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Enabling resilient forest value chains through innovation

58^th International Symposium on Forestry Mechanization
September 14-18, 2026, Prague, Czech Republic

Important Dates 2026

~~15 January 2026 – Abstract submission opens~~
~~28 February 2026 – Abstract submission deadline~~
~~27 March 2026 – Notification of acceptance - Notifications have been sent on March 26~~
~~15 May 2026 – Registration opens~~
~~30 June 2026 – Early-bird registration deadline~~
31 August 2026 – Registration closes

Preliminary Scientific Programme Available 2026

We are pleased to announce that the preliminary scientific programme for FORMEC 2026 is now available.

Thanks to the large number of excellent abstract submissions, the symposium will feature a comprehensive programme with 5 parallel sessions and more than 30 technical sessions. The programme covers a wide range of topics in forest engineering and forest operations, including harvesting systems, forest logistics, digitalization, automation, ergonomics, sustainability, biomass supply chains, and emerging technologies.

The preliminary timetable is available through the conference management system:
https://indico.formec.org/event/3/timetable/#all

Registration 2026

Registration for the 2026 conference will open on 15 May 2026. Presenters are encouraged to register early to take advantage of the reduced early-bird rate and to secure their place at the event.

Fees

The following fees are indicative and may be subject to minor adjustments:

Early-bird registration: 350 EUR
Regular registration: 450 EUR
Post-conference field trip: 50 EUR

To register and for futher details please visit: Registration FORMEC 2026

Travel and Accomodation 2026

To arrange your travel and accommodation, please refer to the practical information guide provided by the colleagues from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU).

Pratical Information: PDF document

Conference Venue 2026

The FORMEC conference will take place at the campus of Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU), located in the north-western part of Prague.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU)
Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague – Suchdol Czech Republic

Welcome Event (Icebreaker)

On September 14, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM (local time), a Welcome Event will take place at the National Agricultural Museum in Prague.
Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy the museum’s green rooftop terrace with a beautiful panoramic view of Prague, as well as the forestry-focused exhibition. Pre-registration for the conference will also be available during the event. Light refreshments will be provided.

Location the National Agricultural Museum in Prague (in Czech: Národní zemědělské muzeum Praha): https://maps.app.goo.gl/BMUQhjzhWQ7U7TZv8

Opening Ceremony

The ceremonial opening and program on Tuesday September 15, 2026 (morning session) will be held in the Ceremony hall CZU (view on Google Maps: Link), the university’s main auditorium.

Conference Rooms

Following the opening session, the programme will continue with parallel sessions held in two nearby buildings within the campus.

Pavilion of Wood Sciences (Google Maps: Link)
High-tech Pavilion (Google Maps: Link)

Call for Abstracts 2026 closed

Abstract submissions for the FORMEC 2026 Conference are now closed.

To review your abstract's status, please visit the abstract submission page at https://indico.formec.org/event/3/abstracts/.

You will be able to see your abstract's status after logging in with the credentials you created when you submitted your abstract.

First announcement Formec 2026

58^th International Symposium on Forestry Mechanization (FORMEC) will take place in Prague, Czech Republic from September 14-18, 2026.

For years, FORMEC has brought together thought leaders from the forestry mechanisation and engineering community to exchange cutting-edge research, practical experience, and forward-looking ideas. Next year, the conference arrives in Prague, where we will, in line with the motto of “Enabling resilient forest value chains through innovation,” explore how new technologies, smart operations, and adaptive strategies strengthen the resilience and sustainability of forest-based industries worldwide.

Scientific Committee 2026

Chairs

Martin Jankovský
Ondřej Nuhlíček
Karl Stampfer

Members

Stelian Alexandru Borz, Transilvania University of Brașov, Romania
Andreja Duka, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Mohammad Reza Ghaffariyan, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
Christian Kanzian, Boku University, Austria
Ola Lindroos, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden
Natascia Magagnotti, CNR IBE, Italy
Thomas Purfürst, University of Freiburg, Germany
Janine Schweier, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Switzerland
Raffaele Spinelli, CNR IBE, Italy
Dirk Jaeger, University of Göttingen, Germany
Kalle Kärhä, University of Eastern Finland, Finland
Eric Labelle, University of Laval, Canada
Arkadiusz Stańczykiewicz, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland
Petros Tsioras, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Tomi Kaakkurivaara, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czechia
Mariusz Bembenek, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poland
Jori Uusitalo, University of Helsinki, Finland
Martin Kühmaier, Boku University, Austria
Nopparat Kaakkurivaara, Kasetsart University, Thailand

Organizing Committee 2026

Martin Jankovský
Ondrej Nuhlíček
Radim Löwe
Christian Kanzian
Martin Kühmaier
Karl Stampfer

FORMEC 2025: At the Heart of Cutting-Edge Technology

The FORMEC 2025 conference was held in Joensuu from June 9 to 13, 2025. This year marked the 57th edition of the conference, attracting more than 270 attendees from 27 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa. The event boasted more than 160 oral presentations and 40 poster sessions ranging from teleoperation of soil preparation machinery to assisting forest machine operators using mobile laser scanning technology.

The Forest Engineering Network