Hosting ICCBR

ICCBR is an annually hosted, community-organized conference. We invite research groups from around the world to propose hosting a future edition. This page describes what ICCBR is, what hosting involves, and how the selection process works.

About ICCBR

The International Conference on Case-Based Reasoning (ICCBR) is the premier and longest-running international conference dedicated to Case-Based Reasoning (CBR), a core area of Artificial Intelligence. CBR is concerned with problem-solving and learning by analogy to past experience, and has been applied across domains including medicine, law, engineering, planning, and generative AI.

ICCBR has been held annually since 1995, rotating between venues in North America, Europe, and beyond. Proceedings are published in Springer's Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence (LNAI) series. ICCBR 2026 in Bremen, Germany received 221 submissions, a record in the conference's history, reflecting the growing relevance of CBR across the AI landscape.

The conference typically runs over four days and includes a main technical program with invited talks, paper presentations, and a poster session, plus a workshop program and a Doctoral Consortium for PhD students. It is a close-knit community event with an emphasis on scientific exchange, mentoring, and collaboration.

What Hosting Involves

Hosting ICCBR is a significant and rewarding undertaking. It requires committed teams in two complementary roles: the Local Organizing Team and the Program Chairs. Both teams should expect to work together closely for 9-12 months prior to the conference.

Local Organizing Team

The local host is responsible for all on-the-ground logistics. This includes:

  • Securing and managing the conference venue, including the main auditorium, breakout rooms, and poster space
  • Arranging accommodation options and negotiating conference hotel rates
  • Organizing catering, including coffee breaks, lunches, the welcome reception, and the conference dinner
  • Managing conference registration, on-site infrastructure, and volunteer coordination
  • Supporting attendees with travel information and visa invitation letters where needed
  • Arranging social and cultural activities

A dedicated Local Chair or co-chairs must be identified from the outset and must be available throughout the planning period.

Program Chairs

The Program Chairs are responsible for the scientific content of the conference. This includes organizing the review process, selecting accepted papers, and shaping the technical program. Program Chairs must:

  • Have an established scientific standing within the CBR community and/or closely related AI fields. This is a firm requirement.
  • Lead Program Committee recruitment, paper assignment, reviewing, and final program decisions
  • Be present at the conference to chair sessions and represent the scientific program
  • Work closely with the Local Organizing Team throughout the organization process

Program Chairs may be proposed by the Local Organizing Team or identified in collaboration with the ICCBR Advisory Council. If Program Chairs are not yet identified at proposal stage, the proposal should describe how they will be recruited.

Workshop and Doctoral Consortium Chairs

Workshop Chairs coordinate the workshop program. Doctoral Consortium Chairs run the DC, which is a dedicated program for PhD students. These roles are handled through a partially separate community process but should be identified in the proposal where possible.

Financial Responsibility

The local organizing team is responsible for the financial viability of the conference. ICCBR is self-funded primarily through registration fees and local sponsorship. There is no central financial safety net. Proposals should demonstrate that the event is financially viable and that the host institution provides meaningful in-kind or direct support.

Procedure

The selection process is community-driven. Proposals are submitted to the Advisory Council, presented at the conference, and decided upon with community input.

Step 1: Prepare your proposal

Use the proposal template to prepare a written document covering your team, venue, location, budget, and plans for community engagement. Proposals do not need to be exhaustive at this stage, but should demonstrate feasibility and commitment.

Step 2: Submit to the Advisory Council

Send your completed proposal to the ICCBR Advisory Council by 6-8 weeks before the upcoming ICCBR conference. The exact deadline is announced on the ICCBR website and mailing list each cycle.

Step 3: Present at ICCBR

Shortlisted proposals are presented in person at the ICCBR conference preceding the proposed hosting year. Presentations are typically 10-15 minutes followed by community Q&A. At least one member of the local team, and, if identified, the Program Chairs, must attend in person.

Step 4: Decision

The Advisory Council makes a final decision after the presentations, taking community feedback into account. The decision is communicated promptly after the conference.

Step 5: Planning begins

Once selected, the host team begins working with the outgoing Program Chairs and Advisory Council. The 9-12 month preparation period begins immediately.

What Makes a Strong Proposal

Beyond logistics, the Advisory Council values proposals that show genuine enthusiasm for the CBR community. Strong proposals typically:

  • Demonstrate that the Program Chairs have real standing in CBR research
  • Show how the conference will attract participants from beyond the core CBR community
  • Describe concrete support from the host institution, not just promises
  • Include a realistic and transparent budget
  • Have a social program that creates space for community interaction
  • Identify co-location opportunities or other ways to grow ICCBR's visibility

How to Apply

Use the application form to prepare a structured proposal covering the required sections, then send it to the ICCBR chairs at proposals@iccbr.org.

Submitted proposals will be evaluated by the current ICCBR chairs and the Advisory Council. Questions about the application process can be sent to proposals@iccbr.org or via the contact page.

We look forward to welcoming new hosts and to seeing ICCBR thrive in the years ahead.