*Data for Policy 2026 (DfP’26)* *Governance of/with AI: Implications for Data, Infrastructure, and Tech Sovereignty* 8-10 September 2026 | Barcelona, Spain Call for Abstracts, Full Papers and Panel Proposals Submission Deadline: *01 June 2026* Dear colleagues, Data for Policy CIC, in collaboration with the *Universitat Pompeu Fabra *and the *Cambridge University Press* is delighted to invite submission of extended abstracts, full papers, and panel proposals for Data for Policy 2026 (DfP’26) <https://dataforpolicy.org/data-for-policy-2026/>, to be held in Barcelona, Spain, on *8–10 September 2026.* The tenth edition of the conference will focus on the reshaping effects of AI in governance and decision making. This year has witnessed a significant paradigm shift, sparking increased interest in and concern regarding AI governance. The development of AI and data infrastructure has become essential amid the ‘AI War’ between the United States and China, the hybrid conflicts in Europe, and the deployment of military technologies in the Middle East. Strategic investments now prioritise access to frontier technologies, the securing of critical minerals, energy production, and key locations for water supply and cooling. AI is challenging not only global economies but also political systems. We have entered an era where AI influences geopolitics, often at the expense of fundamental rights and values. The theme “Governance of/with AI” addresses the diverse global perspectives on this evolving technology. As AI continues to transform, it presents both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges; furthermore, emerging developments such as quantum computing heighten existing uncertainties. This theme calls for a responsible and ethical societal response while fostering debate across multiple disciplines. We invite reflections and evidence-based research that explore and contest these views. Ranging from geopolitical promises to large-scale investments, social consequences, and legal frameworks, AI has become a truly transdisciplinary field. We welcome contributions from a wide range of disciplines — including but not limited to computer science, engineering, law, economics, and public administration — that explore challenges and opportunities at the intersection of AI, governance, and society. We are particularly interested in work that offers valuable insights and contributes to ongoing data-for-policy discussions aligned with our core focus areas <https://dataforpolicy.org/dfp26-conference-tracks/>: *Area 1:* Digital & Data-driven Transformations in Governance *Area 2: *Technologies & Analytics *Area 3:* Policy & Literacy for Data *Area 4: *Ethics, Equity, and Trustworthiness *Area 5:* Algorithmic Governance *Area 6: *Global Challenges and Dynamic Threats In addition, a dedicated special track convened by The Digital Statecraft Academy (DSA) will provide a focused forum to explore the technological, institutional, and political dimensions of AI adoption. *Special Track: <https://digitalstatecraft.academy/special-track-digital-statecraft-from-principles-to-practice/>Digital Statecraft: From Principles to Practice.* For Abstract or Panel Submissions: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=dataforpolicy2026 For Full Paper submissions: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/dataandpolicy For detailed information on submission types, the review process, and important dates, we encourage you to visit the Submission & Guidelines and Important Dates pages on the Conference website. <https://dataforpolicy.org/data-for-policy-2026/> Join us at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, in September 2026 as we collectively navigate the opportunities and complexities of AI in governance, and contribute to building more equitable, and trustworthy digital futures. For any inquiries or further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact *dfp26@upf.edu <dfp26@upf.edu>* and *team@dataforpolicy.org <team@dataforpolicy.org>* Warmest regards, The Data for Policy 2026 (DfP’26) – Conference Committee <https://dataforpolicy.org/data-for-policy-2026-dfp26-conference-committee/> __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Important Dates* - *Submission deadline for papers, abstracts, and panels:* *01 June 2026, 23:59, AoE.* - Notification of acceptance for conference abstracts, and panels: 01 July 2026, 23:59, AoE. - Notification of acceptance for full-papers: 25 July 2026, 23:59, AoE. - Registration deadline for presenters: 14 August 2026 - Deadline for submission of mandatory pre-conference material: 17 August 2026 - Registration deadline for all delegates: 25 August 2026 - *Data for Policy 2026 (DfP’26): 08 – 10 September 2026* ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ *DfP’26 Conference Leadership:* - Manuel Portela, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain - Carlos (Chato) Castillo, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain - Vladimir Estivill-Castro, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain - Migle Laukyte, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain - Antoni Rubi-Puig, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain *Data for Policy Conference General Chairs:* - Zeynep Engin, Founding Director & Chair, Data for Policy CIC - Jon Crowcroft, Marconi Professor of Communications Systems in the Computer Lab, at the University of Cambridge, and researcher-at-large at the Alan Turing Institute - Stefaan Verhulst, Co-Founder and Chief Research and Development Officer at the GovLab, NYU *Conference Programme Committee:* - Susan Ariel Aaronson, George Washington University, USA - Fola Adeleke, The Global Center on AI Governance, South Africa - Rossella Arcucci, Imperial College London, UK - Omar Isaac Asensio, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA - He Bin, Tongji University, China - Tuba Bircan, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium - Ana Brandusescu, McGill University, Canada - Ana Maria Bustamante Duarte, Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia - Igor Calzada, University of the Basque Country, Spain - Natalia Carfi, Open Data Charter, Argentina - Lawrence Cheung, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong - Joep Crompvoets, KU Leuven, Belgium - Ebinezer Florano, The University of the Philippines, The Philippines - Sarah Giest, Leiden University, The Netherlands - Yang Han, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong - Regina Hučková, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Slovakia - Ahmed Dooguy Kora, L’Ecole Supérieure Multinationale des Télécommunications, Senegal - Jacqueline C.K. Lam, University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong - Victor OK Li, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong - Canhui Liu, University College London, UK - Justin Longo, University of Regina, Canada - Claudia Abreu Lopes, United Nations University, Malaysia - Aretha Mare, Smart Africa, Rwanda - Jock Martin,The European Environment Agency, Denmark - Gianluca Misuraca, AI4Gov, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain - Francesco Mureddu, The Lisbon Council, Belgium - Ines Neves, Universidade de Porto, Portugal - David, Love Opeyemi, University of Johannesburg, South Africa - Marta Poblet, RMIT University; The Data Tank, Belgium - Paula Rodriguez Müller, European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), Belgium - Vania Sena, The University of Sheffield, UK - Sara Thabit, European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), Italy - Evren Tok, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar - Gaby Umbach, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute, Italy - Genoveva Vargas-Solar, CNRS, France-Mexico - Masaru Yarime, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ * About Data for Policy* Since its inception in 2015 at the University of Cambridge, the Data for Policy conference series has served as a leading platform for addressing the gap between data advancements and effective policymaking. Over the past decade, it has consistently attracted prominent researchers and thought leaders worldwide. In addition to our conferences, we have partnered with Cambridge University Press to launch the open-access Data & Policy in 2019. This initiative provides a platform for rigorous scholarly work at the intersection of data science and public policy, supported by an integrated peer-review process linking conference presentations to publication opportunities.