ERCIM Forum Beyond Compliance on Digital Ethics in Research - Call for Participation

29–30 October 2026, Porto

The fifth edition of the ERCIM Forum Beyond Compliance, dedicated to research ethics in the digital age, will take place on 29–30 October 2026 at INESC TEC in Porto, Portugal.

Rather than focusing only on ethical norms and compliance requirements, the forum explores digital ethics issues as they arise in the practical settings of academic research. It provides an open and inclusive space for exchange with international experts and welcomes anyone concerned with digital ethics in their research activities.
The programme includes three thematic sessions and a keynote:

• XAI Limitations & Vulnerability
  29 October, morning
  What critical gaps remain for uncertainty-aware, meaningful and understandable use of explainable AI in healthcare and industry?
  Speakers: Sepideh Pashami (RISE, Sweden) and Ajitha Rajan (Edinburgh University, UK)
• Keynote on AI in Healthcare
  29 October, morning
  Tugce Schmitt (Maastricht University, Netherlands)
• The Need for National Digital Ethics Committees in Europe
  29 October, afternoon
  The session will address the competences national ethics committees need in digital ethics, how committees with differing positions can coordinate, and how competing digital ethics policies can be addressed without weakening European values.
  Speakers include Claude Kirchner (National Digital Ethics Committee, France), Vasiliki Mollaki (NCSR “Demokritos”, Greece), Frank Beck Lassen (National Center for Ethics, Denmark) and Yves Moreau (KU Leuven, Belgium).
• AI Companions and Vulnerable Publics
  30 October, morning
  How can their impacts and safety be researched while ensuring that the research itself is conducted safely?
  Speakers: Angelica Henestrosa (THWS, Germany), Alexandra Prégent (CEA, France) and Jean Gové (Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome).

Participation is free of charge and in person only; no live streaming will be available. The forum will be held at INESC TEC in Porto and will be co-located with the ERCIM Fall Meeting and an AIOLIA training workshop on digital ethics on 28 October. It will follow the ECSS 2026 conference of Informatics Europe, which also includes a workshop on digital ethics. Most talks and summaries will be made available online after the event.
The forum is organised by ERCIM and its Working Group on Digital Ethics, INESC TEC, and the French National Digital Ethics Committee (CCNEN).

Registration:
https://edu.nl/kvxjj

Further information:
ERCIM Beyond Compliance: https://www.ercim.eu/science/beyond-compliance-digital-ethics-in-research
ERCIM Fall Meeting: https://www.ercim.eu/events/ercim-days/2026-fall-meetings
AIOLIA training workshop: https://www.inesctec.pt/en/events/training-in-digital-ethics