Submission Guidelines

The HSC 2026 Proposal Submission Guideline is a comprehensive manual designed to support organizations and experts in preparing and submitting session and co-creation proposals for the Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2026. This document serves as both an instructional guide and strategic framework, outlining the conference's co-creation approach, session quality criteria, submission requirements, session formats, and the support from the HSC gGmbH program team available to successful applicants.

HSC Co-Creation Paths

The Hamburg Sustainability Conference is looking for innovative session concepts, but also serves as a platform that initiates and enables cross-sectoral co-creation throughout the year. The sessions are the place to showcase results or ongoing discussions of these co-creation processes. How can co-creation look like? 

• Strategic Alliance Building: Co-creation leads to building alliances and partnerships, resulting in the signing of a joint declaration, memoranda of understanding or similar agreements that commit stakeholders to a shared goal or initiative.
• Challenge-Driven Collaboration: Co-creation serves as a platform to explore pressing issues and engage diverse actors in a structured dialogue. In some cases, this could also mean actors from diverse spheres that have not worked together before.
• Exploratory Co-Creation: Co-creators do not know each other prior and come together to discuss an issue. There is no direct goal to achieve, but this leads to establishing or pushing a process forward.

Session Quality Criteria

• Breakthrough: Topics must present, accompany or initiate a breakthrough or new scalable solution. (E.g. Green Shipping & Aviation – Signing to leverage needs towards solution and action-oriented measures to drive cross-sector collaboration towards climate neutral transport.)
• Multi-Sector Involvement: Every session must involve stakeholders from different sectors (e.g. politics, business, civil society/academia etc.), including the private sector either as speakers or as co-creation partner.
• Representation from Emerging Economies: The session must be co-created together with diverse stakeholders. One of the Co-Creation Organizations must be from an Emerging Market or Development Economy (EMDE).
• Leadership and Expertise: At least 70% of all active participants (e.g. speakers and panelists) must be in a leadership role or distinguished experts in their field. (E.g. C-level executives of multinational companies, heads of multinational organizations or foundations, or cabinet-level representatives)
• Diversity and Inclusion: The speakers and moderators of a session must present a gender balance (max. 50 % male). The following groups should be included in the theme design and stage presence whenever possible: people under 30, people with disabilities, people from specific communities (e.g. indigenous people)

Submission Requirements

To submit your session proposal, please provide the following information:

1. Title: Please enter a concise and specific title that clearly reflects the purpose or key focus of your session. The title will also be used in all the communication channels (e.g. Annotated Agenda, on the Website etc.). – max 75 characters.
2. Session Coordinator & Co-Creation Organizations: Name the Co-Creation Organization with which you intend to collaborate with. A minimum of one and a maximum of two organizations may be listed.
3. Short Abstract: Provide an abstract summarizing the goal and topic of your session – max. 300 characters.
4. Long Abstract: Please provide a detailed description of your session, including its core idea, objectives, and planned structure – max. 1500 characters.
5. Breakthrough: Please provide your breakthrough for your session – max. 500 characters. A breakthrough at HSC delivers tangible, scalable, and systemic progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It goes beyond discussion to generate concrete, time-bound outcomes—such as bold commitments, innovative partnerships, or policy shifts. HSC sessions actively address structural barriers, engage a wide range of stakeholders, and prioritize inclusive collaboration, especially with underrepresented groups like youth, Indigenous communities, and frontline actors. Ideally HSC sessions should have impact beyond the conference, with mechanisms for accountability and follow-through, setting a new benchmark for global SDG action
6. Envisioned Speakers: Which speakers do you envision in your session? Please provide names and organizations for up to four envisioned speakers.

 

Dynamic Session Formats

Session organizers may specify their preference for either Stage or Accelerator format. The HSC will conduct a thorough assessment of each session proposal to determine the most appropriate format that will optimize the session's impact and effectiveness. You may add your preference for a specific format in the long abstract.

Stage Formats: High-impact sessions for alliance building, inspiration, debate, and global reach.

Name	Proposed Format
New Alliance Talk	Three-stage dramaturgy: challenge, solution, action. This format showcases newly created cross-sector alliances or established high-level initiatives that come together to act on and discuss pressing sustainability-related challenges.
Future Talk	Forward-looking policy recommendations and practical solutions, inviting short-interval input from the panel. This format enables a lively debate by opening discussions on the policy recommendations and practical solutions through dynamic on-stage exchanges and active audience engagement.
Solution Talk	Presents proven solutions that invite critical discussion and seek new partners for scaling and impact. Showcases best-practice examples, encourages constructive challenges, connects scalable solutions with investors, and inspires new hope.

Accelerator Formats: Intensive working sessions for solution development and alliance building

Name	Proposed Format
Accelerator I	High-level roundtable format. Invitation-only and confidential high-stakes discussions.
Accelerator II	Open and flexible format, suitable for interactive workshops using methods such as World Café, breakout group discussions, or design thinking.
Accelerator III	Large, inclusive roundtable with broad stakeholder engagement. Suitable for practice exchange, perspective sharing, and network building.

Timeline

Plan your submission journey with these key milestones: (Dates may change)

Phase	Timeline	Action Required
Submission Launch	From October 10, 2025 on	Portal opens for topic submissions
Submission Deadline	In November, 2025	All submission required (exact dates to be communicated accordingly)
Confirmation of Sessions	December 31, 2025	Final program confirmation
HSC 2026	June 29 – 30, 2026	Conference execution

Dedicated Program Support

Every co-creation team will be matched with a Program Project Manager from the HSC team to support them in organizing their session by providing:

• Topic Refinement: Strategic guidance on scope, messaging, and positioning
• Speaker Curation: Identification, outreach, and coordination of ideal participants
• Session Architecture: Professional design meeting HSC excellence standards
• Operational Excellence: Technical, logistical, and execution support
• Impact Amplification: Integration into broader HSC outcomes and follow-up initiatives

Your Program Project Manager serves as your strategic partner from concept to lasting impact.

Questions or Consultation: program@sustainability-conference.org

We eagerly anticipate your submission and partnership in building a more sustainable,
equitable, and resilient world.

Ready to shape tomorrow's most important conversations? Your breakthrough idea starts here: https://application.hsc.sustainability-conference.events/