NEWS WASP Professor Diego Calvanese at the Department of Computing Science, Umeå University, has been appointed to lead The International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, (IJCAI), one of the world's largest and most prestigious conferences in AI. In 2026, it will be held together with the European Conference in AI (ECAI). "I am both delighted and honoured to have been given this responsible role," says Professor Calvanese.
Diego Calvanese is one of the world's leading experts in AI for data management. He is a visiting professor at the Department of Computing Science and will now lead one of the world's most prestigious AI conferences.
ImageHans KarlssonHow do we develop AI tools and techniques that help businesses and governments to fully utilise the potential of their data, and how do we evaluate these technologies? This is what Professor Diego Calvanese focuses on in his research. He is considered one of the world's leading experts in the field and has received several prestigious awards.
Currently, he is a visiting professor at the Department of Computing Science with funding from WASP, Sweden's single largest research programme. Now, Professor Diego Calvanese has been appointed to lead the work when the world's top AI researchers and experts gather in 2025 and 2026.
Calvanese has been appointed Associate Programme Chair of IJCAI 2025 in Montreal, Canada, and the following year, Professor Calvanese will take on the role of Programme Chair of IJCAI-ECAI 2026, which will be held in Bremen, Germany.
The International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence is the oldest and most comprehensive conference on artificial intelligence in the world. Founded back in 1969, it now attracts in the order of 8000 submissions and
4000 – 5000 participants.
"Although the appointment as Associate Programme Chair in 2025 will be demanding, it will give me the opportunity to familiarise with the activities and responsibilities that I will face in the following year. So, I hope to be well prepared for managing the scientific programme of the 2026 edition of the conference," Professor Calvanese says.
In his role as Programme Chair, he will appoint and manage a large number of reviewers, senior program committee members and area chairs.
"We will evaluate and discuss the submitted articles to reach an agreement on which ones to include in the scientific programme. It is both an exciting and rewarding challenge," Professor Calvanese says.
The number of submissions to the conference has been steadily increasing in recent years due to the great interest in AI. "Perhaps we will receive in the order of 10,000 submissions, possibly much more," says Prof Calvanese.
The International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence 2026 offers a platform to address several challenges in AI development.
"While an important focus is placed on cutting-edge research tackling complex technical problems in AI, the conference also addresses concerns about the impact of AI on health, climate, democracy, jobs and humanity in general."
For example, IJCAI 2024 included a special track on human-centred AI, which continue in future years.
"By combining advancement in AI methodologies and technologies with discussions on ethical frameworks and policies, IJCAI ensures a balanced approach to promoting responsible and innovative AI development," says Diego Calvanese.
"Professor Calvanese has contributed to new insights and collaborations at our department, where he also supervises three doctoral students. We wish him the best of luck and hope for continued good cooperation," says Professor Frank Drewes, Head of the Department of Computing Science.
Professor Diego Calvanese is considered one of the world's leading experts in AI for data management. He holds a full professorship at The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano in Italy, and has in recent years, through WASP, Sweden's single largest research programme, been a visiting professor at the Department of Computing Science in Umeå, where he collaborates with other researchers, and supervises three doctoral students. Professor Calvanese received The AAAI Classic Paper Award 2021 in 2021.
