LOCATION
Montevideo, Uruguay

DATES
7-11 December 2026

LANGUAGE
The working language will be English (simultaneous interpretation into Spanish is TBC)


OBJECTIVES
The 2026 National Data Centre (NDC) Workshop is being organized by the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in cooperation with the Government of Uruguay.

The NDC workshop provides an opportunity for participants from State Signatory NDCs to meet and discuss their activities and share experiences accessing IMS data, using IDC products, and operating as an NDC. The objectives of the workshop are:

1. Provide an environment for NDC experts to share their experiences in fulfilling their verification responsibilities;
2. Provide NDC feedback to the PTS on all aspects of the data, products, services and support provided to NDCs; under this objective, particular emphasis will be put on:
   - NDC contributions to Performance Monitoring and Testing (through NDC Preparedness Exercises, or NPEs, and other means);
   - Discussions on NDC involvement in the IDC Progressive Commissioning;
   - Discussion of recent and ongoing IDC projects.
3. Review NDC recommendations;
4. The progress and initial results of the NDC Preparedness Exercise 2026 (NPE26) will be presented and discussed, including analysis of the NPE26 event using IMS Data and other data obtained by national means.
5. Contributions on the interaction between NDCs and research and development-related topics will be discussed.
6. Discuss progress on the NDCs4ALL initiative.
7. Discuss challenges faced by NDCs.
    

AGENDA
The tentative topics for the 2026 NDC workshop are the following:

(a) NDCs’ Capabilities

• NDCs4All update and plans
• Cooperation and interaction in research and development among the NDCs;
• Information and data sharing among NDCs
• Approaches to data visualization

(b) PTS Data, Products, Services, and Support

• NDC feedback on PTS data, products, services, and support
• Discussion of recent and ongoing IDC projects

(c) NDC Preparedness Exercise 2026

• Progress and results of the NPE2026
• Plans for future exercises

(d) Progressive commissioning of the IDC

• Discussions on NDC involvement in the IDC Progressive Commissioning

(e) Progress on addressing previous NDC Workshop recommendations.
 

PARTICIPANT PROFILE
The workshop is open only to CTBT States Signatories and is intended for experts from NDCs or other entities involved in NDC-related activities.


APPLICATION PROCEDURES 
Applicants are requested to register online at the CTNW platform of the Commission, https://ctnw.ctbto.org

The deadline for abstract submission, registration, and application for funding is the 15 July 2026.

States Signatories wishing to nominate participants are requested to inform the Provisional Technical Secretariat (see Point of Contact) through their respective Permanent Mission to the CTBTO by the deadline set for the application.


FINANCIAL INFORMATION
In accordance with the Staff regulations and rules and Administrative Directives, the PTS will provide funded participants with the following:

• A round-trip ticket to Montevideo, Uruguay on the most direct and economic route;
• Funded participants are not allowed to purchase their tickets unless, under exceptional circumstances, they are authorized to do so and only if this proves to be most cost efficient for the PTS;
• The PTS will book a hotel and cover the costs for the accommodation. Participants will receive relevant portion of the Daily Subsistence Allowance (per-diem) via bank transfer upon arrival to the first day of the workshop; and
• Health insurance will be provided for the duration of the workshop, including travel days.

OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

Visas 
Participants should apply for visas, if needed, at the corresponding Embassy/Consular office upon receipt of an acceptance letter from the Provisional Technical Secretariat to ensure timely processing.