industrial Critical Systems, and it is the key conference in the intersection of industrial applications and Formal Methods.
The aim of the FMICS conference series is to provide a forum for researchers and practitioners who are interested in the development and application of formal methods in industry. FMICS brings together scientists and engineers who are active in the area of formal methods and interested in exchanging their experiences in the industrial usage of these methods. The FMICS conference series also strives to promote research and development for the improvement of formal methods and tools for industrial applications.

A joint Informatics Europe / ERCIM Working Group on Software Research has published the position paper “Reclaiming Software Engineering as the Enabling Technology for the Digital Age.” The paper argues that software engineering must be recognised as a foundational enabling technology underpinning advances across artificial intelligence, data-driven systems, cyber-physical systems, and digital infrastructures.

Dr Miriam Santos, Assistant Professor at the University of Porto, has been awarded the 2025 Cor Baayen Award for her outstanding research in data quality and ethical AI.

The ERCIM 2025 Fall Meetings will be held on 29–30 October 2025 at Inria Rennes University, France.

The programme will include task group meetings, joint sessions with Informatics Europe, strategic discussions, and the ERCIM AISBL General Assembly. The registration form will made available shortly.

https://www.ercim.eu/events/ercim-days/ercim-2025-fall-meetings/ 

The ERCIM Activity Report 2024 has been published and is accessible online. The report provides an overview of ERCIM’s activities, governance, scientific projects, working groups, and events during 2024.

The document can be downloaded from:
https://www.ercim.eu/images/stories/pub/AR24.pdf 

Readers interested in ERCIM’s ongoing research efforts and collaborations are encouraged to consult the report for detailed information.

The final report from the AIOTI Workshop on Semantic Interoperability for Digital Twins, held on 5–6 February 2025 and hosted by ERCIM in Sophia Antipolis, is now available online.

Download the report

This comprehensive document captures key discussions, recommendations, and insights from leading experts on enabling semantic interoperability in industrial and environmental digital twin systems. The workshop, supported by Inria and the Horizon Europe projects Nephele and SmartEdge, emphasized practical solutions, best practices, and emerging tools in the field.

The 4th ERCIM “Beyond Compliance” Forum will be held from 29 to 31 October 2025 at the Inria Centre at Rennes University (IRISA - Institut de Recherche en Informatique et Systèmes Aléatoires), Rennes, France. This international event addresses research ethics in the digital age through dialogue and collaborative sessions.

Themes for 2025:

• Generative AI in research, teaching, and publishing
• Geopolitics of digital ethics, including infrastructure and digital sovereignty
• Data altruism and promotion of open academic resources
• Digital ethics for citizens, with emphasis on youth, literacy, and research strategies.

Co-located with the European Informatics Leaders Summit (ECSS’25) of Informatics Europe, the forum will open with a joint session organized by the Digital Ethics Working Groups of ERCIM and Informatics Europe.

Tentative Programme Highlights:

• Wednesday, 29 October (afternoon): Joint Opening Session & Keynote – Digital Ethics for Citizens and Youth
• Thursday, 30 October (morning): Tutorial & Interactive Discussion – Data Altruism and Open Academic Resources
• Thursday, 30 October (afternoon): Presentations & Roundtable – Geopolitics of Digital Ethics
• Friday, 31 October (morning): Thematic Presentations – Generative AI in Research, Teaching, and Publishing. 

Participation is free of charge. The programme will include keynotes, presentations, tutorials and interactive sessions, with opportunities for informal exchanges and networking.
Venue: Inria Centre at Rennes University (IRISA), Rennes, France.

More information and links to the last years' talks and videos can be found on the ERCIM Beyond Compliance webpage

A new position paper created by an ERCIM task group highlights the crucial role of software technology, development, and maintenance in securing Europe’s economic prosperity. The document calls for greater investment and attention to this often-overlooked area, stressing its foundational importance across industries and innovation.
The full paper, including the list of contributing task group members, is available from https://www.ercim.eu/publications/strategic-reports