This section provides important information regarding paper acceptance at participating conferences, the independence of this hackathon, and details on travel and hardware grants. Please read carefully before participating.

Paper Acceptance Disclaimer

• No Guaranteed Acceptance:
  While the hackathon includes an internal review process involving mentorship and expert feedback, final paper acceptance decisions rest entirely with the independent conference peer-review process.

• Hackathon Independence:
  The IEEE IES Generative AI Challenge is organized independently of IECON and IRAI. Hackathon organizers have no influence over conference review outcomes, scheduling, or publication decisions.

• Conference Inquiries:
  For conference-related matters such as registration, visa invitation letters, schedules, and presentation logistics, please contact the conference organizers directly.

Travel Grants

We provide IGAC Travel Grants to support IEEE IES Generative AI Challenge winners in presenting their papers at IECON 2026 and IRAI 2026. Key details are outlined below.

1. Grant Purpose

• Covers airfare, conference registration, accommodation, visa fees, and local transportation for one (1) team member to present an accepted paper at IECON 2026 or IRAI 2026.
• If additional team members attend, reimbursement may be possible but is capped within the same overall funding limit.

2. Grant Amount

• Top 3 teams per conference (total 6): Up to USD 2,000 per team.
• Next 3 teams per conference: Up to USD 1,000 per team.
• Reimbursements are processed within one month after the conference concludes.
• An additional travel grant pool may be allocated based on the quality of the manuscript, reviewer feedback, and travel distance. Final decisions regarding additional funding rest with the hackathon organizing committee.

3. Eligibility

To be eligible for a travel grant, participants must:

• Be an active IEEE and IEEE IES member.
• Have a paper accepted by IECON 2026 or IRAI 2026.
• Complete conference registration (early-bird rates only).
• Attend and present the paper at the conference.
• Adhere to the IEEE Code of Ethics.

4. Reimbursement Timeline & Process

• Reimbursement Basis: Participants must cover expenses upfront and submit valid tax invoices for eligible costs.
• Eligible Expenses: Airfare, registration fees, accommodation, visa fees, and local transportation.
• Not Eligible: Meals, insurance, or personal expenses.
• IEEE Travel Policy:
  • Economy-class flights only (lowest non-refundable fare).
  • Single-room occupancy for accommodation.
• For detailed policies, refer to the IEEE Volunteer Travel Guidelines.
• Reimbursements are processed within one month after the conference, subject to document verification.

5. Not Eligible for Other IEEE Travel Grants

Participants receiving IGAC Travel Grants are not eligible for additional travel funding for IECON 2026 or IRAI 2026 from IEEE, IES, or the respective conferences.

6. Visa Invitation Letters

• Hackathon organizers do not issue visa invitation letters.
• Official invitation letters are issued by the conference upon successful registration.
• If required, the hackathon team can provide a sponsorship confirmation letter upon request.

Hardware Grants (Up to USD 100)

• Eligibility:
  Teams that complete all three hackathon milestones and submit a final paper to a conference are eligible for reimbursement of up to USD 100 in hardware, cloud, or API usage costs.

• Reimbursement Process:

  • Submit scanned receipts for eligible expenses.
  • Reimbursements are subject to verification and approval by the hackathon organizers.
  • Approved reimbursements are processed after the hackathon concludes.

Certificates

• Completion Certificates:
  All teams that complete the hackathon by submitting a final project will receive an official certificate of participation from the IEEE IES Generative AI Challenge.

For questions related to reimbursements or grants, please contact the Hackathon Organizers.
For conference-related inquiries such as registration or visa letters, please contact the Conference Organizing Committee directly.

Still Have Questions?

• Visit the Contact page for direct email support.
• Follow our social media channels for updates (coming soon).

We are committed to making your hackathon journey smooth, transparent, and rewarding.