On 17 – 19 July 2025, principal investigator Borut Klabjan, affiliate researcher Sabine Rutar as well as advisory board members Hannes Grandits and Pieter Judson attended the first Central European History Convention, hosted by the University of Vienna and the Institute of Austrian Historical Research. The event provided a platform for exchange on Central European History from the late medieval period to the mid-20th century, with a focus on the lands of the former Habsburg Empire and its neighbors, including the territories of the former Ottoman empire. It inaugurated what is to be the annual European variant of the US-based convention of the Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES). Around 300 young scholars on location in Vienna gave impressive proof of the breadths and depths of their research, and appreciated the opportunity to discuss their work with established scholars in the field. The Program and Executive Committee, spearheaded by Peter Becker (Vienna) and Dominique Reill (Edmonton), dedicated the conference to Pieter Judson, leading scholar of Habsburg history. We wish you all the best for a healthy, long-lasting and prolific retirement, Pieter!