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IEEE IES Generative AI Challenge 2026

The IEEE IES Generative AI Challenge is an international, research-focused hackathon that helps participants turn early-stage ideas into peer-reviewed conference papers in the areas of Generative AI and Industry 4.0. This is the 3rd consecutive year of the challenge, following two successful editions that produced multiple conference publications and supported teams to present in person.

This hackathon is open to anyone from any background, whether you have prior experience in academic writing or not. You don’t need to be an IEEE member or have a fully developed project. Even if you just have an idea, we will guide you through the process of turning it into a reality and help you publish your work within the scientific community.

What’s New in 2026

For the first time, the hackathon supports two IEEE conferences in parallel, significantly increasing publication and travel opportunities:

• IRAI 2026 – IEEE International Conference on Responsible Artificial Intelligence
  Melbourne, Australia | 5–7 September 2026

• IECON 2026 – 52nd Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society
  Doha, Qatar | 18–21 October 2026

All papers accepted through the hackathon pathway will be sponsored through the hackathon. The hackathon provides a minimum of 12 travel grants in total for winning teams to present their accepted paper in the conference:

• Top 6 teams for IRAI 2026
• Top 6 teams for IECON 2026

In addition, based on the quality of the manuscript and other considerations (including country of origin), the organizing committee may:

• increase the value of a travel grant, and/or
• award more than 12 travel grants overall.

Why Generative AI?

Generative AI has the power to revolutionize industries by enabling efficient processes, data-driven insights, and intelligent automation. From predictive maintenance and defect detection to supply chain optimization and energy management, Generative AI addresses the complex, real-world needs of industrial and IoT systems. Advanced techniques such as deep learning and transformer-based models empower teams to create novel, AI-driven solutions that redefine what’s possible in industrial innovation.

Why IEEE IES?

As part of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, we’re committed to advancing technology for industry. Our goal is to foster academic and commercial collaborations, nurturing practical solutions that blend engineering expertise with cutting-edge research. By organizing this hackathon, IEEE IES provides a global platform for students, researchers, and professionals to push the boundaries of industrial electronics, ultimately shaping safer, more efficient, and more sustainable systems.

Hackathon Timeline

This hackathon runs for 2.5 months—from February to April 2026 —culminating in the opportunity to present your published paper at IRAI 2026 or IECON 2026 (September - October, 2026). Along this journey:

• You’ll be paired with mentors who possess both industry expertise and a strong research background.
• You’ll develop state-of-the-art Generative AI solutions for real-world industrial problems.
• You’ll learn how to transform a prototype into a full-fledged research paper that meets peer-review standards.

Conference Pathways & Presentation

As the hackathon supports two IEEE conferences, each with a distinct presentation format:

• IECON 2026 (Doha, Qatar)
  IECON is a physical-only conference. Papers accepted under this track must be presented in person. If a winning team is unable to attend, the hackathon team will present the paper on their behalf.

• IRAI 2026 (Melbourne, Australia)
  IRAI is a hybrid conference, allowing authors to present either in person or online. This provides additional flexibility for teams with travel or visa constraints.

Conference allocation is recommended by the judging panel based on the scope, contribution, and relevance of each paper.

Why Join?

1. Long-Term Guidance
   Get more than just a weekend hackathon experience. Our extended format provides continuous mentorship, ensuring your idea matures into a rigorous scientific contribution.

2. Research Publication Opportunity
   Top papers will be presented at IECON 2026 or IRAI 2026, with potential travel grants for the best teams.

3. Global Collaboration
   Work alongside industry experts, researchers, and enthusiasts from around the world, exploring groundbreaking Generative AI use cases in Industry 4.0.

4. Practical Support & Sponsorship
   We offer USD 18,000 in travel support for top teams and USD 100 for hardware/software expenses for all teams that complete the hackathon. Get guidance on data sourcing (e.g., using IEEE Dataport) to bring your project to life.

Example Use Cases where you can brainstrome your ideas

Generative AI demonstrates transformative potential in countless industrial and IoT scenarios. Here are a few inspirations:

• Generative Design for Manufacturing
  Harness AI-driven product design, customization, and simulation to reduce waste and accelerate innovation.

• Human-Machine Collaboration
  Develop advanced interfaces that enable intuitive communication between operators and robotic systems, leveraging large language models for real-time decision-making.

• Anomaly Quality Control & Defect Detection
  Integrate AI to detect unusual sensor patterns early, improving defect detection rates while minimizing manual inspections.

• Energy Optimization
  Dynamically adjust power usage in manufacturing plants, aligning with smart-grid demands and sustainability goals.

• Predictive Maintenance
  Analyze large volumes of operational data for failure forecasting, streamlining maintenance schedules and preventing costly downtimes.

(…and more, such as Process Optimization, Virtual Assistants, Supply Chain Efficiency, Sustainable Manufacturing)

If you are still unsure about your brillient idea, take a look at last year hackathon’s outputs in 2024 and 2025 Hackathon Winner

Hackathon Timeline (2026 Edition)

This hackathon runs for three months, from February to May 2026, and supports teams from concept validation to a complete conference paper submission.

• Registration: 25 January – 15 February 2026
• Shortlisted team announcement: 20 February 2026
• 1st mentor meeting / kick-off: 23 February 2026

Milestones

• Milestone 1 (Concept + Scope): 9 March 2026

• Initial Draft (conference paper draft): 30 March 2026
  (You will have just over a month to go from concept to a ~6 page conference paper. It is tight, but achievable with mentorship.)

• 2nd round revision (expert feedback): 30 March – 20 April 2026

• Final submission to the respective conference: 20 April 2026

• Paper acceptance notification: 15 May 2026

• Winners and travel grant announcement: 20–30 May 2026

• Final camera-ready submission: 15 July 2026

Conference Dates

• IRAI 2026: 5–7 September 2026 (Melbourne, Australia)
• IECON 2026: 18–21 October 2026 (Doha, Qatar)

Travel Grants (Minimum Guaranteed, Can Increase)

Travel grants are awarded per conference track.

• Top 3 teams (Winners) per conference: USD 2,000 per team + potential additional support based on paper quality

• Next 3 teams (Runners-up) per conference: USD 1,000 per team + potential additional support based on paper quality

The minimum number of travel grants and values is confirmed. The maximum number and/or value may be increased based on paper quality and country of origin, at the discretion of the hackathon organizers.

Get Started

1. Register Here – Sign up your team, submit a brief proposal.
2. Check the Timeline – Stay aware of all milestone dates.
3. Review Submission Requirements – Ensure you meet all criteria.
4. Got Questions? – Visit our Q&A page or Contact Us.

We look forward to your innovative ideas and contributions. Let’s push the boundaries of Generative AI in industrial settings together!

Join us, push the boundaries of industrial innovation, and contribute to the ever-evolving field of Generative AI!