“For 30 years, we have been building an international community committed to excellence in Project Management”
M. Socorro García Cascales, President of AEIPRO–IPMA Spain, reflects on the evolution and international impact of CIDIP/ICPME 2026
As part of the 30th edition of the International Congress on Project Management and Engineering CIDIP/ICPME 2026, we spoke with M. Socorro García Cascales about the strategic value of this event, its evolution, and the new features that will define this very special edition.
This year we celebrate the 30th edition of the Congress. What does this milestone represent?
Celebrating the 30th edition is a source of enormous pride for AEIPRO, and as President of its Board of Directors, I would like to extend this recognition to everyone who has supported the Congress since its beginnings. It is not only about longevity, but also about the consolidation of an international community that has grown, adapted, and maintained a strong commitment to excellence in project management.
This anniversary also invites us to look back with perspective and satisfaction, but above all to look ahead with even greater ambition.
This edition includes important new features in its structure.
We wanted this edition to be truly special. For this reason, we have expanded the Congress activities to include a commemorative event on the afternoon of July 7th in celebration of this 30th edition.
It will be a space designed to recognize the Congress’s trajectory, highlight the people who have made it possible, and strengthen the sense of community that defines this event.
The Congress has gained increasing international recognition. What role has IPMA played in this process?
IPMA’s support has been essential in recent years. We represent what is arguably the most influential project management organization worldwide, and the support and presence of its leaders at recent Congress editions clearly show that they hold our organization in high regard.
This collaboration has strengthened the international visibility of the Congress, aligned it with global standards in project management, and attracted an increasingly diverse and highly qualified community.
In addition, the connection with IPMA brings added value in terms of recognition, quality, and access to international networks.
Project management plays a key role as a driver of change, transforming ideas into actions with real impact on society
One of the pillars of the Congress is its thematic areas. Why are they so relevant?
The thematic areas help structure knowledge and embrace the diversity of the project management and engineering fields.
They not only organize the papers presented at the Congress, but also facilitate dialogue between researchers and professionals with shared interests, creating much richer and more specialized spaces for exchange.
The Congress also focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Why are they important?
The Sustainable Development Goals occupy a central place in the Congress approach. Project management plays a key role as a driver of change, as it enables ideas to be transformed into concrete actions with a real impact on society.
In this edition, the integration of the SDGs has been further strengthened both within the thematic areas and the presented content, encouraging research and projects that contribute to global challenges such as sustainability, responsible innovation, and social development.
We firmly believe that projects should not only be efficient, but also generate long-term value aligned with the major challenges facing today’s world.
Although the Congress is the result of a collective effort, I would also like to highlight the work of everyone involved in the Scientific Committee, as well as the dedication and coordination of the entire Organizing Committee
Beyond the scientific program, the Congress is also known for its parallel activities. What role do they play?
Parallel activities are an essential part of the Congress experience. They include meetings, networking spaces, visits, and activities that allow attendees to interact in a more relaxed environment.
These activities complement the technical content and help strengthen relationships among participants and with the host city, which in this edition is Castellón de la Plana.
Teamwork is essential in an event of this magnitude. Would you like to highlight any particular support?
Absolutely. We would especially like to thank Universitat Jaume I for its involvement and support in organizing this edition. In particular, the School of Technology and Experimental Sciences, whose commitment has been fundamental in making this Congress possible.
Although the Congress is the result of a collective effort, I would also like to highlight the work of everyone involved in the Scientific Committee for ensuring academic rigor and quality, as well as the dedication and coordination capacity of the entire Organizing Committee.
Without this human team, the Congress would not be possible.
What message would you like to share with the community in this special edition?
We are facing a truly unique edition.
The 30th edition is not only a celebration, but also an opportunity to strengthen our community, recognize what has been built, and continue moving forward together.
We invite all professionals, researchers, and organizations to be part of this moment and to contribute to the future of project management.
Educating the project managers of tomorrow requires developing competencies, judgment and adaptability
Educating the project managers of tomorrow requires more than teaching tools and methodologies. It also means developing competencies, professional judgment and the ability to adapt in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing environment. This was one of the key messages underpinning the thematic panel “Active Learning and Competency Development in Project Management Engineering Education”, held during the CIDIP/ICPME 2026 and coordinated by José Luis Yagüe, Professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.
Photovoltaic energy is no longer just about installed capacity; it has become a challenge of territorial integration
Photovoltaic energy is no longer merely a question of installed capacity, generation costs or technological efficiency. It has evolved into a challenge of integrating renewable energy with the territory, agriculture and existing infrastructures.
This is the main conclusion drawn by Emilio Muñoz Cerón, coordinator of the thematic panel “Agrivoltaics, Photovoltaic Systems and Energy Transition”.
Don’t miss the Congress highlights video
This video captures just a few of the many memorable moments shared throughout the Congress.
Smart livestock technologies win the Jaume Blasco Innovation Award
An innovative low-cost IoT system for monitoring environmental conditions in sheep pens has received the Jaume Blasco Innovation Award at the 30th International Congress on Project Management and Engineering (CIDIP 2026). Developed by researchers from the University of Zaragoza, the award-winning work uses ammonia, temperature and humidity sensors to support animal welfare and decision-making in precision livestock farming.
“Society will not ask whether we achieved the project’s objectives; it will ask whether it was worth delivering the project the way we did”
The International Seminar on Project Management and Engineering (ISoPM), the international programme of the 30th International Congress on Project Management and Engineering (CIDIP / ICPME 2026), concluded with the roundtable "Where Is Project-Based Governance...
IPMA Vice President calls for expanding the traditional project management triangle with energy and equity at CIDIP / ICPME 2026
The Vice President of the International Project Management Association (IPMA), Vladimir Obradovic, delivered a thought-provoking keynote during the International Seminar on Project Management and Engineering (ISoPM), arguing that artificial intelligence is challenging some of the fundamental principles on which project management has been built for decades.
