To complement the regular programme and allow for a deeper focus on specific themes, CONTROLO 2026 will also feature Special Sessions (SS). These sessions can explore particular or interdisciplinary subjects within the conference’s topics of interest, as well as emerging areas connected to them. They also offer a platform for work driven by specific R&D projects or clusters, such as those sponsored by the EU.

Prospective organisers of a SS are invited to submit a proposal using the provided MS Word template, which can be downloaded <here>. Please note that some browsers may require users to right-click the link and select “Save link as.”

The completed proposal should be sent to controlo2026@apca.pt and must include the following details:

• A title for the Special Session.
• A brief description of the proposed theme (maximum 200 words), and topics of interest (at least 5 special areas), highlighting its significance and interest to the community.
• The names and contact information of the session organisers, with a preference for multi-national teams. Organisers should be committed to promoting their session and securing a sufficient number of quality paper submissions. A short bio/CV for each organiser is also requested.

An individual may serve as a co-organiser for a maximum of two special sessions. Furthermore, an individual cannot submit more than two papers as an author or co-author to any single special session he/she helps organise.

Organisation of Special Sessions

Upon approval, the Special Session organisers are entrusted to promote their session to attract a sufficient number of paper submissions.

Papers submitted to Special Sessions will undergo the same standard peer-review process as regular papers.

For a session to be held, it must secure at least six (6) accepted papers from authors from at least two independent institutions, excluding the organizers’ own affiliations. Sessions that do not meet this threshold may have their accepted papers moved into regular sessions.

As a token of appreciation, organisers receive one complimentary conference registration for every five non-organiser papers presented in their session. Furthermore, organisers are expected to chair their session at the conference. Should an organiser be unable to attend, the Technical Programme Chairs and Conference General Chairs will assume responsibility for appointing a replacement.