Call for Papers
The global situation regarding the development and use of internal combustion engines is becoming increasingly diverse. The focus on reducing CO2 emissions is now less unified, for example due to diverging policy decisions in the USA. As a result, different strategies for using and further developing internal combustion engines are emerging globally. While some countries are concentrating on optimizing engine efficiency, others are focusing more on hybridization or cost efficiency measures. New areas of application such as range extenders are opening up additional opportunities.
Internal combustion engines remain a cornerstone of the world economy, particularly in export-oriented countries such as Germany, where millions of jobs depend on them either directly or indirectly. At the same time, due to their fossil fuel emissions, these engines are in conflict with climate protection targets. However, if they run on synthetic, carbon-neutral fuels, internal combustion engines will continue to be relevant. What is crucial is to ensure economic stability and competitiveness and to create a transition towards sustainable mobility that is open to all technologies.
In Europe, planning is being made more difficult by an uncertain legislative situation. Markets are increasingly diverging, and there is no longer a unified approach towards the future of internal combustion engines. For that reason, it is vitally important to consider the full bandwidth of technologies, while at the same time securing and expanding the existing development expertise in Europe. What is more, we need to make an active contribution towards shaping the political framework. The International Engine Congress 2027 helps to understand global trends and create a strategic basis for the future.
The International Engine Congress is unique in its form and focuses on the global technological development of combustion engines for passenger cars and commercial vehicles in combination with non-fossil fuels. It brings together leading representatives from politics, the automotive and petroleum industries, associations, and science, and is an ideal forum for dialogue and knowledge exchange.
This Call for Papers provides information on the main subjects addressed at the congress as well as details on submitting a paper. We look forward to your proposals and to further discussions with you.
Matthias Kratzsch
General Director of the Congress
CEO, Hirschvogel Holding GmbH
Main subject areas
Passenger car engine technology
- Economic Considerations
(1) Interaction between the energy system and mobility
(2) Value-added chain for internal combustion engines
(3) Protection vs. transfer of development expertise
(4) Supplier network and consequences of a breakdown
(5) Planning scenarios for suppliers - Globale Märkte
(1) CO2 and emissions legislation
(2) Traffic concepts
(3) Customer requirements - New Engines, Technologies, and Concepts
(1) Innovative engine concepts for sustainable fuels
(2) Global development trends for IC engine powertrains
(3) Hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains
(4) Systemic efficiency optimization - Engine Components and New Production Processes
(1) Modularization
(2) Friction minimization
(3) NVH
(4) Lubricants
(5) 3D printing
(6) Sustainable casting - Charge Exchange and Combustion Processes
(1) Variable valve timing
(2) Supercharging concepts
(3) Fuel injection technologies
(4) Combustion processes and mixture formation for sustainable fuels
(5) Sensor-based and model-based combustion diagnostics - Emission Control
(1) Emission concepts: validation and verification
(2) Zero-impact and sub-zero emissions concepts
(3) RDE concepts - Powertrain Control Systems
(1) Interaction between the internal combustion engine and electric machines
(2) Connectivity and automation
(3) (Predictive) operating strategies and AI integration
(4) Calibration / modeling / sensors
(5) Diagnosis / OBD - Thermal Management
(1) Heat utilization in hybrid powertrain - Technologies for Sustainable Fuels
(1) Fuel recognition
(2) Multifuel capability - Other Applications
(1) Innovative combustion engine concepts for motorcycles and non-automotive applications with sustainable fuels
Commercial vehicle engine technology
- Next-Generation Engines (on-road/non-road)
(1) Presentation of new engines and engine series
(2) Dual-fuel / flex-fuel concepts
(3) Solutions and synergies for on-road / construction / agriculture / industry / rail / critical infrastructure - Global Markets
(1) CO2 and emissions legislation
(2) Market-specific regulations and boundary conditions
(3) Customer requirements
(4) Interaction between the energy system and powertrain technologies
(5) TCO comparisons of different powertrain solutions - New Technologies and Concepts
(1) Innovative basic engines and components
(2) Components for new fuels / retrofit technologies
(3) Innovative production processes
(4) Improving efficiency in the overall system / thermal management - Engines for Sustainable Fuels
(1) Concepts, design, and key components
(2) Mixture formation, combustion processes, exhaust aftertreatment
(3) Hydrogen engines - Design and Mechanics
(1) Modularization and weight reduction
(2) Friction minimization and new lubricants
(3) Robustness
(4) NVH - Charge Exchange and Combustion
(1) Improving supercharging efficiency
(2) Variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation
(3) Combustion processes and injection systems
(4) Applications of new fuels - Emission Control
(1) Emissions concepts and validation
(2) Solutions for non-road
(3) Solutions for global markets - Electrification
(1) Effects on the basic engine
(2) Hybridization and electrified auxiliary units
(3) Range-extender concepts - Control Systems
(1) Connected systems and automation
(2) Predictive operating strategies and AI integration
(3) Calibration / modeling / sensors - Sustainability
(1) Technologies and materials, production, recycling
(2) Assessment procedures
(3) Knowledge protection and collaboration models
Sustainable Fuels & Energy
- Regulations (D / EU / worldwide)
(1) Development of the legal framework
(2) CO2 reduction credits
(3) Funding measures
(4) Legal conditions for import and export - Market Development for Sustainable Fuels
(1) Production processes and technologies
(2) Low-carbon basic fuels
(3) Blend components
(4) Fuel composition in compliance with EN228
(5) Pilot applications / demo projects
(6) Market players / alliances / start-ups
(7) Market launch - Fuel Quality
(1) Worldwide development of fuel quality
(2) Country-specific developments
(3) Potentials for improving quality
(4) Need for standardization
(5) Emission potentials - Fuels from a “Cradle-to-Cradle” Perspective
(1) Sustainability of renewable energy resources
(2) Sustainability criteria for energy, hydrogen, and CO2
(3) Synthetic fuels: e-fuels (H2, gas, PtL), biofuels
(4) Blended fuels - Sustainable Forms of Energy for Mobility
(1) Energy supply for future mobility
(2) Economic efficiency of energy resources (national / international)
(3) Economy of mobility
(4) Transformation of the mobility ecosystem (affordability vs. speed) - Application of Sustainable Fuels
(1) System requirements
(2) Material compatibility
(3) Fuel injection and mixture formation
(4) Ignition system
(5) Combustion process
Are you an expert in one of the main subject areas? Then please submit your paper and help us to make this congress a successful event.
Your paper can be submitted in the following forms:
A lecture presentation:
If your paper is accepted, you will have the opportunity to speak for 20 minutes in front of the congress audience followed by additional 10 minutes to discuss your presentation with the participants.
A poster presentation (possible only as a research institute):
Your poster will be displayed in the exhibition area. The congress participants will have the opportunity to discuss your poster with you during the breaks.
Please submit your abstract (max. 1 DIN A4 page) by 5 June 2026.
You can register your proposal here
Should you have questions on the submission procedure of the abstract via the online portal, please contact Verena Feger: feger(at)vdi.de
Project managers:
ATZlive
Michaela Kues
Program Director Events
Phone +49 611 7878-274
michaela.kues(at)springernature.com
VDI Wissensforum GmbH
Verena Feger
Event Management
Phone +49 211 6214-244
feger(at)vdi.de
Your submission proposal should contain:
- The title of your paper
- The name and contact details of the speaker and any co-authors
- A table of contents specifying the main contents of the paper
- Classification under one of the subject areas
- A statement on the innovative value of the work
- An indication of any prior publications on the subject
The Program Advisory Boards for the congress will decide on the acceptance of the paper based on the abstract.
You should therefore highlight the essential technical content and its level of innovation. The authors of the papers or poster presentations that have been accepted commit to submit a 1-page summary and a manuscript comprising 10–15 pages for the congress documentation by the closing date mentioned, to present the paper in person, and to make the presentation slides available afterwards. If a speaker is unable to attend, a substitute must be named. The congress documentation will be made available in the download area of our websites and in the digital event platform from the beginning of the event. After the congress, your paper will be published as part of the congress proceedings at Springer Vieweg and on the online platforms Springer Link and Springer Professional.
Lecture requirements:
- 20-minute presentation followed by 10 minutes of discussion
- Submission of the congress documentation in English: a 1-page summary, the manuscript of 10–15 pages, approx. 20 presentation slides
- Language of the lecture: German or English
The congress documentation (in English) must be made available. One presenting author per lecture may participate free of charge in the congress. Travel costs will not be reimbursed.
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