Melbourne shortlisted for IASP World Conference 2028

Melbourne has officially been shortlisted to host the IASP World Conference 2028, one of the world’s leading gatherings for innovation districts, science parks, research institutions and city-shaping leaders.

The shortlist places Melbourne alongside Campinas, Brazil and Visakhapatnam (Vizag), India, with the final host city to be decided through an international vote by members of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation at the 2026 IASP World Conference.

If successful, the conference would bring global delegates from across industry, government, universities and innovation ecosystems to Melbourne in September 2028, placing the city at the centre of international conversations about the future of innovation, sustainability, technology, inclusion and urban transformation.

This is more than a conference bid. It is an opportunity to showcase Melbourne as one of the world’s most connected and collaborative innovation ecosystems.

Home to globally ranked universities, world-leading biomedical research, thriving startup communities, creative industries and internationally recognised innovation precincts, Melbourne offers a different kind of innovation story. One shaped not only by research and technology, but by openness, diversity, culture and public value.

Convened through the Melbourne Innovation District, the bid brings together a powerful partnership including RMIT University, The University of Melbourne, the City of Melbourne and a growing network of industry, government and community partners working together to shape the future of the City North innovation district.

The bid is also being strongly supported by Melbourne Convention Bureau, whose global networks, international engagement expertise and destination marketing capabilities are helping position Melbourne on the world stage throughout the campaign process.

Delegates would experience a city unlike any other. Dense, walkable and globally connected, Melbourne allows visitors to move within minutes between Nobel Prize-winning research, globally connected innovation precincts, laneway dining, major cultural institutions and vibrant neighbourhoods, all connected by the world’s largest free tram network.

More than 200 cultures and 233 languages help shape Melbourne’s identity, creating one of the world’s most welcoming and internationally connected cities.

The bid also reflects Melbourne’s growing leadership across AI, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, health innovation, creative industries and civic innovation.

The successful host city for the 2028 conference will be announced following the member voting process in 2026.

To learn more about Melbourne’s bid or connect with the bid team, get in touch with us here.

You can explore the official IASP candidate flyer and learn more about the three shortlisted cities here.