Neuroethics 2027
Madrid, Spain
April 7-9, 2027
The annual Neuroethics conference — organized by the International Neuroethics Society and its partners — relies on contributions from institutions and individuals committed to advancing neuroethics and supporting the scholars and professionals who are leading the field.
The INS accepts support for the conference as a whole and for individual sessions, topical themes, and programming formats. The INS also supports unrestricted funds to support the organization, its programs, and the activities of its members.
Financial and in-kind support is tax deductible through the INS’s nonprofit status in the United States (FEIN 20-5230980). All sponsors and donors are recognized for their contributions, and contributions of all sizes are appreciated.
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, contact INS Executive Director Robert Beets beets@neuroethicssociety.org, Program Committee Co-Chair José M. Muñoz jmmunoz@inecenter.com, or other members of the Program Committee or INS Board.
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Conference Overview
The Neuroethics 2027 conference will convene hundreds of neuroethics scholars from around the world in Madrid, Spain in April 2027. Attendees will participate in-person or online. Attendees will include scholars, researchers, clinicians, technology developers, policymakers, caregivers, advocates, and people with lived experience.
The scientific program will center on the theme: ‘Neuroethics at a New Frontier: Brain, Body, Data, and the Human Condition.’ This focus invites participants to examine how developments in brain science and technology are reshaping some of the central questions of neuroethics, and starts from a simple premise: the brain cannot be understood in isolation. It is part of embodied lives, shaped by relationships, environments, cultures, health systems, and increasingly complex digital ecosystems. The theme is intentionally broad and creates space for work on neurotechnology, brain-computer interfaces, artificial intelligence, neurodata governance, mental health, clinical care, disability, dementia, enhancement, human rights, public engagement, research ethics, global neuroethics, and the humanities.
This event follows on the heels of a successful multi-hub conference with synchronous gatherings in the United States, Italy, and South Africa in April 2026, as well as an inaugural convening of the Neuroethics Asia 2026 conference in Singapore in November 2026.
Sponsors are important partners of the conference and the neuroethics research community. This event would not be possible without contributions from various academic institutions, technology companies, healthcare providers, publishers, and international networks. Sponsors can support the conference as a whole or provide support for a specific activity or location.
European Gathering / Global Reach
The conference is designed to facilitate international exchange among a diverse array of leading experts, practitioners, and early career professionals. They attend the event to learn, connect, share their work, and discuss complex questions involving the brain and mind.
The Program Committee oversees the development of the scientific program, and solicits proposals from the broader neuroethics research community for workshops, panels, talks, and the identification of key topics and emerging issues. They also work in collaboration with local organizing partners and sponsors to develop special activities and coordinate logistics.
The 3-day conference features research talks and poster presentations from early career and established scholars, panels and debates on cutting edge neuroethics issues, as well as interactive brainstorming and ideation workshops and exercises that advance the theme.
Madrid and More!
History & Innovation – Spain has a vibrant ecosystem of leading public research centers and competitive neurotechnology companies, making it a natural place for translational neuroethics.
Local Leadership – CINET and the Tatiana Foundation are leaders in fostering interdisciplinary dialogue on neuroscience and ethics, and providing innovative training opportunities.
Access & Travel – Madrid is one of Europe’s most accessible cities with a top-tier international airport and an extensive high-speed rail network.
Ibero-American Hub – Madrid’s geographic and cultural position makes it a natural bridge and connection between Europe and Latin America.
Audience / Attendees
The conference convenes a diverse range of people to discuss the ethical and social issues involving the mind, brain, and technology. Attendees include scholars, researchers, clinicians, technology developers, policymakers, caregivers, advocates, and people with lived experience. Early career professionals, students, and trainees make up a considerable portion of attendees.
The INS convenes experts and decision makers to discuss and debate solutions to some of the most complex questions involving the brain and mind. Our annual neuroethics conference typically attracts upwards of 200 in-person attendees and about 150 online participants who follow along and contribute to the program. Online participants watch broadcast sessions, ask questions in real time, and give talks and present their research live via video stream.
In 2026, as part of a hybrid multi-hub event with in-person gatherings in the United States, Italy, and South Africa, the conference had a total of 500 total participants in-person and online.
Each conference theme and meeting locations provides unique opportunities for sponsorship and to support scholars and regional networks committed to advancing brain sciences and essential research into ethical applications of technology, research, and healthcare practices.
Theme & Tracks
Neuroethics at a New Frontier: Brain, Body, Data, and the Human Condition
This year’s theme — Neuroethics at a New Frontier: Brain, Body, Data, and the Human Condition — invites participants to examine how developments in brain science and technology are reshaping some of the central questions of neuroethics — from identity, agency, privacy, and responsibility, to care, justice, and our understanding of consciousness and meaning. The theme starts from a simple premise: the brain cannot be understood in isolation. It is part of embodied lives, shaped and co-constituted by relationships, environments, cultures, health systems, and increasingly complex digital ecosystems.
This broader perspective is becoming especially important as brain-related data are increasingly connected with biometric, behavioral, clinical, environmental, and digital data — and used to predict disease, answer questions about human behavior, assess performance, personalize care, create art, or inform security and policing practices. At the same time, growing attention to the exposome — the totality of environmental exposures across a lifetime — is making clearer how biological, social, and environmental conditions shape life and health. Together, these developments point to the need for a more holistic understanding of the human condition. They also make interdisciplinary dialogue more necessary than ever, bringing neuroscience into conversation with clinical practice, ethics, law, governance, the humanities, and the voices of those directly affected by brain science and neurotechnology.
The conference theme is intentionally broad. It creates space for work in a range of areas, including neurotechnology, brain–computer interfaces, artificial intelligence, neurodata governance, mental health, clinical care, disability, dementia, enhancement, human rights, public engagement, research ethics, global neuroethics, environmental neuroethics, and the humanities. It also asks how neuroethics can remain deeply human in contexts of rapid technological and environmental change: attentive to patients and caregivers, responsive to communities, and grounded in the lived experience of those most affected. Turning these questions into a shared research agenda requires naming where the conversation is most urgent right now, and the featured tracks listed below mark a few key starting points.
Neuroethics is uniquely positioned at this new frontier to bridge conversations that too often remain separate. These include exchanges between neuroscience and the humanities, between clinical care and technological innovation, between humans and the environment, and between global frameworks and local communities. Held in Madrid — a city well positioned to foster dialogue across Europe, Latin America, and the Mediterranean — Neuroethics 2027 invites the field to confront the technological and environmental frontiers of the present while remaining anchored in the human condition and its wider ecological context.
Featured Tracks
Thinking + Context – The impact and influence of other people, technologies, microbiomes, and the environment on moral decision making
Body + Mind – How identity, agency, and consciousness rooted is in the lived experience of the body
Data, AI + Self-Knowledge – The impact of information technologies and data flows — and how technologies to interpret them — shape self-understanding, relationships, and our place in the world
Boundaries + Limits – Identifying and setting limits on moral concern, personhood, responsibility, and free will
Connection + Conflict – Understanding community, solidarity, division, and conflict in an increasingly connected world
Brain Death + Organ Donation – Ethics, law, and public policy considerations of advanced biomedical technologies in the areas of organ donation and transplantation in the context of brain death.
Conference Support
Sponsorship from corporations, institutions, and foundations help cover the cost of core meeting expenses, including costs associated with the venue, vendors, meals, and on-site staffing. General conference sponsorships start at $500. See the recognition and benefits sections below for details about the benefits that are offered by giving level.
Contributions from individual donors are also critical to the success of the event. We accept contributions of any amount and all donors are prominently recognized.
To discuss conference sponsorship opportunities, contact INS Executive Director Robert Beets <beets@neuroethicssociety.org> or members of the Program Committee or INS Board.
Sponsor Recognition
All sponsors and donors are prominently recognized on the website and in digital promotions. Sponsor names and logos are added to our website promptly when funds are pledged to maximize visibility and reach.
Sponsors are prominently recognized in all:
- Presentation slides shown before and after sessions
- Banner signage on-site located in prime gathering spots
- Email communication sent to meeting attendees
- Online gathering spaces or platforms
- Meeting website and schedule
Additional Benefits
- Complimentary registrations for institutional staff or representatives
- Digital, print, and booth advertising opportunities and distribution of materials
- Verbal mention at welcome and closing remarks, or during specific sessions
Benefits By Support Amount
| Amount (USD) | Recognition | Advertising | Registrations |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500-999 | Name only | None | None |
| $1,000–1,999 | Name and logo | Digital only | None |
| $2,000–2,999 | Name and logo | Digital and print | None |
| $3,000–4,999 | Name and logo | Digital and print | 1 |
| $5,000–9,999 | Name, logo, verbal | Digital and print | 2-3 |
| $10,000–24,999 | Name, logo, verbal | Digital and print | 3-4 |
| $25,000–49,000 | Name, logo, verbal | Digital and print | 4-5 |
| $50,000+ | Name, logo, verbal | Digital and print | 5+ |
Session / Activity Support
In addition to general financial support for the conference, institutions can sponsor specific sessions, activities, or services. The conference program covers a wide range of topics in neuroethics with special emphasis on issues related to the theme and other select topics.
All scientific sessions and activities are developed in close partnership with the members of the Program Committee. The INS and its partners reserve final authority over the inclusion of specific sessions, session topics, and invited speakers that make up the program.
Session Sponsor
Sponsors can support an already-accepted session or propose a topical session or lecture to be developed in partnership with the Program Committee. Session sponsors are recognized prominently during the session and throughout the conference.
- Sponsorship for an already accepted session starts at $3,000
- Invited lecture or presentation sponsorships start at $5,000
- Original topic-focused panel sponsorships start at $10,000
Activity Sponsor
The conference provides attendees with opportunities to meet colleagues from all around the world. Sponsors can support meals, coffee breaks, networking sessions, or social gatherings.
- Food and beverage sponsor: $5,000+
- Networking activity sponsor: $2,500+
- Social hours sponsor: $1,500+
Technology Partner
Operating a hybrid conference with in- person and online participation has many technology requirements. Sponsors contribute essential support to cover the costs associated with critical technology, professional staffing, and rental services.
- Technology provider sponsor: $15,000
- Video broadcasting sponsor: $5,000
- Poster board support start at $2,500
- Photography sponsor: $1,000
Research Supporter
Scholars from many disciplines and regions present their research at the conference. Sponsors provide funds to support sessions featuring research talks, and stipends to help defray costs of attending in-person.
- Poster and talk support starts at $1,500
- Travel stipend support starts at $500
- Regional travel partner: $2,500+
Society Support
Contributions to the INS are used to support: meeting planning and expenses, the organization of committees and affinity groups, and the work of staff and interns.
Unrestricted funds are essential to maintain core operations and long-term stability for the organization and its programs. Even modest contributions can make a big difference toward the overall success of the organization and our ability to grow and advance the field.
The INS recognizes all sponsors and donors, and financial and in-kind support on its website and in publications. Donations are tax-deductible with our nonprofit status in the United States under FEIN number 20-5230980.
To discuss supporting the INS, contact INS Executive Director Robert Beets <beets@neuroethicssociety.org> or members of the Program Committee or INS Board.
Affiliate Institutions
Institutions and organizations interested in supporting the mission and activities of the INS can pledge to provide an annual unrestricted contribution as an affiliate member. Consistent financial support and public recognition demonstrates the value and leadership that the INS brings to the field of neuroethics and to its members.
Membership
A commitment to be an active and engaged member of the INS is a great way to help the community grow. Membership levels and annual dues ranges (in US Dollars) are as follows.
- Student ($15-30 USD)
- Trainee ($25-50)
- Professional ($50-175)
- Sustainer ($450)
- Affiliate ($1,000)
Conference Partners
Organizing partners contribute substantial personnel and financial resources toward organizing the conference. Partner staff, faculty, and students contribute volunteer hours toward event leadership, program development, vendor management, and on-site event support. Partner institutions also provide financial support and in-kind resources at various levels.
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, contact INS Executive Director Robert Beets beets@neuroethicssociety.org, Program Committee Co-Chair José M. Muñoz jmmunoz@inecenter.com, or other members of the Program Committee or INS Board.
About the INS
The International Neuroethics Society (INS) is the leading professional association for scholars, practitioners, and students growing this emerging field. Our work is focused on strengthening and growing the field of neuroethics by advancing neuroethics scholarship and research, and by translating knowledge into practice and policy.
The Society’s membership includes leading experts and scholars from more than 35 countries who represent key disciplines and constituencies, and have connections to a broad network of decision makers in scientific organizations, universities, and government institutions worldwide. Our members are well positioned to facilitate connections and lead dialogue across sectors of society on some of the most complex issues involving the mind, brain, and technology.
The Neuroethics Field
Neuroethics is a young field that has become an essential partner to realize the benefits of breakthroughs made in health, medicine, neuroscience, and technology. Its methods and insights help researchers, neuroscientists, engineers, patients, caregivers, clinicians, regulators, and policymakers ask better questions, anticipate unintended consequences, and avoid negative outcomes. Ethical questions have always accompanied science, and the importance of neuroethics has only increased in recent decades with our improving understanding of the brain.
Neuroethics in Action
Neuroethics sits at the confluence of many transformational frontiers such as robotics,
AI, brain–computer interfaces, and bio-engineering. It’s also an important partner in rapidly advancing research areas involving consciousness, brain disorders, neuroimaging, neural interfaces, and deep brain stimulation. When multiple disciplines and emerging technologies converge, it is critical to understand, investigate and address the many social and ethical dimensions.
How does neuroethics support and foster responsible and impactful innovation?
- In basic science research, neuroethics helps engage ethical questions early to minimize risks, maximize benefits, and facilitate responsible translation.
- Supporting neuroethics is essential to guiding neuroscience– AI developments responsibly, and fostering innovation that is both ethically sound and human-centered.
- Lawmakers, regulators, and judges often face questions about emerging neurotechnologies and neuroethics experts are uniquely equipped to provide informed, actionable guidance.
- From advances in neuroimaging to deep brain stimulation, progress in neurology and psychiatry have gotten a critical boost from the close collaboration between neuroethicists and neuroscientists.
- Neuroethicists also bring a distinctive outlook to some of the deepest philosophical quandaries concerning free will, identity, and consent.
The International Neuroethics Society (INS) is the leading professional association for experts, scholars, and students growing this emerging field.
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