The 1st Summer School in Robotics and AI is organized by the HERON – Hellenic Robotics Center of Excellence (CoE), through the Robotics Institute of Athena Research Center and in collaboration with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
This two-day event will be held from 29 to 30 June 2026 at the Eugenides Foundation, 387, Syggrou Ave., Palaio Faliro, Athens, Greece.
The mission
The goal of the summer school is to introduce students, Ph.D. candidates, and scientists/engineers at a post-doctoral level to some of the most recent state-of-the-art topics at the cross section of Robotics and AI. The scope and the content of the sessions also aim to address needs of engineers in the industrial and service sectors with a strong interest in Robotics.
What to expect
- Both plenary and hands-on practical sessions will be delivered by world-known experts and highly skilled researchers in cutting-edge research and technology topics.
- The participants will have the opportunity to interact with peers and professionals to expand their academic and professional experiences.
Call for Applications
All interested in attending the summer school are invited to submit their brief CV (not exceeding one page).
To guarantee a close cooperation with the tutors, the number of participants is limited to 50 attendees.
Submission Deadline: March 30, 2026
Notification of acceptance: April 30, 2026
Submit Via: https://www.eventora.com/en/Events/heron-1st-summer-school-on-robotics-ai/Submissions/Create
For inquiries, contact: summerschool@heron-robotics-coe.eu
Registration Information
Τhe registration link will open after the acceptance notification.
Registration Includes:
- Coffee breaks and lunches during the two-day event.
- A Social event on Monday, June 29th, at a traditional tavern with Greek food, delicacies, and drinks.
A participation certificate will be provided to all the participants.
Registration Fee
The total cost is €100 per participant.
Program
Monday 29/6/2026
8:30 – 9:15 | Registration |
9:15 – 9:30 | Welcome Session |
9:30 – 11:00 | Plenary talk: Prof. T. Asfour (KIT) “Humanoid Robotics: Creating General-Purpose Functional Intelligence” |
11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break |
11:30 – 13:00 | Hands-on Session: J. Plewnia (KIT) “Robot Memory and Verbalization of Robot Experiences” |
13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch break |
14:00 – 15:30 | Plenary Talk: Dr. N. Efthymiou, Dr. P. Filntisis (HERON/Athena RC) “LLMs/VLMs and Robotics” |
15:30 – 16:00 | Coffee Break |
16:00 – 17:30 | Hands-on Session: T. Birr (KIT) “Task planning with LLMs” |
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19:00 | Social Event |
Tuesday 30/6/2026
9:30 – 11:00 | Plenary talk: Prof. P. Maragos (HERON/Athena RC, NTUA) “Robot Perception and Multimodal AI” |
11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break |
11:30 – 13:00 | Plenary talk: Prof. E. Papadopoulos, Dr. K. Smyrli, A. Mastrogeorgiou (HERON/Athena RC, NTUA) “Legged Robots: the next steps towards agile mobility” |
13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch break |
14:00 – 15:30 | Plenary Talk: Dr. G. Moustris (HERON/Athena RC) “Surgical Robotics and the Emergence of Telesurgery” |
15:30 – 16:00 | Coffee Break |
16:00 – 17:30 | Plenary Talk: Prof. P. Vartholomeos (HERON/Athena RC, NTUA) “Soft-robotics in minimally invasive surgery: Key Advancements & Future Directions” |
Organizing Committee
Keynote Speakers
General Information
The Venue
The forum will be held at the Eugenides Foundation, one of Greece’s most distinguished educational and cultural institutions, located in the Palaio Faliro district of Athens. Established in 1956 through the philanthropic initiative of Evangelos Eugenides, the Foundation goals are to promote scientific knowledge, education, and public engagement in the fields of science and technology. Today, it has evolved into a modern hub for learning, research, and events, combining historic significance with state-of-the-art infrastructure. The prestige and substantial experience in hosting Greek and international scientific and professional conferences, combined with the modernized and fully equipped facilities, make the Eugenides Foundation Conference Centre a point of reference and attraction for the Greek and international scientific, technical and cultural community.
The Foundation houses:
- Conference & Event Facilities. Multiple auditoriums and lecture halls equipped with modern audiovisual technology, ideal for international conferences, seminars, and workshops.
- The Athens Planetarium. One of the largest and most advanced digital planetaria in Europe, offering interactive shows and immersive experiences.
- Science & Technology Center. Exhibitions, interactive displays, and educational labs that provide hands-on learning opportunities for students, researchers, and the public.
- Exhibition & Demo Spaces Flexible areas designed for showcasing research, technological demonstrations, and corporate exhibitions.
Its architectural design harmoniously blends functional modernity with aesthetic elegance, while its seaside location offers a scenic backdrop along Athens’ coastal area.
Hotels & Accommodation
Hotel / Stay | Category | Approx. Distance | Approx. Walk Time |
Athens Marriott Hotel | Comfort / Premium | 0.1 km | 2 min |
Gnamma Hotel | Budget | 0.1–0.2 km | 2–4 min |
AVA Hotel & Residences Athens Riviera | Boutique / Mid | 0.3 km | 5 min |
Lacoba Hotel | Budget | 0.3–0.4 km | 5–7 min |
Atlantic Hotel | Budget / Mid | 0.9 km | 10–12 min |
Earth Boutique Apartments | Boutique | 0.9 km | 10–12 min |
Location & Transportation
Eugenides Foundation
Address: 387 Andrea Syggrou Avenue, Faliro, Athens, Greece.
How to get to the Venue:
From Athens International Airport
- X96 Express Bus (Airport – Piraeus):
The journey typically takes approximately 60–75 minutes, depending on traffic. The bus stop near the Eugenides Foundation is within short walking distance from the venue. - Taxi / Ride-hailing services:
Taxis are available 24/7 at the airport. Travel time is usually 40–50 minutes, subject to traffic conditions.
By Public Transport (from the city downtown)
- Metro:
Visitors can use Metro Line 2 (Red Line) and connect to nearby bus or trolley lines serving the Eugenides Foundation area. - Bus & Trolleybus:
Multiple bus and trolleybus lines stop close to the venue, providing convenient connections from central Athens and surrounding districts.
By Car
- The venue is easily accessible via Leoforos Andrea Syggrou.
- Street parking is rather restricted. A number of paid parking places are nearby.