[CfP] Call for Papers: SDS2026 - The 13th IEEE Swiss Conference on Data Science and AI

[thilo.st...@gmail.com]

Dear colleague,

We are pleased to invite you to submit your work to the 13th IEEE Swiss Conference on Data Science and AI (SDS2026), which will take place on May 6-7, 2026, in Zürich, Switzerland.

Abstract Registration Deadline: January 23, 2026
Paper Submission Deadline: February 01, 2026
Reviewer Feedback: until February 20, 2026
Option for a brief comment on reviewer Feedback: until February 23, 2026
Decision Notification: March 10, 2026
Conference: May 08, 2026

We invite original research submissions from the broad field of data science and artificial intelligence (AI) focusing on novelty, best practice and use case orientation. Submissions are required to demonstrate both scientific-technical depth and practical applicability, and may encompass methods along the full pipeline of data science and AI systems – from data acquisition and data management, through data analysis using machine learning and AI, to visualization, data product design, value creation, and the management of societal effects.

 

Topics of Interest

Topics include but are not limited to, the following key focus areas for 2026:

• Large Language Models and Learning Methodology: Neural Architectures, World Models, Multimodal Models (Text, Image, Video), Pre-trained Foundation Models, Generative AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Question Answering, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Agentic AI, Model Fine-tuning, Zero-shot Learning, Conversational AI, Data-Driven AI, Model Interpretability, and Trustworthy AI
• Human-AI Interaction: Human-in-the-loop, Human-AI Teaming, Personalization and Contextualization, Explainable AI, Adversarial Attacks and Robustness, Data Privacy and Security, Data and Information Quality, Data Governance, Adaptive User Interfaces, Proactive AI Systems, and AI-Assisted Decision Making, Physical AI
• Data-Driven Value Creation: Intelligence, Service Design and Operations, Smart Services, and Domain Specific Applications for Societal Challenges (e.g., Climate Change, Aging Population, Urban Planning and Smart Cities, Food Security and Agriculture, etc.),
• AI and Society: Ethics, Fairness, Pro-Human AI, Accountability and Transparency, Sustainability, AI Regulation, AI Certification, Cybersecurity in Relation to Data Science, Business Models

 

Data Science is a dynamic field. Therefore, we also welcome submissions that do not fit into any of the key focus areas, such as: Scientific Machine Learning, Data Exploration, Data Modeling and Visualization, Data Mining, Feature Selection, Pattern Recognition, Evolutionary Computing and Optimization, Fuzzy Computing, Digital Twins, Automated Hypothesis Generation, Predictive Analytics, Interdisciplinary Data Integration, Data Warehousing, Data Structures and Data Management, Information Retrieval, Information Integration, Big Data Applications, Data Quality for Trusted AI, etc.

 

Submission Guidelines

Submit at: https://easychair.org/conferences?conf=sds2026

• Full Paper: max. 8 pages incl. references, IEEE 8.5” x 11” two-column format. Present high-quality research contributions, including experiments, analysis, or system papers, as well as descriptions of application results.
• Short Paper: max. 4 pages incl. references, IEEE 8.5” x 11” two-column format. Present late-breaking results, work in progress, follow-up extensions, application case studies, or evaluations of existing methods.

 

All submissions must be original works that have not been published previously in any conference proceedings, magazine, journal, or edited book. Concurrent submissions are strictly forbidden. SDS 2026 maintains the confidentiality of submitted material. Upon acceptance, the titles, authorship, and abstracts of accepted papers will be released.

 

Review Process

• Double-Blind Review: Each submission will undergo a thorough review by the international Scientific Program Committee, with multiple experts evaluating the papers based on established scholarly criteria. To ensure impartiality, authors must anonymize their submissions appropriately. Submissions that fail to meet this requirement will be desk rejected.
• Decision by an Expert Panel: The international board of Program Co-Chairs will take the final decisions based on the external reviews. In special or borderline cases, the Program Co-Chairs will solicit additional meta-reviews and take brief author comments on the reviews into account to ensure fairness and consistency of the evaluation. Excellent content and presentation are mandatory for acceptance (acceptance rate 2025: 35%).
• Commitment to Present: Submission of a paper implies the commitment of at least one author to register and present the paper at the conference (in English, as poster or talk).

 

Publication

Accepted papers will be published by the IEEE and included in the IEEE Xplore digital library.

 

Policy on AI for Writing Assistance

The use of AI assistants (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot) in research, coding, or writing of the paper must be disclosed if it extended beyond pure language editing, brief input assistance, literature searches, or generating routine, low-novelty text.

 

Best regards, the SDS2026 Scientific Co-Chairs

Dr. Hella Bolck, Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Dr. Kacper Sokol, University of Bristol
Prof. Bernd Freisleben, University of Marburg
Prof. Siegfrid Handschuh, University of St. Gallen 
Prof. Christoph Heitz, Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Prof. Ata Kaban, University of Birmingham
Prof. Daniel Keim, University of Konstanz
Prof. Andrei Kucharavy, HES-SO Valais-Wallis
Prof. Thilo Stadelmann, Zurich University of Applied Sciences