FORTHEM international conference
March 11-13, 2026
This conference brings together researchers and practitioners from biosciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and education to co‑create responsible, democratic, and sustainable innovation for Europe. We invite contributions that connect cutting‑edge science with ethics, inclusion, governance, and societal impact, drawing inspiration from the FORTHEM Alliance’s efforts to connect worlds of science and society.
Democratic & Responsible Bio‑Innovation — aligning bio‑tech breakthroughs with ethics, safety, sustainability, and security.
We particularly welcome transdisciplinary work, co‑authorship, external to the FORTHEM interventions and submissions that pair scientific advances with social sciences and humanities analysis.
We invite submissions on but not limited to the following topics:
- AI‑Driven Biosciences & Ethical Autonomy — algorithmic transparency, bias, and autonomy in genomics, diagnostics, and drug discovery.
- Bioconvergence & Resilient Innovation Ecosystems — inclusive governance for biology × engineering × digital convergence.
- Sustainable Bioeconomy & Nature‑Based Solutions — circular biotech, algae‑based fuels, waste‑to‑resource systems, environmental justice.
- Next‑Gen Therapies & Fair Health Innovation — equity, long‑term safety, and regulation of gene editing, mRNA, and cell‑based therapies.
- Green, Safe & Digital Laboratories — sustainable lab infrastructures, automation, and risk management in digital transitions.
- Microbiome & Multi‑Omics in Health, Food & Environment — ethics, regulation, and public trust for multi‑omics data.
- Coastal & Environmental Security in a Warming Europe — marine biotech, biodiversity monitoring, community resilience.
- One Health, Pandemic Preparedness & Biosecurity — risk literacy, global health diplomacy, and antimicrobial resistance.
Reflecting FORTHEM’s commitment to supporting the next generation of researchers the conference will include dedicated cross-disciplinary sessions for Early-Stage Researchers under the theme “Emerging Research, Emerging Researchers".
In line with the ongoing European policy discussions the conference will create space to explore new academic pathways, collaboration models, and the evolving role of researchers in society through a special session on “Rethinking Research Careers.”
The conference will also include a poster session, providing an opportunity for researchers - especially Early-Stage Researchers - to present emerging ideas, ongoing work, and exploratory research.
