About the conference
The InnoRenew CoE International Conference 2026, will take place 5-6 November 2026 and will provide a forum to explore renewable materials and their use for creating healthy, sustainable buildings, while also placing a special emphasis on supporting the career development of PhD students and early career researchers, during different thematic sessions:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Information processing
- Creativity & Society
- Buildings
- Health
- Materials
- Other topics are also welcome.
We invite you to submit your doctoral research, ongoing research, methodology discussions, or preliminary results. Contributions from PhD students and early career researchers are especially encouraged and warmly welcome.
IRIC2026 is an opportunity to share and discuss emerging science and innovations in renewable materials that can be used in the built environment to enhance human and environmental well-being.
Additionally, IRIC2026 will host several workshops related to responsible use of artificial intelligence, citizen science and networking activities. Sessions will be also dedicated to scientific presentations. More information will be provided soon.
#IRIC2026
Important dates
15 August 2026: Abstract submission deadline
15 October 2026: Registration deadline
15 October 2026: Payment deadline
5–6 November 2026: InnoRenew CoE International Conference 2026
Call for abstracts
IRIC2026 welcomes 300-word abstracts for presentations in different sessions:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Information processing
- Creativity & Society
- Buildings
- Health
- Materials
- Other topics are also welcome.
Please follow the IRIC2026 abstract template and submit through the conference portal. Submit an abstract here.
Call for abstracts
Abstract submission closes on 15 August 2026.
Keynote speaker
Gijs Bruggink
Gijs Bruggink has spent the past decade and a half working at the frontier of what responsible, nature-connected architecture can be. Over 13 years at ORGA architect, he has built and maintained the operational backbone of a growing, internationally active practice, while carving out a parallel career as a consultant and researcher in the regenerative built environment.
Certified as a Living Future Accredited Professional and trained in living systems thinking, he brings both organisational rigour and genuine conviction to his work. Beyond day-to-day management, Gijs has led successful architecture competitions, contributed to award-winning building projects, and spoken at international conferences.
He currently leads the research team behind the Wood & Wellbeing report on the health benefits of building with timber.
At IRIC2026 he will present about his work with wood construction, biophilic design, and designing healthy living and working spaces.
Venue
InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM will host IRIC2026 at its building in Izola, Slovenia.
Livade 6a, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
Registration
Registration will be open until 15 October 2026, 23:59 CEST. More information soon.
Accommodations and travel
Hotels in Izola:
Hotel Belvedere (Cliff in Villa): Dobrava 1a, 6310 Izola
Hotel Haliaetum: Morova ulica 6a, 6310 Izola
San Simon Resort: Izola (več lokacij)
Hotel Delfin: Tomažičeva 10, 6310 Izola
Hotel Marina: Veliki trg 11, 6310 Izola
Hotel Keltika: Cesta v Jagodje 1, 6310 Izola
DeGrassi Boutique Garni Hotel: Drevored 1.maja 9, 6310 Izola
Airports:
Trieste Airport (TRS), 55-minute drive from Izola
Ljubljana Airport (LJU), 1 hour 20-minute drive from Izola
Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), 2-hour drive from Izola
Treviso Airport (TSF), 2-hour drive from Izola
Zagreb Airport (ZAG), 2 hour 30-minute drive from Izola
Shuttle service:
The easiest way to travel to Izola from the airports above is to take a shuttle service like GoOpti transport. Reservation for transfer can be made directly to your hotel. Prices are lower if the shuttle is booked well in advance (1-2 months).
Bus or train:
Travel by bus to Izola is possible. Once in Izola, public transportation is available to move around the city.
You can travel by train from most European countries to the nearest major cities, Trieste (Italy) or Ljubljana (Slovenia). From these locations, you need a bus transfer or other transport to reach Izola.
Conference sponsors
Would you like to increase your visibility within the interdisciplinary field of renewable materials for healthy built environments? Become an IRIC2026 sponsor.
Contact us at conference@innorenew.eu for more details.
Scientific committee
Richard Acquah, Erfan Asgari, Donya Bazyar, Michael Burnard, Andreja Kutnar, Lea Primožič, Amina Selmanović, Olga Srejić, Špela Vrtovec
Organizing committee
Gertrud Fabian, Lara Prah, Lea Primožič
Conference organizers
The conference is organized by the InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM.
Contact information
Please send questions or comments to conference@innorenew.eu.








