MANINOV2026 – Manufacturing Innovation as a Driver of the Future 2026 is the 5th edition of an international conference organized by the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture.

The Academic Day of MANINOV2026 will be held on December 3, 2026, at the National and University Library in Zagreb, Croatia. It brings together researchers, industry professionals, doctoral students, early-career researchers, policymakers, technology providers, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders to exchange knowledge and present research related to the future of manufacturing.

The conference focuses on manufacturing innovation driven by digitalization, artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, sustainability, resilient supply chains, and the transition towards human-centric, sustainable, and resilient Industry 5.0. Contributions presenting original research, methodologies, models, experimental results, industrial case studies, applied research projects, and technology-transfer activities are particularly welcome.

Submission Guidelines

All submissions must be original and must not be simultaneously submitted to another conference or publication.

The following contribution categories are welcome:

• Full papers presenting original scientific research, theoretical contributions, methodologies, models, experimental results, applied research, or new scientific insights related to manufacturing innovation.

• Extended abstracts presenting the aim of the research, methodology or approach, main results or expected findings, and relevance to the conference scope.

• Professional papers and case studies presenting industrial applications, implementation projects, practical experiences, lessons learned, and examples of manufacturing innovation.

• Applied research and innovation project papers presenting results from collaborative projects, pilot implementations, technology transfer activities, and academia–industry cooperation.

How to Submit

Authors are invited to submit their contribution by sending the manuscript by e-mail to tihomir.opetuk@fsb.unizg.hr.

The submission e-mail should include:

• the title of the contribution,
• names and affiliations of all authors,
• contact details of the corresponding author,
• the manuscript attached in the required format.

Authors are kindly requested to prepare their manuscripts using the official MANINOV2026 paper template, available at the following links:

ABSTRACT/EXTENDED ABSTRACT TEMPLATE

FULL PAPER TEMPLATE

Following submission, contributions will be reviewed by the MANINOV2026 Program Committee. Authors will be informed about the acceptance of their contribution and any required revisions.

Accepted contributions will be presented during the MANINOV2026 Academic Day on December 3, 2026, in Zagreb, Croatia.

Important dates:

• Extended abstract submission deadline: October 15, 2026

• Early bird registration deadline: October 15, 2026

• Final paper and extended abstract submission deadline: November 1, 2026

• Final confirmation of paper and presentation acceptance: November 15, 2026

• Conference date: December 3, 2026

List of Topics

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Advanced manufacturing technologies

• Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0

• Artificial intelligence in manufacturing

• Robotics, collaborative robotics, and automation

• Smart factories and cyber-physical production systems

• Digital twins, simulation, and virtual commissioning

• Human-centric manufacturing and ergonomics

• Sustainable, circular, and green manufacturing

• Energy efficiency and resource optimization

• Additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping

• Data-driven production management

• Production planning, scheduling, and optimization

• Quality management and process optimization

• Manufacturing resilience and supply-chain innovation

• Lean, agile, and reconfigurable manufacturing systems

• Skills, education, and workforce transformation

• Innovation management and technology transfer

• SME digital transformation and industrial competitiveness

• Policy frameworks and regional innovation ecosystems

Conference Chairs

• Assoc. prof. dr. sc. Tihomir Opetuk, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (tihomir.opetuk@fsb.unizg.hr)

• Assist. prof. dr. sc. Maja Trstenjak, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (maja.trstenjak@fsb.unizg.hr)

• Ivana Čavar, PhD University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (ivana.cavar@fsb.unizg.hr)

Publication

All accepted extended abstracts and full papers will be published in the official MANINOV2026 Conference Proceedings.

Authors of selected high-quality contributions will be invited to prepare extended full-paper versions for submission to conference partner journals, including:

• Applied Sciences (Q2)

• Transactions of FAMENA (Q3)

• Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems – INDECS (Q3)

Journal submissions will be subject to the journals' standard peer-review procedures and editorial requirements.

Venue

The Academic Day of MANINOV2026 will be held at:

National and University Library in Zagreb
Hrvatske bratske zajednice 4
10000 Zagreb
Croatia

The conference will take place on December 3, 2026.

An optional visit to the laboratories of the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture is planned for December 4, 2026.

Contact

All questions regarding submissions should be sent to:

tihomir.opetuk@fsb.unizg.hr

Conference website: https://manufacturing.fsb.hr/academic-day/