Santander is getting ready to host from June 1 to 5, 2026, the first edition of the Innovation Industry Construction Congress (IC2), a reference meeting for professionals, companies, research centers and administrations that promote the technological and sustainable transformation of the construction, building and infrastructure sector.
Organized by the Spanish Construction Technology Platform (PTEC), the University of Cantabria -through its School of Civil Engineering- and the Construction Cluster Network, IC2 was created as a space for connection between scientific innovation and its practical application on site, with an international vocation and a vision of the future.
The congress will be attended by leading companies, universities and international experts, who will address the major challenges of the sector: digitization, sustainability, industrialization, automation and robotics, energy efficiency, resilient infrastructure and new concession and management models. In this first edition, Chile will be the guest country, strengthening cooperation with Latin America and opening new avenues for international collaboration.
Call for technical communications
IC2 has officially opened the call for technical papers for professionals and researchers to present their contributions on the main challenges and opportunities in the sector. Proposals must be aligned with one of the nine official thematic tables:
- Emerging technologies (AI, digital twins, 3D printing, automation, software, cybersecurity)
- Advanced materials and circular economy (sustainable materials, recycling, decarbonization)
- Industrialization, machinery, automation and robotics (construction systems, BIM+Lean, on-site robotics)
- Sustainability, energy efficiency and water cycle
- Urban resilience and cultural heritage (green city, climate adaptation, rehabilitation, heritage protection)
- Strategic challenges of the sector (productivity, talent, public-private collaboration, financing).
- Innovation and international cooperation (success stories, European projects, internationalization)
- Startup ecosystem (open innovation, acceleration, collaboration with industry)
- Critical infrastructures, dual technologies, security and defense
The deadline for submitting communications is February 28, 2026. The selected papers may be presented during the congress and will be part of the official proceedings of the event, becoming a reference for innovation in construction at national and international level.
For more information about the call for papers and the submission of papers, please consult the IC2 official website.
