Conference Description
Key Takeaways
- Annual conference focused on process improvement for systems, software, and services engineering
- Covers functional safety, cybersecurity, and compliance with standards including ASPICE, ISO 26262, and ISO 21434
- Designed for professionals in automotive, medical device, aerospace, and IT industries
- Features eight thematic streams with over fifty presentations, keynotes, and workshops
- Hybrid format with onsite attendance at Nile University in Cairo and online participation
Introduction
EuroSPI² 2026 convenes its 33rd annual gathering from 8–10 September 2026, continuing a long-standing tradition of bringing together researchers and practitioners working at the intersection of process improvement, systems engineering, and software development. The hybrid conference, hosted at Nile University in Cairo, Egypt, addresses the growing complexity organisations face when implementing safety-critical systems while maintaining compliance with evolving international standards. As industries from automotive to medical devices contend with accelerating digitalisation and mounting cybersecurity threats, the need for robust process frameworks has become increasingly urgent.
About This Event
The conference programme spans eight thematic streams encompassing more than fifty presentations, keynote addresses, and interactive workshops. EuroSPI² distinguishes itself through its emphasis on bridging academic research with industrial application, creating a forum where theoretical advances can be tested against real-world implementation challenges. The event format combines technical depth with executive-level strategic discussions, accommodating both hands-on practitioners and organisational leaders responsible for process governance.
Notable partners supporting the conference include Springer, Wiley, and MDPI Technologies on the publishing side, alongside industry bodies such as INTACS, the German Automotive Association (VDA), and the Automotive Skills Alliance (ASA). These partnerships reflect the conference’s positioning at the nexus of academic rigour and industry relevance.
Standards, Safety, and Cybersecurity in Focus
A significant portion of the programme addresses the practical challenges of implementing and assessing compliance with international standards. ASPICE (Automotive SPICE) features prominently, reflecting the automotive industry’s continued reliance on this process assessment framework for supplier evaluation and internal capability development. The conference also examines ISO 26262, the functional safety standard for road vehicles, and ISO 21434, which establishes requirements for cybersecurity engineering throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
These standards do not exist in isolation. Modern vehicle architectures increasingly depend on software-defined functionality, meaning that functional safety and cybersecurity requirements must be addressed concurrently rather than as separate compliance exercises. EuroSPI² provides a venue for exploring how organisations can integrate these disciplines within unified process frameworks, reducing duplication while ensuring comprehensive risk coverage.
Emerging Technologies and Process Adaptation
Beyond established standards, the conference examines how process improvement methodologies must evolve to accommodate emerging technologies. Artificial intelligence and big data analytics present particular challenges for traditional process frameworks, as these technologies often involve probabilistic behaviours that resist conventional verification approaches. E-mobility introduces additional complexity, with electric and autonomous vehicle development requiring new competencies and modified safety considerations.
Agile and lean methods continue to feature in discussions, particularly regarding their application in regulated environments where documentation requirements and stage-gate processes have historically dominated. The tension between iterative development practices and compliance obligations remains a practical concern for many organisations, and the conference addresses strategies for reconciling these approaches.
Who Should Attend
The conference serves a diverse professional community united by involvement in process-intensive engineering disciplines. Functional safety managers and cybersecurity engineers will find relevant content addressing their specific compliance responsibilities. Quality managers and assessors working with ASPICE, IATF 16949, ISO 26262, or ISO 21434 can engage with peers facing similar implementation challenges.
The programme also addresses the needs of system architects, software engineers, and test managers responsible for translating process requirements into technical practice. Researchers and consultants benefit from exposure to current industry priorities, while innovation and improvement managers gain insight into emerging best practices that may inform organisational strategy.
Building Cross-Industry Expertise
While automotive applications dominate much of the standards discussion, EuroSPI² maintains relevance across multiple safety-critical sectors. Medical device manufacturers face analogous regulatory pressures, and aerospace organisations have long operated under stringent process requirements. The conference facilitates knowledge transfer between these industries, recognising that process improvement principles often transcend sector-specific implementations. This cross-pollination of ideas supports the development of more mature and adaptable organisational capabilities.