"The Congress is where collaborations begin and professional opportunities take shape"

From the outside, it appears to be a well-established event. What lies behind the organization of a Congress like this?

There is a tremendous amount of work that goes unseen. Organizing an international congress involves months—and often years—of coordination among committees, scientific review processes, logistics, communications, participant management, and sponsor relations.

Behind every session, presentation, and detail, there is a committed team working toward a common goal: delivering a high-quality experience both academically and professionally.

One of the key aspects of the Congress is networking and the professional connections it generates. What role does this play?

It is absolutely fundamental. The Congress is not only a space for presenting research and projects; it is also a meeting point where meaningful connections are created among people from different countries, disciplines, and sectors.

This is where collaborations, joint projects, and professional opportunities are born—often extending far beyond the event itself. This networking value is undoubtedly one of the Congress’s greatest assets.
CIDIP/ICPME has a strong international dimension. How is this reflected in this edition?

It is reflected on multiple levels. First, through the participation of authors and attendees from many different countries, which greatly enriches the exchange of knowledge. This year, participation will exceed authors from more than twenty countries, illustrating the level of relevance the Congress has achieved.

The Congress also includes the International Seminar on Project Management and Engineering, which, as in previous editions, is conducted entirely in English and will be chaired by two leading figures in project management: Jesús Martínez Almela and Wolfgang Glitscher.

In addition, the publication of the proceedings in internationally recognized databases such as Scopus further strengthens the Congress’s global visibility.

What role do volunteers play in the organization?

An absolutely essential one. Volunteers are the silent driving force behind the Congress.
This year, we have built an outstanding volunteer team, most of them from Universitat Jaume I, although not exclusively, as the organizing committee has made a special effort to support volunteers coming from other universities as well.

They are the people on the front line supporting attendees, coordinating activities, solving issues, and helping ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Their involvement, energy, and commitment are crucial to the success of the event. At the same time, they gain a highly rewarding experience, learning how to manage tasks and work as a team within a real-world project environment such as the organization of an international congress.

What would you highlight as the main value the Congress provides to its participants?

I would say it combines three essential dimensions:
• Visibility: the opportunity to showcase research and projects to an international community.
• Learning: access to the latest trends, methodologies, and innovations in project management.
• Connection: the creation of professional networks that generate real opportunities.
It is a comprehensive experience that goes far beyond a traditional academic event.

A final reflection…

Participating in this 30th edition means being part of a historic moment for the Congress, contributing to a growing international community, and connecting with professionals who share a common passion for project management and engineering.

It is the place where ideas are shared, connections are created, and the future of the profession is built.
Although it is no longer possible to participate as an author, attending as a delegate remains a unique experience that I would recommend to anyone interested in project management and engineering.