YEREVAN, Armenia – From September 7 to 9, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Zaven P. and Sonia Akian College of Science and Engineering (ACSE) hosted the International Conference on Collaborative Technologies and Data Science for Smart City Applications (CODASSCA 2026), bringing together researchers, academics, students, and industry professionals from Armenia and abroad.
CODASSCA has a history at AUA dating back to 2018. Previous editions were held as workshops in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, creating a platform for researchers and practitioners to exchange work in data science, collaborative technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart city applications. Building on these four editions, CODASSCA 2026 marked a new stage for the initiative, transitioning from a workshop into an international conference co-sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the IEEE Internet of Things (IoT) Technical Community.
The three-day conference focused on research and applications across AI, data science, IoT, collaborative technologies, smart and ambient environments, cybersecurity, digital twins, and human-centered computing. The program included keynote presentations, technical and research sessions, poster presentations, and student demonstrations.
CODASSCA 2026 was led by General Co-Chair Dr. Reza Malekian, dean of the ACSE and IEEE IoT Technical Community Conference and Events chair, and Dr. Gregor Schiele from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. Together with the conference organizing and technical committees, they brought researchers from different institutions and countries to AUA for three days of academic exchange.
Dr. Malekian reflected on this year’s submissions, which illustrated the increased interest in technology and its role in the world. “This year, we received 127 paper submissions from researchers around the world. Following a rigorous peer-review process, in which every submission was evaluated by at least two independent reviewers, 61 papers were accepted as regular or poster papers,” he said. “The quality and diversity of these contributions reflect the growing interest in emerging technologies and their applications to the challenges of modern, connected, and human-centered cities,” he added.
Dr. Malekian thanked the individuals involved in the event and its achievements. “The success of CODASSCA 2026 would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of many colleagues. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our Technical Program Committee chairs, Dr. Hossein Fotouhi, Dr. Wolfram Luther, and Mariam Haroutunian, for their outstanding leadership in managing the review process and maintaining the high technical quality of the conference,” he noted. “I also extend my sincere thanks to our Publication chairs, Xueqin Liang and Dr. Nelson Baloian, and our Ph.D./M.S. forum co-chairs, Dr. Hrachya Astsatryan and Dr. Rafael Kaliski, for their invaluable contributions to the organization of the conference and coordination of the review process,” he added.
He also extended his gratitude to the distinguished keynote speaker, Dr. Ahmad P. Tafti from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as tutorial speakers Dr. Michele Nitti and Dr. Claudio Marche from the University of Cagliari, and invited speakers Dr. Tommaso Piseddu from the Stockholm Environment Institute, Dr. Philipp Hohenblum, and Daniel Trauner from the Environment Agency Austria, for sharing their expertise and insights. He also thanked the authors, reviewers, session chairs, organizing committee members, volunteers, and participants whose commitment made CODASSCA 2026 possible.
A central part of the conference was the presentation and discussion of current research. Participants shared their work across different areas of data science and emerging technologies, discussing both theoretical approaches and their practical applications. The sessions also provided opportunities for researchers from different disciplines and institutions to exchange ideas and identify areas for further collaboration.
The conference also addressed the connection between technology, cities, and sustainability. A dedicated environment and sustainability session brought together speakers from the Stockholm Environment Institute, Environment Agency Austria, and the EU4Green Recovery East Programme to discuss environmental challenges and the role of research, data, and technology in responding to them.
ACSE students were also an active part of the event. They participated in the sessions as attendees and presenters, shared their research through presentations, posters, and student demonstrations, and received recognition for their work. Students were also involved in the organizational aspect of the conference, supporting its three-day program as volunteers.
Dr. Schiele expressed his thoughts on co-organizing the event with AUA, and the impact of the projects for Armenia. “Co-organizing this conference at AUA was a privilege. The creativity, scientific talent, and ambition of the students I met were truly impressive,” he noted. “Their projects offered a glimpse of the tremendous potential of Armenia’s young generation—and the important role AUA plays in helping them turn that potential into meaningful contributions to science and society,” he added.
For ACSE, hosting CODASSCA 2026 continued the College’s work in connecting its academic community with researchers and professionals from Armenia and abroad. The conference gave students and faculty an opportunity to engage directly with international researchers, present their own work, and take part in discussions related to areas represented in ACSE’s academic and research programs.
The transition of CODASSCA from a workshop series to an IEEE co-sponsored international conference also represents the continued development of an initiative that has been hosted at AUA over several years. From its first edition in 2018 to CODASSCA 2026, the event has provided a space for research exchange and collaboration around data science, AI, collaborative technologies, and smart city applications.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
