From 12^th to 17^th of July 2026, EWF will take part in the 79th IIW Annual Assembly and International Conference on Welding and Joining, in Salzburg, Austria. The event will once again bring together the international welding and joining community for a week of technical exchange, sector dialogue and discussion on current and future industrial challenges.

At IIW 2026, EWF will contribute through a combination of project-related papers, education and training discussions, and participation in the wider technical programme. The organisation is preparing to bring forward work connected to skills development, sustainability, digitalisation and quality assurance in manufacturing, while also reinforcing the importance of education and qualification systems in responding to industrial change. The IIW 2026 programme includes dedicated spaces for topics such as education and training, additive manufacturing, Non-Destructive Testing and quality assurance, and polymer joining and adhesive technology.

Part of EWF’s contribution will come through results linked to ongoing European projects, such as AILEEN, DILAPRO, GREEN, INSPIRE, VR-VET, RAISE, Skills4EII, grAceful AM or ICARUS. Among the themes expected to be addressed are AI-supported skills development for Industry 5.0, the role of trainers in supporting a sustainable manufacturing workforce and digital approaches to quality assurance and certification in laser-based manufacturing. These topics connect well with broader discussions taking place at IIW 2026 around human-centric and intelligent manufacturing, advanced production systems and evolving industrial requirements.

EWF is also working to contribute to the Education & Training activities of IIW 2026 through additional papers and technical exchanges focused on the future of welding learning systems. Topics under consideration include innovative training resources, digital platforms and immersive learning, stronger alignment between training systems and industrial needs, and the role of trainers in supporting quality, sustainability and lifelong learning.

In addition, EWF will be present with a dedicated booth, creating an opportunity for participants to explore ongoing activities and project results in greater detail. EWF is also expected to contribute to several IIW Technical Commissions, helping bring current European perspectives on skills, qualification, education and industrial transformation into the wider international discussion, and reaffirming the organisation’s role in shaping a more connected, innovative and future-oriented welding and joining community.