The 11th IFIP WG5.15 conference on information technology in disaster risk reduction

We align with the saying: “Disasters are not inevitable; they are the outcome of decisions we make—or fail to make.” Hazardous events continue to escalate in frequency, intensity, and complexity, driven by climate tipping points, cascading failures across interconnected systems, and the weaponisation of digital infrastructures. The Mediterranean region, in particular, faces compounding threats: mega-fires, flash floods, seismic risk, and cyber-physical attacks on critical energy and port facilities.

These “new-age” disasters are characterised by non-linear propagation, cross-border ripple effects, and deep socio-technical entanglement. Land-use conflicts, biodiversity collapse, risk-blind urban expansion, and the erosion of traditional ecological knowledge amplify vulnerability. Meanwhile, human-made hazards—disinformation campaigns, supply-chain sabotage, and AI-induced decision failures—compound the challenge.

The imperative for anticipatory, adaptive, and inclusive disaster risk governance has never been greater. Information Technology (IT) now sits at the heart of this transformation, enabling real-time foresight, decentralised resilience, and equitable risk communication. From blockchain-secured early-warning networks to generative AI for scenario modelling, IT is redefining how societies perceive, prepare for, and recover from crises.

Yet technology alone is insufficient. Risk communication emerges as the linchpin: translating complex data into actionable trust, bridging cultural and linguistic divides, and countering misinformation in hyper-connected environments.

The 11th Information Technology in Disaster Risk Reduction Conference (ITDRR-2026) convenes global researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders to co-design the next generation of IT-enabled resilience. Hosted in Alexandroupolis—a gateway between Europe and Asia, and a living laboratory for transboundary risk—the conference will explore how digital innovation can empower vulnerable regions while safeguarding critical infrastructures against hybrid threats.

ITDRR-2026 invites submissions that push the boundaries of theory, method, and practice. Join us to forge interoperable solutions, ethical frameworks, and community-driven technologies that turn risk into resilience.