Where autonomous driving research
comes alive

An official ELLIS Summer School — four intensive days in Barcelona where world-class researchers and the next generation of scientists converge to push the boundaries of perception, world models, end-to-end driving, and beyond.

📅 Sep 15–18, 2026
·
📍 Barcelona, Spain
· ELLIS Announcement ↗

Organizers

ELLIS Unit Barcelona CVC valeo.ai

Supporting Partners

ELLIOT UAB
About the School

Four intensive days at the frontier of autonomous driving

The ELLIS Summer School on Autonomous Driving is an official ELLIS PhD Program school designed for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and junior scientists working at the intersection of machine learning, computer vision, and robotics. The school offers an intensive programme of expert keynotes, curated panels, and poster sessions, reflecting how this rapidly evolving field is shaping its own research priorities.

Hosted at the magnificent modernist landmark UAB Casa Convalescència and organised by the Computer Vision Center (CVC), Valeo.ai, and ELLIS Unit Barcelona, the school brings together voices from both academic research and industry to tackle the open problems shaping the future of autonomous driving. A student poster session and social activities create space for informal exchange, new collaborations, and lasting connections.

Research Topics
End-to-End Driving 3D Perception Dataset Curation Sensor Synthesis Foundation Models BEV Perception Reinforcement Learning World Models Sim-to-Real Safety & Robustness SLAM VLA Models
Key Details
📅
Dates Sep 15–18, 2026 (Tue–Fri)
🗓️
Duration 4 days · keynotes, panels & poster sessions
🎤
Speakers 9+ confirmed & growing
⏰
Apply by June 8, 2026 · 23:59 AOE
Registration Fees
€400 PhD Students
€600 Postdoc / Industry

Covers venue, coffee breaks, social event, materials & welcome event. Meals and accommodation not included.

Apply Now →
We are committed to diversity and inclusion. Sponsorships from industry partners will fund registration waivers for students from underrepresented groups. If you're interested in sponsoring the school, please contact us at ssadriving@cvc.uab.es.
Invited Speakers

World-class researchers

Additional speakers being confirmed. Full lineup will be announced closer to the event. Follow ELLIS Society and CVC Barcelona for updates.
Program

Preliminary Schedule

Sessions run 09:00–17:00 each day. Mix of keynotes, poster sessions, and panels.

Day 1 · Tuesday
September 15
  • Registration & Welcome
  • Keynote: End-to-End Driving José M. Álvarez
  • Keynote: Reinforcement Learning for AD Maximilian Igl
  • Student poster session 1
  • Welcome social event
Day 2 · Wednesday
September 16
  • Registration
  • Keynote: TBA Antonio M. López
  • Keynote: Perception & Sensing Fatma Güney
  • Panel #1: European AD research
  • Social event
Day 3 · Thursday
September 17
  • Keynote: World Models for AD Vassia Simaiaki
  • Keynote: Multi-sensor Pre-training Alexandre Boulch
  • Lightning talk: CARLA Simulator German Ros
  • Student poster session 2
Day 4 · Friday
September 18
  • Keynote: Dataset for Autonomous Driving Holger Caesar
  • Keynote: Evaluation of AD Models Kashyap Chitta
  • Panel #2: The road ahead
  • Closing ceremony & Awards
📋 The final schedule and speaker assignments will be published ~6 weeks before the school.
Location

Barcelona, Spain

UAB Casa Convalescència

A stunning modernist building in the heart of Barcelona, part of the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau. With a capacity for 190 people, this iconic UAB venue offers state-of-the-art lecture facilities and break-out spaces in one of the city's most remarkable architectural settings.

📍
Address Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 171, 08041 Barcelona
🚇
Metro L4 (Hospital de Sant Pau; ~5 min walk) · L5 (Sant Pau | Dos de Maig or Camp de l'Arpa; ~5 min walk) · L2 (Sagrada Familia; ~15 min walk)
🚍
Bus Lines D50, H8, V23, and more stop within a few minutes' walk.
🚕
Taxi Readily available throughout the city (applications such as Uber and FreeNow can also be used).
🏨
Hotels Many options within walking distance, including Hotel Sant Pau, Sant Jordi Hostels, and Hotel Medicis.
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the registration fee cover?
The fee covers venue access, coffee breaks, and morning/afternoon snacks for all four days. Meals and accommodation are not included and must be arranged independently.
Who can apply?
The school is open to PhD students, postdocs, and early-career researchers. Priority is given to PhD students and researchers from underrepresented groups. Industry professionals are also welcome.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is on June 8th, 11:59 pm AOE. If this deadline changes, we will update this page and notify applicants through ELLIS channels.
When will results be announced?
Conditional results will be announced towards the end of June. We will notify all applicants of their status via email, and successful applicants will receive instructions for registration and next steps.
Do I need to present a poster?
Poster presentations are strongly encouraged but not mandatory. Accepted applicants will be invited to contribute a poster. Details will be shared after acceptance.
Is the school in-person only?
Yes, SSAD 2026 is a fully in-person event in Barcelona. There is no remote or hybrid attendance option at this time.
Will the recording of sessions be available?
We plan to record all sessions. However, these recordings won't take be available until after the event concludes.
Where should I stay?
The venue (UAB Casa Convalescència) is well-connected by public transportation (metro and bus). Multiple hotels are within walking distance. See the Venue section above for detailed transport information.
What are the school's official languages?
All lectures, panels, and sessions will be conducted in English. Barcelona is an international city, and while most people will be able to speak and/or understand English, the local official languages are Catalan and Spanish, so your everyday commute and interactions may involve these languages.
How do I get to Barcelona?
Barcelona is well-connected by air, rail, and road. The nearest international airport is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat (BCN). If traveling by train, the two main train stations are Barcelona Sants and Estació de França.
Organizing Committee

Who's behind the school

Organized by researchers from CVC, Valeo/Inria, and ELLIS Unit Barcelona.