International Conference on Cognitive Circularity · Budapest · 22 April 2027

The Fourth Revolution? Make It Circular.

Circularity is not
constrained by
technology, but
by economics
and cognition.

The International Conference on Cognitive Circularity brings together economists, engineers, cognitive scientists, industry and policy makers to understand why circular solutions succeed or fail.

08 Full paper submission8 February 2027 · Budapest

01 / About CogCirc

Most circular solutions don’t fail on technology.

They fail where economics and cognition meet.

The International Conference on Cognitive Circularity (CogCirc) brings together economists, engineers, cognitive scientists, industry and policy makers to understand why circular solutions succeed or fail. Our starting point: circularity is not constrained by technology, but by economics and cognition.

Circular economy research has largely focused on whether repair, reuse, remanufacturing and recycling are technically feasible. In reality, most circular solutions do not fail for technological reasons but for economic and cognitive ones.

01 / CONSUMERS

Knowing isn’t always choosing.

A consumer may know repair is environmentally better, yet still choose a new product if it is cheaper, repair feels riskier, or the repaired item’s lifetime is uncertain.

02 / ORGANISATIONS

Benefits don’t guarantee investment.

A company may understand circularity’s benefits, yet not invest if returns are weaker, shareholders expect short-term profit, or regulation does not reward circular choices.

CogCirc closes this gap. Building on the Cognitive Mobility (CogMob) conference series, it extends the cognitive perspective to the economics of circular decisions: how people, managers and institutions perceive, evaluate and accept circular alternatives, and how markets and regulation shape those choices.

02 / Conference tracks

Where can you contribute?

Empirical, modelling, experimental and case-based work from economics, engineering, behavioural science, management and policy.

TRACK 01

Economics of Circular Business Models

TCO, ROI, residual value, pricing of refurbished and remanufactured products, warranty and risk allocation.

TCOROIResidual value
TRACK 02

Cognitive and Behavioural Drivers of Circular Decisions

Perception, trust, risk perception, biases, and acceptance of used, repaired and refurbished goods.

TrustRisk perceptionBiases
TRACK 03

Managerial and Organisational Decision-Making

Investment appraisal, shareholder short-termism, procurement and fleet management decisions.

InvestmentProcurementFleet management
TRACK 04

Regulation, Policy and Standards

Waste classification, certification, extended producer responsibility, eco-design, digital product passports, incentives and taxation.

EPREco-designPolicy
TRACK 05

Circular Mobility and the Automotive Sector

Battery second life and refurbishment, remanufacturing, vehicle life extension, passenger vs. commercial vehicles.

Battery second lifeRemanufacturing
TRACK 06

Measurement and Modelling

Multi-criteria decision models, life cycle costing combined with LCA, simulation, AI-based decision support.

LCC + LCAMCDMSimulation
TRACK 07

Markets, Platforms and Value Chains

Reverse logistics, secondary markets, product-as-a-service, information asymmetry and trust signals.

Reverse logisticsSecondary markets
TRACK 08

Education, Communication and Societal Acceptance

Sustainability literacy, labelling, nudging and public communication.

LabellingNudgingCommunication

03 / Important dates

From submission to Budapest.

Full papers only. Accepted papers pass peer review, followed by plagiarism and AI-use screening.

Questions about the conference
  1. 22FEB
    2027

    REVIEW

    Last review results sent to authors

  2. 01MAR
    2027

    REVISIONS

    Submission of corrected papers

  3. 08MAR
    2027

    DECISION

    Final acceptance

    After plagiarism and AI-use screening
  4. 22MAR
    2027

    FINAL PAPERS

    Upload of accepted camera-ready papers

  5. 22APR
    2027

    CONFERENCE DAY

    CogCirc 2027 · Budapest

04 / Submission guidelines

What authors can expect.

CogCirc accepts full papers. Submitted papers undergo peer review, followed by plagiarism and AI-use screening before final acceptance.

REVIEW

Peer review

Full papers are peer reviewed. The latest review results are scheduled to be sent to authors by 22 February 2027.

POLICY DETAILS · PENDING

Plagiarism and AI-use screening

The conference draft states that papers are screened before final acceptance. The detailed rules have not yet been published.

Screening methods and standards, permitted AI use, disclosure requirements, and how screening findings are handled will be added here once confirmed by the organisers. No specific requirements on these points are currently stated.

05 / Committees

An international team behind CogCirc.

The organising team is developing the conference committees. Every named candidate below is proposed and awaits confirmation.

PROPOSED · CONFIRMATION PENDING

HONORARY PATRON

Honorary Patron

  • Dr. habil. Maria Csete SzalmánéBME GTK, Hungary
PROPOSED · CONFIRMATION PENDING

GENERAL CHAIR

Overall responsibility, opening and representation

Prof. Máté Zöldy DSc BME GTK, Hungary

PROPOSED · CONFIRMATION PENDING

GENERAL CO-CHAIRS

Economics anchor of the series

  • Prof. Xiaobo Chen DUFE, China
  • Prof. Justo García Navarro UPM, Spain
  • Dr. Amaro Ricardo ISPB, Angola

Environmental or behavioural economics co-chair — to be confirmed

PROPOSED · CONFIRMATION PENDING

PROGRAMME CHAIRS

Programme and review coordination

Two to three chairs covering economics, cognitive science and engineering.

Dr. Pamela Caceres UBP, Argentina · proposed

Names to be confirmed by the organisers

TO BE ANNOUNCED

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Peer review and scientific quality

Planned composition: 15–25 members, at least one third international, building on the CogMob committee and adding circular-economy and economics expertise.

Members to be confirmed by the organisers

TO BE CONFIRMED

TRACK CHAIRS

Eight tracks · chairs to be announced

One academic chair and, where possible, one industry co-chair per track.

PROPOSED · CONFIRMATION PENDING

INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD

Practical relevance and industry cases

Planned representation across OEMs, suppliers and remanufacturers, fleet operators, battery recyclers and waste-management organisations.

Members to be confirmed by the organisers

PROPOSED · CONFIRMATION PENDING

PUBLICATION CHAIR

Proceedings and publication coordination

Prof. Ádám Török KTI, Hungary

TO BE CONFIRMED

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Local team and conference secretariat

Logistics, registration, website and communications.

Committee members to be confirmed

06 / Contact

Continue the conversation.

Conference secretariat and contact details will be published when confirmed.

CONFERENCE SECRETARIATTo be announced
CONTACT EMAILTo be announced
CONFERENCE WEBSITEwww.cogcirc.com