Sphera 2026: Research Groups Expo

Created on May 01, 2026

2026

Overview

Sphera 2026, the annual student-led week of activities at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería y Sistemas de Telecomunicación (ETSIST) – will take place from 4 to 8 May 2026 at the Campus Sur in Madrid. Organised by the school’s student delegation, Sphera combines cultural events, workshops, competitions and research dissemination activities, attracting hundreds of students, professors and staff each year.

The event has its roots in the Primeras Jornadas sobre la Tecnología y el Hombre, first convened in 1991 by the student electronics association AETEL. The initiators drew inspiration from Alvin Toffler’s La Tercera Ola (The Third Wave), in which the futurist divides human environment into several “sferas” – the tecnosfera (technology and production), infosfera (information and communication), psicosfera (consciousness and values), among others. Toffler argued that the degree of development of these spheres determines a civilisation’s progress. For the students who launched the original event, this idea resonated strongly:

“Alvin Toffler sostiene que estamos comenzando la tercera ola donde el papel dominante lo van a jugar las comunicaciones, la infosfera.”

More than thirty years later, the infosfera is more relevant than ever. Artificial intelligence, ubiquitous connectivity and data-driven systems are reshaping the very core of telecommunications engineering. In that sense, Sphera remains a living forum for debating the questions Toffler raised: how do our technologies shape our society, and how can we build a future that harnesses the infosfera for the common good?

The event was revived in 2009 under the name “Sphera” (originally spelled “Sfera” in the first epoch, which ran from 1991 to 1998). A second epoch (2009–2019) consolidated the event as a landmark in the school’s calendar. After a pandemic-induced hiatus, Sphera has returned with renewed energy, reconnecting students with research, innovation and the vibrant community of ETSIST.

Programme Highlights (4–8 May 2026)

The full week features a diverse range of activities. The complete schedule is available in the official programme (PDF link above). Among the highlights:

  • 4 May: Opening ceremony, competitions, board games, karaoke.
  • 5–6 May: Workshops, round tables on innovation and mobility, cultural activities.
  • 7 May: Research Groups Expo (13:30–14:30) – dedicated session for research groups to present their work to students.
  • 8 May: Closing ceremony and awards.

GRyS Participation

GRyS (Next Generation Networks and Services Group) will take part in the Research Groups Expo on Thursday, 7 May, from 13:30 to 14:30. Led by group member Néstor Lucas-Martínez, who himself participated in Sphera as a student from 1995 to 1998 and took an active role in the 1998 edition, GRyS will showcase its research lines to students interested in pursuing a career in research or industry.

The expo is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about:

  • Smart Fleet Manager for autonomous vehicle coordination.
  • Device for generating prescription maps for precision agriculture.
  • Secure natural language querying of databases.
  • Ongoing projects in AI-driven networking, Edge computing and cooperative autonomous systems.

Students interested in final degree projects, master’s theses, PhD opportunities or collaboration on research projects are especially welcome to stop by, ask questions and explore potential synergies.

Additional Resources

For more information about Sphera 2026, visit the official ETSIST student delegation website or contact the organisers directly at the school.