On November 5, 2025, the 19th World Conference of the Associated Research Centres for the Urban Underground Space (ACUUS 2025) grandly opened in the historic city of Belgrade, Serbia.

This conference, themed “UNDERGROUND MOBILITY AND ELEVATED THINKING: NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN THE USE OF UNDERGROUND URBAN SPACE”  brought together top experts, scholars, industry leaders, and government representatives from fields such as global urban planning, civil engineering, geological sciences, and environmental policy to collectively shape the future blueprint for urban underground space development.

The opening ceremony was held at the open-air theater of the Sava Center in Belgrade. On-site speeches were delivered by Professor Vladan Djokic, President of the University of Belgrade and Chair of the conference, Professor Dimitris Kaliampakos, President of ACUUS, and Dr. Goran Jeftenic of the Chamber of Engineering Commerce of Serbia.

Following this, a sand painting performance featuring distinctive Serbian ethnic charm was brilliantly staged in the main venue. Using sand as ink and light as paper, the artist skillfully depicted a visual poem where the urban landmarks of Belgrade intertwined with the imagery of underground spaces. This infused the serious academic exchange with a rich cultural atmosphere and artistic vitality, serving as an emotional bridge connecting representatives from various countries.

Invited by the conference, three leading academic figures—Professor Dimitris Kaliampakos, Chair of ACUUS; Professor Raymond Sterling, Vice Chair of the ACUUS Scientific Committee; and Professor Michael Mooney from the Colorado School of Mines—delivered keynote speeches on November 5. Addressing cutting-edge topics such as “Shaping the Future of Underground Space: Current State and Prospects,” “Challenges in Achieving Effective Utilization and Long-Term Planning of Underground Space,” and “How Artificial Intelligence Will Drive the Future Development of Underground Space,” they shared the latest research findings and industry trends, offering attendees a high-density feast of knowledge.

The roundtable session also garnered significant attention. The conference specially invited experts from Canada, Japan, Singapore, China, and the United Kingdom to engage in an in-depth dialogue on the topic of “Integrating Underground Urbanism into Institutional Practice: Strategic Directions, Institutional Preconditions, and Platform Development in Serbia“

The panelists analyzed institutional design, technical pathways, and public challenges through case studies of underground space planning in Montreal, Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, and the United Kingdom, offering strategic insights for underground development in megacities.

The conference focused on seven core themes, comprehensively covering the industrial chain from cutting-edge technology and planning design to policies and regulations. It is reported that the conference paper system received hundreds of abstracts from around the world, ultimately accepting 117 papers. Outstanding achievements among these will have the opportunity to be published in top-tier industry journals. Over the three-day event, participants will engage in in-depth discussions and exchanges centered around these seven core themes.

A Chinese delegation composed of authoritative institutions such as the Jiangsu Society for Underground Space and the Underground Space Professional Committee of the China Urban Science Research Association will actively participate in this conference. This visit is not only for the purpose of academic exchange and learning but also serves as a proactive initiative by the host city to prepare in advance, gathering experience and resources to ensure the successful organization of ACUUS 2027.

As the official PCO (Professional Conference Organizer) for the next conference, Sunway Culture and Technology Group officially entered the “Serbia-China” dual-city relay mode during this event. While ensuring a seamless experience for attendees at the current conference, it also laid the groundwork and built momentum for the organizational efforts of the Nanjing 2027 conference.

This conference serves not only as a platform for academic exchange but also as a forward-looking industry vision. Over the next three days, the meetings will consolidate consensus and explore new directions, laying a solid foundation for building greener, safer, and smarter urban underground spaces.

​Today, the sparks of wisdom ignited in Belgrade will soon illuminate the East. In 2027, let us meet in Nanjing, China!