Dear Members, Colleagues and Friends of the EUROSIM Federation,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today, following the passing in September of our dear friend and distinguished colleague Agostino Bruzzone of the University of Genoa. His leadership, his commitment to our community of modelling & simulation scholars and practitioners and his personal warmth and generosity will be profoundly missed. Under his presidency the Federation maintained the high standards of scientific and professional excellence for which we are known and his legacy in terms of vision and friendship will always remain with us.

In the spirit of continuity and renewal, I have accepted the honour of serving as President of EUROSIM for the period until September 2026, when the Congress of EUROSIM will be held in Genoa from 21-23 September 2026. I am deeply aware of the trust the Board and our member societies have placed in me and I pledge to devote myself to our service and to our shared mission.

Looking ahead, my purpose is to build on the firm foundations laid by Agostino and his predecessors, while seeking to strengthen EUROSIM’s role as Europe’s premier forum for modelling and simulation in industry, research and development. To that end, I will try to enhance collaboration and connectivity across our network of member societies so that ideas, tools and experience flow more freely between countries and between academia and industry. 

I will also try to promote stronger links between industrial users, service providers and academic developers (e.g. identification of possible joint research projects opportunities) thereby increasing visibility for the practical value of simulation in decision-making, product development and systems engineering. Together with Agostino's group, we will prepare for the 2026 Congress in Genoa, ensuring that it becomes a fruitful event, rich in technical content, vibrant in networking, and forward-looking in topics (especially around digital twins, AI-enabled simulation, hybrid human-machine modelling) so that EUROSIM remains at the forefront of change. 

I also think that keeping working on strengthening publications and dissemination, in particular via our journal Simulation Notes Europe (as already done by my predecessors), is something relevant so that our community’s work not only appears in proceedings but leads to broader uptake and recognition in science and industry. 

I believe that by aligning these priorities with the contributions of our member societies, we will not only honour Agostino’s memory, but advance EUROSIM to the next stage of its evolution — a Federation that is more connected, more visible and more impactful than ever.

Your involvement matters.

In that spirit, I warmly invite you — as members, colleagues, partners — to share your ideas, to volunteer your time and expertise, and to help shape our shared agenda. Whether this means proposing special sessions for the 2026 congress, nominating emerging talent for awards, or initiating industry-academia collaboration platforms, your contribution is invaluable.

It is a privilege to serve as President of EUROSIM during this transition period. Together, let us honour our past, live our present with commitment and purpose, and embrace the future with confidence and curiosity.

With sincere thanks for your support,

Francesco Longo 
President of EUROSIM
Until September 2026