The development of future real-world technologies will depend strongly on our understanding and harnessing of the principles underlying living systems and the flow of communication signals between living and artificial systems.
Biomimetics is the development of novel technologies through the distillation of principles from the study of biological systems. The investigation of biomimetic systems can serve two complementary goals. First, a suitably designed and configured biomimetic artefact can be used to test theories about the natural system of interest. Second, biomimetic technologies can provide useful, elegant and efficient solutions to unsolved challenges in science and engineering.
Biohybrid systems are formed by combining at least one biological component—an existing living system—and at least one artificial, newly-engineered component. By passing information in one or both directions, such a system forms a new hybrid bio-artificial entity. The conference's theme also encompasses biomimetic methods for manufacture, repair and recycling inspired by natural processes such as reproduction, digestion, morphogenesis and metamorphosis.

The following are some examples of "Living Machines" as featured at past conferences:
• Biomimetic robots and their component technologies (sensors, actuators, processors) that can intelligently interact with their environments.
• Biomimetic computers—neuromimetic emulations of the physiological basis for intelligent behaviour.
• Active biomimetic materials and structures that self-organize and self-repair or show other bio-inspired functions.
• Nature-inspired designs and manufacturing processes.
• Biohybrid brain-machine interfaces and neural implants.
• Artificial organs and body parts, including sensory organ-chip hybrids and intelligent prostheses.
• Organism-level biohybrids such as robot-animal or robot-human systems.

ACTIVITIES
The main conference will take the form of a three-day single-track oral presentations program, 20 July to 22 July 2022, to be hosted online by C3NS NeuroNex at Case Western Reserve University (US).
The conference program will include three plenary lectures from leading international researchers in biomimetic and biohybrid systems and the demonstrations of state-of-the-art living machine technologies.
The full conference will be preceded by a one-day Satellite Event hosted online.

SUBMITTING TO LIVING MACHINES 2022
We invite both full papers and extended abstracts in areas related to the conference themes. All contributions will be refereed, and accepted papers will appear in the Living Machines Proceedings, published in the Springer-Verlag Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence.
Full papers (minimum 8 pages, up to 12 pages) are invited from researchers at any stage in their career and should present significant findings and advances in biomimetic or biohybrid research. More preliminary work is better suited for short paper submission (minimum 4 pages, with a maximum of ten references and no more than three self-citations). Full papers will be accepted for either podium talks (single track) or short podium talks. Extended abstracts will be accepted for short podium talks only.
Authors of the best full papers will be invited to submit extended versions of their papers for publication in a special issue of the IOPscience journal Bioinspiration & Biomimetics.

SATELLITE EVENTS
Active researchers in biomimetic and biohybrid systems are invited to propose topics for full or half-day tutorials, symposia or workshops on related themes to be held on 19 July 2022.
The content and organization are flexible for these events. Please contact us if you are interested in organizing a satellite event!

EXPECTED DEADLINES
01 April 2022. Paper submission deadline
10 May 2022. Notification of acceptance
31 May 2022. Camera-ready copy
July 19, 20-22, 2022. Workshops and Conference

SPONSORSHIP
Organizations wishing to sponsor the conference are encouraged to contact the organizers to discuss the terms of sponsorship and necessary arrangements. The Sponsors can gain the corresponding benefits by promoting themselves and their products through conference publications, conference events, and conference publicity.

VENUE
Given the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on travelling, this year the conference will take place online.

CONFERENCE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
- Roger Quinn Case Western Reserve University (Local Chair)
- Paul Verschure Radboud University, CSN foundation (Co-Chair)
- Tony Prescott Sheffield University, CSN foundation (Steering Committee)
- Anna Mura IBEC, Barcelona, CSN Foundation (General Organization)

PROGRAM CHAIR
- Alexander Hunt Portland State University
- Vicky Vouloutsi Technology Innovation Institute

COMMUNICATION
- Kenneth Moses Case Western Reserve University
- Anna Mura IBEC, Barcelona, CSN foundation
WORKSHOPS CHAIR
- Tony Prescott University of Sheffield

LOCAL ORGANIZERS COMMITTEE
- C3NS NeuroNex Case Western Reserve University