The 2026 International Conference on Neural Fortification: Secure Machine Learning and the Future of Cyber-Defense (NFC26)
Locations
- U.K. (Offline): University of Kent
- Online: Link to be provided by the organizer
Date & Details
- Date: July 30, 2026
- Mode: Hybrid (On-site | Online)
Introduction
The 2026 International Conference on Neural Fortification (NFC26) convenes at a critical juncture in the history of information technology. As artificial intelligence and machine learning permeate every facet of modern infrastructure—from financial markets to autonomous transit—the security of these systems has transitioned from a specialized concern to a global imperative. NFC26 serves as the definitive global forum for researchers, engineers, and policy architects to address the dual nature of AI: its role as our most powerful defensive shield and its emergence as a sophisticated new class of cyber-threat.
Our mission is to explore "Neural Fortification"—the proactive engineering of resilience into the very fabric of machine learning models. We move beyond traditional perimeter defense to investigate autonomic security systems that can detect, neutralize, and recover from adversarial attacks in real-time. In an era of automated malware and "Deep-Phish" campaigns, NFC26 provides the rigorous technical and ethical framework necessary to ensure that the intelligence we build remains trusted, private, and secure.
Join us as we bridge the gap between theoretical model robustness and practical cyber-defense. Whether your work involves developing privacy-preserving federated learning, red-teaming large language models, or architecting zero-trust neural networks, your contributions are essential to securing the digital frontier of 2026 and beyond.
Conference Agenda
| Time (EST) | Session Title | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Opening Remarks & Welcome Address | |
| 09:00 – 10:15 | Keynote I: Analyzing the application of LLMs in automated social engineering | Vinod A. Thale (Zhejiang University) |
| 10:15 – 11:00 | Coffee Break / Virtual Networking | — |
| 11:00 – 12:15 | Keynote II: Architecting self-healing cyber-ecosystems using predictive AI | Jian Hu (University of Kent) |
| 12:15 – 14:00 | Lunch | |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Q&A | |
| 15:00 – 15:30 | Closing Remarks |
Keynote Speakers
Vinod A. Thale
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Associate Professor
Zhejiang University
Jian Hu
Energy Engineering
Doctor
University of Kent
Editorial Team
Editor-in-chief
Vinod A. Thale (Zhejiang University)
Associate Editor
Syed Murawat Abbas Naqvi (Beijing Institute of Technology)
Editorial Board Member
Faisal Rafique (Southern University of Science and Technology), Jian Hu (University of Kent)
All submissions will be screened and peer-reviewed by the reviewers with MDs, PHDs, Doctors of Engineering and associate professors from the universities and research institutes worldwide.
The review process will be double-blind peer-review.
