The venue of the 11th International KRAFT and Blue Sky Conference will be the historic Zwinger building in Kőszeg – a setting worthy of a conference that places at its center the role of universities of the future, sustainability, current questions of futures studies, and visions of the regions.

Since 2015, the International KRAFT Conferences have been organized in Kőszeg with the aim of fostering dialogue on creative urban development, the knowledge-based society, and sustainability. From the very beginning, a key mission of this series has been the practical applicability of interdisciplinary knowledge. Already in the early years, the call to “Think outside the box!” became a guiding motto, expressing the philosophy of both the Kraft concept and the conferences themselves.

The 11th International Kraft and Blue Sky Conference seeks to continue this tradition, firmly preserving the values and mission that have defined the event series from its inception. Its title, “Creativity – Responsibility – Cooperation | Cities and Universities for the Next World,” signals a program centered on the future: the university of the future, visions and challenges for tomorrow, and the future outlook of regions.

This year, the spotlight will be on innovation: innovations in education, new directions in doctoral research, and the universities of the future. These themes provide an excellent framework for the opening day, which will also feature the launch of iASK’s latest book, The Future University, laying the intellectual groundwork for the two subsequent days of the conference.

The future is not only a mystery or an opportunity – it also carries risks. These risks and challenges will be the focus of a dedicated panel on the second day, bringing together diverse perspectives in a multi-stakeholder dialogue. Heritage and memory – two themes highly valued in the Kraft approach – will also be highlighted in a special panel with numerous international guest speakers. Here, various strands of the KRAFT Program will be addressed, including literature, history, music, and regional contexts. Meanwhile, the Futures Literacy section will engage with futures studies, artificial intelligence, and crises of different kinds, with renowned researchers joining from New York, Sofia, Vienna, and Budapest.

The closing day will focus on futures of regions, examining the opportunities of rural Hungary, the regional survey of Kőszeg and its surroundings, and the future vision of the city of Szombathely. Finally, the discussion of the Csallóköz region will continue the mission initiated by the Insula Magna research project.

An integral part of the conference is the showcasing of artistic and cultural elements. On 18 September, the Kőszeg Synagogue will host the Vukán Creative Art improvisation competition, concluding with a true celebration of music: a joint concert by the competitors and jury, offering a memorable experience for both participants and audience. The conference and the Csallóköz Roundtable will be crowned by a performance of the Megyer Dance Ensemble, enriching the event with an artistic finale.

The 11th International KRAFT and Blue Sky Conference, now with a decade-long tradition, continues to pursue its ambitious mission: to connect all those actors – social scientists, policymakers, and researchers – who are both willing and able to contribute to shaping a better, more sustainable, more creative, and culturally richer FUTURE.

The CREATIVITY – RESPONSIBILITY – COOPERATION: 11th International Kraft and Blue Sky Conference is partly financed through the CEI Cooperation Activity project No. 302.5.2025.034.