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

Supporting Partners

ELLIOT ELIZA

Sponsors

Waymo
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, fireside chats, 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, 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, fireside chats & poster sessions
🎤
Speakers 11 confirmed speakers
⏰
Applications Closed — contact ssadriving@cvc.uab.es
Registration Fees
€400 PhD Students
€600 Postdoc / Industry

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

Contact Us →
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

Program

Schedule

Registration & check-in open at 08:30 on Day 1; sessions run 09:30–17:00 each day. Coffee breaks at 11:00 and 15:00. Lunch 12:30–14:00. Keynotes include Q&A within their slot.

Day 1 · Tuesday
September 15
Day 2 · Wednesday
September 16
Day 3 · Thursday
September 17
Day 4 · Friday
September 18
09:00
09:30
10:00
10:30
11:00
11:30
12:00
12:30
13:00
13:30
14:00
14:30
15:00
15:30
16:00
16:30
17:00
Opening & Welcome Registration from 08:30
Multi-sensor Pre-training Alexandre Boulch 1.5 h
☕ Coffee
End-to-End Driving José M. Álvarez
🍽 Lunch
Reinforcement Learning for AD Maximilian Igl
☕ Coffee
Fireside Chat #1
Evaluation and Benchmarking of Driving Policies Kashyap Chitta 1.5 h
☕ Coffee
Synthetic Data Workflows to Accelerate AV: A CARLA Perspective German Ros
🍽 Lunch
Reliable Perception for AD Fatma Güney
☕ Coffee
Fireside Chat #2
Poster Session #1
World Models for AD Sofía Lago Dudas 1.5 h
☕ Coffee
Vision-Language-Action Models Puneet Dokania
🍽 Lunch
Mentorship Session
☕ Coffee
Fireside Chat #3
Poster Session #2
Vision-based End-to-End Driving: CVC Experiences Antonio M. López 1 h
☕ Coffee
AD at the Crossroads Holger Caesar
🍽 Lunch
From Code to Hardware: How a Transformer Model Actually Runs Dirk Hornung
☕ Coffee
Fireside Chat #4
Closing ceremony & Awards
🎤 Talk 💬 Fireside chat / 🤝 Mentorship 🎓 Opening / 🥂 Social / 📌 Poster / 🏆 Closing ☕ Coffee / 🍽 Lunch
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 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?
CLOSEDThe application deadline was June 12th, 11:59 pm AOE. Applications are now closed. If you missed the deadline and would still like to attend, please send an email to ssadriving@cvc.uab.es.
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. The list of accepted posters will be released shortly.
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, fireside chats, 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.
How do I get from the airport into Barcelona?
From Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat (BCN) you have three main options:
  • Aerobus: the express shuttle runs from both terminals (T1 and T2) to Plaça de Catalunya in the city centre (~35 min). From there, connect to a city bus or metro, or take a taxi to your accommodation.
  • Metro line L9 Sud: stations at T1 and T2 link the airport to the metro network, with interchanges to other metro lines and bus routes across the city. Note that the airport stations require a special airport fare (single ticket, not covered by standard T-casual travel cards).
  • Taxi or ride-hailing: official black-and-yellow taxis wait outside every terminal, and apps such as FREE NOW, Uber, and Bolt operate in the area. Car rental desks are also available at both terminals.
Are there mobility funds available for ELLIS PhD students?
ELIZA is offering mobility funds (travel, accommodation, registration) for ELLIS PhD students whose main or co-supervisor is based in Berlin, Darmstadt, Freiburg, Heidelberg, München, Saarbrücken, or Tübingen. Please apply here.
Organizing Committee

Who's behind the school

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