IASP's World Conference 2026 will be in Sophia Antipolis in France

The IASP World Conferences are a flagship item on the agenda of the association and the bidding process to host such event gets increasingly tight, as was seen with three great candidates hoping to host the IASP 2026 World Conference. 

This year the finalists were Dhahran in Saudi Arabia, Edmonton in Canada and Sophia Antipolis in France, who all showcased the best that their cities, countries and innovation ecosystems could offer to delegates and shared inspiring presentations about their bids.  

The IASP General Assembly found it a tough decision, as it went to a second round, and after a tense counting of votes it was decided that IASP will be going to Sophia Antipolis, France for our 2026 World Conference.  

Founded in 1969, Sophia Antipolis employs a cluster-centric approach to foster collaboration across technology, research, and development sectors. The science and technology park spans 2,400 hectares of predominantly green spaces, aiming to create a conducive environment for work and creativity. Some 2,500 companies, including 4,500 researchers and 250 foreign-owned companies work from Sophia Antipolis, in areas such as information and communication technology, biotechnology, healthcare, and sustainable practice. 

IASP members look forward to exploring the area and getting to know the emblematic Sophia Antipolis Science & Technology Park, which is located in close proximity to Cannes. It is known as an advanced European innovation ecosystem that offers access and opportunities for businesses seeking to leverage cutting-edge technologies, access global markets, and drive innovation. 

Warm thanks to all candidates for their great effort in the run-up to this vote, and we are sure that the collaborations, contacts and support gained in the process will be valuable to all. Congratulations once again to the winners, and we’ll see you in France! 

For more information on Sophia Antipolis see their website here.