Date: 14 – 16 April 2026
Where: Digital Futures and Architecture School, Osquars Backe 5, KTH main campus, Stockholm
Directions: https://www.digitalfutures.kth.se/contact/how-to-get-here/
Host: Francesca Larosa, larosa@kth.se
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform virtually every sector of contemporary economies, to reshape the organization of societies, and to redefine prevailing modes of production and consumption. Although increasing attention has been devoted to the material and energy demands associated with AI, particularly its consumption of electricity and natural resources, comparatively limited research addresses the strategic orientation of AI applications toward tasks, activities, and sectors that advance planetary sustainability goals. The “Systemic enabler for climate-aligned artificial intelligence” workshop seeks to examine the systemic barriers and enabling conditions that influence AI development and deployment to meet climate mitigation and adaptation targets. Adopting a multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder perspective, the workshop will invite participants to engage critically with three central questions: (i) What socio-economic, political, and governance tensions arise between digital and green policy agendas in Europe and beyond? (ii) Which actors contribute to the emergence and persistence of these obstacles, and through what mechanisms? (iii) What policy interventions and institutional designs are required to realign AI innovation with climate and sustainability imperatives?
The workshop will run from April 14th to April 16th with the goal to co-producing a white paper targeting European policymakers. Participants come from industry, civil society, academia and policy-making with strong involvement of Swedish research institutions as well. The social programme of the workshop includes the last screening of “The Material Cloud” film festival and a visit to the KTH Live-in Lab, where digital tools and societal goals meet.
Feature image: Sinem Görücü / https://betterimagesofai.org / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The workshop is organized by Marie Curie fellow Francesca Larosa and Prof. Mattias Hojer. The event is sponsored by Digital Futures and supported by the Marie Curie project LIBRA (No. 101150729). For information and attendance, contact larosa@kth.se
Agenda
Day 1: 14 April morning session (09:00 – 11:50)
Venue: Digital Futures hub, Osquars backe 5, floor 2, 114 28 Stockholm (map)
09:00 REGISTRATION and Welcome coffee
09:30 INTRODUCTION: main objectives of the workshop and modes of working
- Presentation of the workshop’s objectives
- Presentation of pre-circulated draft of white paper and discussion points document
- Round of introductions of participants in person and online
10:30 FIKA (coffee break)
11:00 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION #1. The European Commission perspective: opportunities and challenges for the twin transition – DG Connect rep.
12:00 LUNCH at “Syster och Bror”, Drottning Kristinas väg 24, 114 28 Stockholm (map)
Day 1: 14 April afternoon session (13:00 – 15:00)
Venue: Room A124, Architecture School KTH, Osquars backe 5, 114 28 Stockholm (map)
13:00 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION #2: Inside the age of agents
Ariel Flin Ashery, City St. George’s University of London
14:00 Reflections time on previous presentations and comments to white paper
15:00 Closing of the day and Walk to Bio Skandia (map)
30 mins walking distance or alternatively 15 minutes by public transport (from Tekniska högskolan to T-centralen via metro followed by 6 minutes walk – tickets available here)
16:00 BioSkandia for “The Material Cloud” movie festival closing night (free events, registration required here)
Day 2: 15 April (09:30 – 17:00)
Venue: Room A108, Architecture School KTH, Osquars backe 5, 114 28 Stockholm (map)
09:30 Welcome Coffee
10:00 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION #3: Power concentration and tech monopolies
Giovanni Tagliani, University College London
12:00 LUNCH at “Syster och Bror”, Drottning Kristinas väg 24, 114 28 Stockholm (map)
13:00 Group discussions
14:30 FIKA (coffee break)
15:00 Group discussions – reporting
16:00 Visit at KTH Live-In Lab (link and map)
18:00 DINNER at Pelikan (https://pelikan.se/), Blekingegatan 40, 116 62 Stockholm (map)
Closest metro station : Medborgarplatsen, green line.
Day 3: April 16th (09:30 – 13:00)
Venue: Room A123, Arkitekturskolan KTH, Osquars backe 5, 114 28 Stockholm (map)
09:30 Welcome Coffee
10:10 Presentation of final white paper
11:00 Discussion about potential presentation outlets and future plans
12:00 LUNCH & Farewell at “Syster och Bror”, Drottning Kristinas väg 24, 114 28 Stockholm (map)
End of workshop
Key contact points: Francesca Larosa, larosa@kth.se
