Electronics and Electrical EngineeringEngineering

IEEE IECON is the flagship yearly conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, devoted to the dissemination of new ideas, research and works in progress in the fields of Robotics and Mechatronics, Power Electronics, Cybersecurity, Renewable Energy, Smart Grid, Digital Twins, AI for Industrial Processes, and Industry 5.0, among others.

IECON program includes workshops, tutorials, panels, keynotes, and presentation of original research and industrial applications.

The world’s industry, research, and academia are cordially invited to participate in a wide array of technical and social activities for the advancement of science, technology, industry, engineering education, and fellowship.

IEEE IECON is the flagship yearly conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, devoted to the dissemination of new ideas, research, and works in progress in industrial electronics and related areas, such as renewable energy, smart grid, power electronics, artificial intelligence, controls, robotics, manufacturing, industrial communications, and other interdisciplinary areas.

In 2025, IECON program will include a plethora of industry-related activities, such as the Industry Forum and an industrial exhibition. For the first time, student competitions will be organized within IECON in topics defined by industry. Companies are kindly invited to participate in these activities according to the following guidelines.

Industrial challenges are called in any of the main topical areas IECON 2025 program will cover, namely:

Green Tech: Renewable Energy, Transportation Electrification, Smart Grid, Microgrids, Energy Storage, Resilience and (Cyber-)Security of Energy Systems.
AI & Industry: Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems, Industrial IoT, Intelligent Manufacturing, Human-Machine Interaction, Smart Cities and Buildings, Deep Learning Applications in Industry
Control, Robotics, and Mechatronics: Intelligent Control Systems, Data-Driven Control, Motion Control, Human-Centric Medicine, Assistive Robotics
Enabling Technologies: Embedded Systems, Cloud and Edge Systems, Industrial Communications, Sensors and Actuators, Industrial Electronics Education
Each participating company will define the specific goals of its challenge, as well as the profile of the target student teams (bachelor, master, PhD).

Competitions are intended to run for the period January – October 2025, will the final contest occurring during IECON 2025. The company will actively collaborate with the IECON 2025 Industrial Activities Committee in the evaluation of the solutions proposed by the participating teams at different stages, as defined in the timeline below.

If required by the characteristics of the challenge, the company may provide specific resources (e.g., development boards, software, robot kits, battery packs) to the participating teams after a first selection of the proposed solutions.

The company will give the winning team an award, in a form to be defined, including but not limited to:

Cash award
Donation of material
Short internship with the company
IECON will provide participating companies with dedicated time slots in meeting rooms to organize recruiting activities, open through public dissemination if desired to all interested candidates, not necessarily just to participating teams.

Participating companies will be offered special rates to take part in the Industrial Exhibition and the Sponsoring Program.

Timeline (deadlines may be flexible per company request):

Submission of challenge proposals: November 15, 2024
Evaluation of challenges by IECON Industrial Activities Committee: November 30, 2024
Registration of participating teams: December 31, 2024
Submission of initial solution proposals: February 28, 2025
Evaluation of initial solution proposals and first selection of teams: March 31, 2025
Submission of intermediate solution proposals by selected teams: June 30, 2025
Evaluation of intermediate proposals and selection of teams for the final contest: July 31, 2025
Registration of teams for the final contest: September 15, 2025
Final contest and winners selection: October 14-16, 2025, during IECON 2025
Award ceremony: October 16, 2025 during IECON banquet.
Proposal content

Problem statement and specific goals
Figures of merit for evaluation
If applicable, specific materials to be used and whether or not the company will be providing (some of) them to selected teams.
Submit proposals to industry@iecon2025.org