Over 60 experts, educators, and policymakers from 17 countries gathered in Patras, Greece, on May 30–31, 2025, for the SpicE International Conference, a two-day event focused on advancing inclusive STEAM education across Europe.  Organized in the framework of the SpicE project and co-funded by the European Union, the conference marked a milestone in efforts to bridge the gap between STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and special education.

The SpicE project supports the inclusion of students with mild disabilities in STEAM education. Its core objective is to strengthen the competences of primary school teachers in delivering inclusive STEAM learning experiences. By equipping pre-service and in-service educators with the right tools and methodologies, SpicE aims to create classrooms that are innovative, accessible, and equitable.

The conference was held in a hybrid format, welcoming more than 700 participants. It offered a dynamic agenda, including plenary sessions, expert panels, and parallel presentations by educators. Discussions covered a wide range of topics—from inclusive educational robotics and AI tools, to teacher training strategies, digital learning environments, and art-based inclusion practices.

Among the highlights were:

• Presentations of the SpicE Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and the STEAMComp InclEdu Competences Framework, which provide structured guidance for developing inclusive teaching skills;
• Showcases of good practices from schools and universities in Greece, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia, Nigeria, Turkey, India, and beyond;
• A dedicated session on European initiatives such as SEER, ICSE Academy, STEAMbrace, and Road-STEAMer, demonstrating strong cross-border synergies in inclusive STEAM education;
• The final parallel sessions featuring grassroots projects by teachers, underlining how inclusive pedagogy can be embedded into diverse curricula—from coding and robotics to environmental education and classical literature.

Throughout the conference, a common message emerged: inclusion must be at the heart of innovation in education. By empowering educators and integrating inclusive strategies into STEAM, the SpicE project is helping to build learning environments where all students can thrive, regardless of their learning needs.