CALL FOR PAPERS

Researchers, academics, and practitioners are invited to submit papers to the International Scientific Conference“Smart Solutions in Urban and Rural Resilience”, which will be held in Kutaisi, Georgia, within the framework of the Smart4Rural Project, implemented under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme.

About the Conference

The conference provides an international platform for sharing research results, innovative approaches, and best practices that contribute to strengthening urban and rural resilience, with a particular focus on smart, sustainable, and circular solutions.

The Smart4Rural Project focuses on enhancing joint efforts to support sustainable development and resilience in rural areas of Georgia, Moldova, Romania, and Türkiye. The project promotes modern and smart approaches to reducing environmental pollution and the impact of biodegradable waste, while strengthening environmental protection across the Black Sea Basin.

Conference Organizers

The conference is organized by the project partners:

Tskaltubo Municipality, Georgia – Lead Partner

Tehnopol Galați Association, Romania

Ungheni City Hall, Moldova

Rize Municipality, Türkiye

Imereti Scientists’ Union “Spectri”, Georgia

Regional Centre of Sustainable Development, Moldova

The conference is supported by Akaki Tsereteli State University (Kutaisi, Georgia).

Conference Topics

The conference welcomes research papers, case studies, and practical contributions addressing (but not limited to) the following topics:

• Urban and Rural Resilience

Concepts and frameworks for urban and rural resilience

Climate adaptation and mitigation strategies

Resilient communities and local governance

• Smart and Sustainable Waste Management

Smart solutions for municipal and rural waste management

Composting technologies and organic waste treatment

Circular economy approaches in urban and rural areas

• Innovative Environmental and Digital Technologies

Digital and smart technologies for environmental protection

IoT, data-driven solutions, and monitoring systems

Innovation in environmental infrastructure

• Sustainable Development and Circular Economy

Circular economy models for cities and rural regions

Resource efficiency and sustainable consumption

Policy instruments supporting circular development

• Urban–Rural Synergies

Integrated urban–rural development models

Knowledge transfer and best practices between urban and rural areas

Smart territorial planning and regional resilience

• Climate Change and Environmental Protection

Climate-resilient waste management systems

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through composting

Nature-based solutions and ecosystem services

Renewable energy systems

• Education, Awareness, and Capacity Building

Environmental education and community engagement

Capacity building for local authorities and stakeholders

Role of universities in promoting sustainability and resilience

• Case Studies and Best Practices from BSB Countries and Beyond

Successful implementations of smart resilience solutions

Regional and international case studies

Lessons learned from the Black Sea Basin and beyond

Paper Submission Guidelines

Full papers should be 6–10 pages, including references.

Papers must be written in English and formatted according to the conference paper template.

The paper structure should include:

Title and author(s) information

Abstract and keywords

Introduction

Methodology

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

References

Paper Template:
(Click here to download the template- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ob2E_2FolbVCMXk-u_mtkfbMDMdXT9IY/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115304639735301139845&rtpof=true&sd=true )

Paper Submission

Papers in Word and PDF formats should be submitted via email to:smart4rural@gmail.com

Important Dates

Full paper submission deadline: April 10, 2026
Conference dates: April 27–29, 2026

Publication

All accepted and presented papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings, which will be:

• Printed and distributed to conference participants

• Published in electronic format and uploaded to the project website and the Akaki Tsereteli State University website

Participation

Participation in the conference is free of charge, and no registration fee is required.

The conference organizers will provide:

• Printed conference proceedings

• Meals during conference sessions

• Social dinner and cultural program

A limited number of invited participants from Romania, Moldova, and Türkiye (up to three scientists per country) will receive support for travel and accommodation.