What we do – Education

Annual Congress of ECCO

Every February/March, we organise the ECCO Congress representing a key date on the international IBD calendar. We have organised 18 Congresses so far, attracting a very large number of attendees with expertise in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases from over 100 countries. The last Congress, organised in Copenhagen in March, 2023, attracted 6,754 participants (incl. exhibitors).


ECCO provides a balanced scientific programme including a range of symposia, as well as excellent training opportunities. Moreover the congress is an excellent networking opportunity for the best European gastroenterologists and IBD experts.

  • ECCO’23 Copenhagen - Congress participants 6754

    ECCO’23 Copenhagen - Congress participants 6754

    ECCO Congress participants (Source: ECCO Office)

  • Top 20 Countries at ECCO’23 Copenhagen

    Top 20 Countries at ECCO’23 Copenhagen

    Statistical overview – Top 20 countries at ECCO’22 Virtual (Source: ECCO Office)

    The industry exhibition is a key event for Corporate Members and industry partners, offering the opportunity to network face-to-face with purchasing decision makers in the field of IBD. The continuous increase in congress participation is evidence of the dynamic spirit of ECCO. Our membership has grown not only with gastroenterologists, but with other professions such as paediatric specialists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists and scientists interested in IBD.


    Upcoming Congress of ECCO

    With its steadily increasing number of participants, the ECCO Congress has become the leading world congress for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and we look forward to welcoming you to a highly diverse programme with a major focus on precision medicine for IBD. The 19th Congress of ECCO will take place in Stockholm, February 21-24, 2024.

    The Scientific Programme themed "Crossing borders in IBD" with content delivered by the best professionals in the field of IBD and gastroenterology we ensure high quality focus on care across the world from epidemiology to international panel case reviews, crossing disciplinary borders from paediatric to adult care and challenging cases, among others. In parallel, as part of our well established and recognised Educational Programme, 15 courses offer once again unique learning experience to the participants.

    For further details about the congress please visit the ECCO'24 homepage.


    ECCO Exhibitor & Sponsor Prospectus

    Since 2021 Sponsorship & Exhibitor bookings are possible via the new Industry Webshop ensuring user-friendly handling of bookings. As always, our Congress offers numerous advertising options to reach KOL’s, as well as the entire IBD Community.

    In the Industry Webshop of ECCO'24 you can book exhibition space, satellite symposia slots, venue branding and several other sponsorship items.


    Educational courses

    Below you may see a short description of our educational courses held at the Congress. For more information and more detailed programme, please visit the ECCO'24 website.

    IBD Intensive Course for Trainees

    The annual IBD Intensive Course for Trainees is a 1 day course which takes place prior to the Scientific Programme of the ECCO Congress. It was initiated in 2003, with the general aim to provide junior faculty in gastroenterology with a multidisciplinary broad base of knowledge in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Participation is upon invitation only; students are nominated by the ECCO National Representatives.

    N-ECCO School

    The N-ECCO School gives nurses who might still be in training and have an interest in IBD the possibility to attend an IBD focused course. Since 2016, dietitians also are invited to join this course. Participation is based upon invitation as nurses are nominated by the N-ECCO National Representatives.

    ECCO: EduCational Course for Industry

    The ECCO: EduCational COurses for Industry are organised by ClinCom and are split into between the Basic and the Advanced ECCO: EduCational COurse for Industry. Both courses take place every other year, alternately.

    Basic ECCO: EduCational COurse for Industry: This educational course is a practical introduction to IBD for colleagues in industry that covers a broad range of topics. Participants may be non-medical or medically qualified without any experience in IBD.

    Advanced ECCO: EduCational COurse for Industry: This educational course is an advanced module of the Basic ECCO: EduCational COurse for Industry. It is a 4-hour highly interactive session between Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and industry. Each topic is introduced in a short overview talk by one KOL and is followed by an interactive panel discussion between ECCO-KOLs and industry.

    N-ECCO Research Forum

    The aim of this meeting is to encourage networking between nurses across Europe and internationally, to share development, design and delivery of nurse research, to promote collaboration of research nurse studies, and to mentor new nurses in research within IBD.

    ECCO Basic Imaging Workshop in collaboration with ESGAR & IBUS

    The ECCO Basic Imaging Workshops are organised by the Education Committee (EduCom) in collaboration with ESGAR and IBUS. These workshops are devoted to the features and advancements of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy as well as bowel ultrasonography and MRI. Real cases place the use of these elements within the clinical context.

    Y-ECCO Science Workshop

    At the 19th Congress of ECCO, Y-ECCO will organise its 10th Y-ECCO Science Workshop. This workshop offers basic science a more visible platform within ECCO at the ECCO Congress. Invited young basic scientists are given the opportunity to present and discuss their own research with peers and senior opinion leaders.

    EpiCom Workshop

    The course is designed for clinicians and researchers with an interest in clinical application of epidemiology and identifying gaps in knowledge for future research. The workshop takes place every two years at the ECCO congress covering a range of epidemiologic topics.

    SciCom Workshops

    The SciCom Workshops are organised by the Scientific Committee (SciCom) and focus on different topics each year with the primary goal of harmonising IBD practices within ECCO Country Members and providing continuous medical education.

    ECCO Ultrasound Workshop - Advanced in collaboration with ESGAR & IBUS

    The Imaging Workshops are hands-on, practical workshops on endoscopy, bowel ultrasound and MRI for the evaluation and monitoring of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and provide a unique opportunity to gain specialist knowledge and some practical experience in this evolving field, which will facilitate non-invasive monitoring and change your practice.

    P-ECCO Educational Course

    The P-ECCO Educational Course, launched by the Paediatric Committee (P-ECCO) brings paediatric treatments closer to adult physicians as well as IBD Nurses and offers continuous medical education with the ultimate aim of providing a smooth transition from paediatric to adult care. In 2022 the theme of the course will be “Paediatric IBD, when the going gets tough".

    ClinCom Workshop

    The ClinCom Workshop is organised for clinicians (gastroenterologists, surgeons, clinical researchers, and paediatricians) who are active in clinical trials and wish to share their experience with peers and colleagues. The ClinCom Workshop takes place every other year at the ECCO Congress. Participants take home full knowledge on how to set a feasible trial, how to handle biological material, and how to deal with ethical requirements.

    N-ECCO Network Meeting

    The N-ECCO Network Meeting provides educational and networking opportunities and covers all aspects of IBD with a mix of presentations from nursing, medical, surgical and paediatric specialties.

    S-ECCO IBD Masterclass

    The S-ECCO IBD Masterclass is organised by the Surgeons of ECCO (S-ECCO). The aim of this Masterclass is to foster the results of a multidisciplinary approach and it offers hot debates, trial updates and free papers.

    D-ECCO Workshop

    The D-ECCO Workshop provides the opportunity to reach and educate dietitians, IBD Nurses and physicians from across Europe. The course has been conceptualised by the Dietitians of ECCO (D-ECCO).

    H-ECCO IBD Masterclass

    The H-ECCO IBD Masterclass is organised by the Histopathologists of ECCO (H-ECCO). This 1.5 day course covers different topics under the broad heading of IBD pathology. The goal of the H-ECCO IBD Masterclass is the engagement and the achievement of higher standards of histopathological reporting of IBD.

    ECCO Postgraduate Course in IBD

    This is a half day course organised by EduCom to give gastroenterologists in private practice more insight and tips on IBD patients’ management and treatment. This encompasses an overview of the IBD landscape by covering the whole treatment strategy from the conventional immunosuppressive to the last available biologic agent, combined with case-based presentations.


    ECCO Educational Workshops

    The primary goal of this educational activity is the implementation of the ECCO Guidelines on Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. The programme of these workshops is created around clinical cases, with the intention of being as educational and interactive as possible, to allow participants to take active part in the discussions. Every year, four to five ECCO Educational Workshops are organised within Europe and one to two are held outside of Europe.


    e-CCO Learning

    To foster learning and align practices with the ECCO Guidelines, we have created the e-Learning platform, which is frequently updated to include all the latest developments and to keep all the learning materials up-to-date.

    The e-Learning platform comprises a searchable e-Library that contains multimedia reference material (Talking Heads, Educational Audio Podcasts, Skills Videos) in conjunction with interactive case-based e-Courses.

    More recently, we have also added the IBD Communication Toolbox, which is a series of podcasts, recorded by gastroentherologists, where you can hear how IBD experts deal with questions that are commonly asked by patients.