CUIIC Announces the CUIIC Summit National Event Series

Since its inception in 2022, the Canadian Underground Infrastructure Innovation Centre (CUIIC) has positioned itself as the hub for research, education, and industry collaboration in the underground infrastructure sector.

A cornerstone of that is the launch of the CUIIC Academy, which provides in-person learning academies and webinars to the industry at-large. For 2026, this model is evolving.

CUIIC is proud to launch the CUIIC Summit, a new premier educational event series held twice a year. It serves infrastructure professionals across Canada. The Summit will alternate between Eastern and Western Canada to ensure national accessibility. A Spring Summit will be held annually in the East, and a Fall Summit held annually in the West.

The first-ever CUIIC Summit will take place March 3-5, 2026, in Mississauga, Ontario. The Spring Summit will feature Horizontal Directional Drilling, Microtunnelling and Geotechnical academies. The Fall Summit will follow in Vancouver, British Columbia on Sept. 15-17.

CUIIC Summit Format

The CUIIC Summit is a week of immersive educational activities designed for maximum impact and flexibility.

The cornerstone of the summit is a series of standalone, in-depth academies. Participants can register for these based on their professional needs.

This format allows attendees, especially those travelling, to create a customized learning itinerary. They can participate in multiple academies within a single trip.

The curriculum for each academy is meticulously crafted by CUIIC Technical Committees comprised of active industry practitioners. This ensures every session is relevant, timely and addresses the real-world challenges and opportunities facing the sector today.

CUIIC Summit participants will learn directly from more than 15 expert speakers per academy. These experts are drawn from both senior industry roles and leading academic institutions.

According to Alireza Bayat, CUIIC director, the CUIIC Summit is designed to be a dialogue, not a monologue. Besides the expert-led presentations, the format includes dynamic panel discussions and open forums. These encourage active participation and debate. This multi-faceted approach ensures a rich learning environment. Attendees can engage directly with speakers and peers.

Scholarships and Professional Development

A key component of CUIIC’s mission is a commitment to fostering the next generation of infrastructure leaders and supporting the public sector.

To advance this objective, CUIIC is building a comprehensive scholarship program for students and municipal employees. This ensures they have the opportunity to participate in this vital learning environment.

Additionally, the CUIIC Summit is a core component of CUIIC’s commitment to organized, recognized professional development. This is the first step in a plan to have these academies lead to formal certifications and valuable micro-credentials. This provides a tangible return on your educational investment.

Visit cuiic.ca to join the mailing list and be the first to receive updates.

SOURCE – Canadian Underground Infrastructure Innovation Centre

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