International Spatial Data Conference 2026 – collaborative thinking on the development of the National Spatial Data Ecosystem
The International Spatial Data Conference 2026 will be on October 8th, organized by the Lechner Knowledge Center at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. The event will provide a forum for European and Hungarian policy, government, scientific, and market actors to establish the National Spatial Data Ecosystem for Hungary, and foster change of perspective, knowledge sharing, and partnership building.
Spatial data is an integral part of our daily lives, even if we are not aware of it, as it forms the basis of countless digital services, administrative processes, and economic decisions. To truly unlock its inherent potential, the availability of high-quality data alone is not enough: coordinated professional collaboration, shared guidelines, a new mindset, and an adequate institutional background are also required.
This new mindset is embodied in the vision of creating the National Spatial Data Ecosystem (NSDE), which targets the framework of the national spatial data infrastructure. The NSDE is more than just a shared data platform. It is a national cooperation framework where state, market, educational, and professional actors involved in geospatial data think together to ensure that geodata and derived information become as widely accessible, shareable, and reused as possible.
Partnership and proactive role, as outlined in the Lechner Knowledge Center's Spatial Data Strategy (TAS), are among the top priorities. In line with this, the first step in national-level strategy creation is the organization of the first national conference dedicated to the NSDE. Lechner takes an proactive role in shaping the national spatial data ecosystem, encouraging cross-sectoral collaboration, and promoting the adoption of an open data policy mindset and innovative spatial data services. Lechner's goal is to generate the greatest possible social and economic value from geospatial data, while improving data quality and accessibility, reducing duplicate in data production, and strengthening cooperation within the geospatial data community.
The morning session of the conference will be held in Hungarian, focusing primarily on Hungarian strategic directions and cooperation opportunities. Meanwhile, the afternoon program will be conducted in English, featuring international keynote speakers who will present European experiences and best practices in developing spatial data ecosystems.
Event Details:
- Date: October 8, 2026
- Venue: Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Building K – Assembly Hall (Díszterem)
- Admission: Participation is free of charge but subject to prior registration.
You can register on the conference website until September 30. 2026, or until seats are fully booked.