# ACUUS
2025
Pre-Conference Deep Dive: Chinese Delegation Visits Engineering Sites in Serbia
To promote international academic and industrial exchanges in the field of underground space, the Chinese delegation arrived in Serbia ahead of the conference and conducted a series of intensive and productive technical visits and exchange activities.
The delegation focused on visiting several major infrastructure projects undertaken by Chinese-funded enterprises, including the design team site of PowerChina for Belgrade Metro Line 1, the Serbian branch of the Spanish engineering consulting company Eptisa, the Flower Tunnel project undertaken by China Road and Bridge Corporation, and the project management department of the Novi Sad-Ruma Expressway under China Communications Second Highway Engineering Bureau.
This inspection not only effectively set the stage for the ACUUS 2025 conference but also demonstrated China’s technical prowess in the field of underground space engineering. It laid a solid foundation for China to host the next edition of the conference in 2027, marking a new phase in China-foreign cooperation on underground space development.
Intellectual Confrontation: Underground Space Governance and Innovative Practices
The conference specially invited six leading academic figures from home and abroad, including ACUUS Chair Professor Dimitris Kaliampakos, Scientific Committee Vice-Chair Professor Raymond Sterling, Colorado School of Mines Professor Michael Mooney, Dean of the College of Engineering at Shantou University Professor Shen Shuilong, ACUUS Secretary-General Sanja Zlatanic, and National Technical University of Athens Professor Andreas Benardos. They delivered keynote speeches on cutting-edge fields, sharing the latest research findings and insights into industry trends.
The roundtable session brought together experts from Japan, Singapore, China, the United Kingdom, and other countries, focusing on the core topic of “Integrating Underground Urbanism into Institutional Practice.” The discussions delved into multiple dimensions, including legal frameworks, digital tools, risk management, and public policies, offering valuable strategic insights and practical guidance for the systematic underground development of global megacities.
Seven Core Themes Lead the Way: Academic Exchange Spanning the Entire Industry Chain
This year’s conference focused on seven core themes, comprehensively covering the entire industrial chain—from cutting-edge exploration technologies and intelligent planning and design to policy regulations and sustainable management.
During the three-day intensive agenda, global participants engaged in multiple in-depth group discussions and exchanges centered around these themes, fully showcasing the latest trends and future directions in the integration of industry, academia, and research within the field of underground space.
Following the formal agenda of the conference, a one-day technical inspection activity was arranged. Through on-site observations and exchanges with technical personnel, the delegates gained an in-depth understanding of Serbia’s innovative practices and engineering experiences in areas such as urban underground space renewal and renovation, as well as sustainable groundwater resource management.
Looking Ahead to Nanjing 2027: China Proactively Takes Over the Baton
At the closing ceremony of the conference, Nanjing, China—the host city for ACUUS 2027—became the center of global attention. Represented by the Jiangsu Society for Underground Space, the host showcased Nanjing’s innovative achievements and unique strengths in the field of urban underground space development to attendees from around the world.
With a strong sense of responsibility and an open spirit of cooperation, the Chinese delegation sent a clear signal to the global underground space community: China is fully prepared to present a high-level, distinctive, and impactful international event to the world.
The 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, actively participated in the conference. As the host of the next edition, this visit served not only as an opportunity for academic exchange and learning but also as a proactive effort to lay the groundwork, gather experience, and pool resources to ensure the successful organization of ACUUS 2027 in Nanjing, China.
As the official PCO (Professional Conference Organizer) for ACUUS 2027, Sunway Culture and Technology Group provided comprehensive support to the Chinese delegation during this conference and has fully commenced preparations for the upcoming event. Leveraging its extensive experience in service provision, the group is committed to delivering higher standards of international conference organization and professional support for the grand event to be held in Nanjing in 2027.
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ACUUS 2025 has concluded successfully in Belgrade, but a new chapter in global underground space development is just beginning.
The world’s attention now turns to the East—the 20th World Conference of the Associated Research Centres for the Urban Underground Space (ACUUS 2027) will be hosted by Nanjing, China. As the next host country, China will gather wisdom from all sides and strive to create an international event of even higher standards and greater impact. In the ancient capital of Nanjing, an academic feast in the field of underground space will be presented, blending profound historical heritage with cutting-edge innovation and vitality.
In 2027, let us meet in Nanjing, China, to celebrate this grand occasion and write a new chapter together!
