The DECSoS Workshop is a continuation of an initiative launched by the ERCIM-DES Working Group and has been successfully held over many years. Hosted at SAFECOMP, the workshop has followed its own tradition since 2006.
In its early years, the workshop focused on conventional “embedded systems,” addressing all aspects of dependability. To better reflect the relationship to physics, mechatronics, and interactions with unpredictable environments, the terminology evolved to “cyber-physical systems” (CPS). More recently, the emphasis has shifted towards the trustworthiness of smart and autonomous systems composed of cognitive CPS integrated into IoT infrastructures.
A key topic is digitalisation, particularly extensive verification and validation (V&V) on digital twins to build confidence in these systems. This includes considering new paradigms in software and systems engineering, such as the functional safety of AI-based systems.
The societal impact of these technologies is considerable. Dependability, including safety, reliability, availability, security, maintainability, resilience, sustainability, and ethically aligned design, has become a central concern. Cognitive systems, CPS, and IoT are key research areas in Horizon Europe and public–private partnerships such as Chips JU.
Planned Sessions
Dependable and resilient embedded systems, systems of cyber-physical systems;
- Highly automated (autonomous) systems and robotics;
- AI and autonomy: functional safety, cybersecurity, and human–machine teaming;
- Medical devices and healthcare: safety, security, and conformity assessment;
- Smart Anything Everywhere, Internet of Things (IoT);
- Digitalisation towards Society 5.0 (Industry 5.0, Farming 5.0, Smart Mobility, Digital Cities, Smart Health, etc.), with a focus on environmental, sovereignty, sustainability, security, human, and ethical aspects.
Thematic Topics
- Multi-core platforms and mixed-criticality systems;
- Safety and security co-engineering for trustworthiness;
- Validation and verification, multi-concern and modular assurance;
- Domain-specific critical applications (industrial, mobility, medical devices, and other demonstrators);
- Standardisation (interoperability, trustworthiness), certification, and ethical concerns.
The workshop aims to cover the full lifecycle, from conceptual work to deployment and maintenance. Unlike the main SAFECOMP conference, DECSoS focuses on “work in progress”, encouraging fruitful discussions, experience exchange, and exploration of emerging or unconventional subtopics.
We particularly welcome reports from European or national research projects (as part of their dissemination activities) as well as industrial experience reports.
Paper Submission and Review
All papers will be reviewed by at least three reviewers. Accepted contributions will be published as a complementary volume to the SAFECOMP Proceedings in Springer LNCS.
- Paper length: 6–12 pages;
- Format: Springer LNCS Style Guidelines;
- Submission platform: EasyChair (link to be announced in February 2026).
Important Dates
- Full paper submission: 4 May 2026 (extended)
- Notification of acceptance: 18 May 2026
- Camera-ready submission: 7 June 2026
- Workshop: 22 September 2026
Programme Committee
The International Programme Committee consists of selected EWICS and ERCIM members and is led by the workshop organisers.
Please contact the Workshop and Programme Committee Chairs:
Erwin Schoitsch, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria
Amund Skavhaug, NTNU, Norway
