StratNeuro Retreat 2026: Strengthening European Neuroscience through NeurotechEU

The Annual StratNeuro Retreat 2026 will take place from 3 to 5 June at Djurönäset, in the Stockholm archipelago. Organised by Karolinska Institutet within the framework of its Strategic Research Area Neuroscience (StratNeuro), the retreat welcomes participants from across the NeurotechEU Alliance.

Bringing together researchers, clinicians and doctoral candidates, the event offers a focused environment to exchange on cutting-edge neuroscience research, from molecular mechanisms to cognitive and social processes. As NeurotechEU continues to foster cross-border collaboration, the StratNeuro Retreat stands as a key meeting point for deepening scientific dialogue and building long-term partnerships.

A dedicated PhD Day

The retreat opens on 3 June with a PhD Day centred on career development and networking. Doctoral candidates will have the opportunity to connect with peers and senior researchers, discuss career pathways in academia and beyond, and strengthen their international networks within the Alliance.

Main Scientific Programme, 4–5 June

The core programme unfolds over two days of plenary lectures, short talks, poster sessions and thematic breakout discussions.

Three internationally recognised keynote speakers will headline this year’s edition:

• Anne Schäfer, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Germany
• Nachum Ulanovsky, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
• Grégoire Courtine, EPFL, Switzerland

Their lectures will be complemented by presentations from leading researchers at Karolinska Institutet and partner institutions, highlighting advances across diverse areas of neuroscience.

The programme also features a structured poster session with alternating presentation groups, fostering in-depth discussions and visibility for early-career researchers. Poster prizes will be awarded during the closing session.

Parallel breakout sessions will address key thematic areas:

• Circuits to Behaviour
• Biomarkers in Neurological Diseases
• Computational Neuroscience
• Human Brain Imaging

These sessions are designed to encourage focused exchanges and identify opportunities for collaboration within and beyond the Alliance.

Discover the programme here.

Registration 

All members of the NeurotechEU community, including doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, faculty members and affiliated staff, are invited to take part in the StratNeuro Retreat 2026.

To express interest and initiate the registration process, participants must contact their local NeurotechEU office before march 8th 2026.