Frequently Asked Questions :: IEEE Conference 2025

Below are answers to common questions about the IEEE IES Generative AI Hackathon 2026.

Can I participate individually?
Yes, you can. Teams can have 1–5 members. We strongly encourage collaboration, but solo participants are welcome.
Do I have to pay any registration fee?
No, participation in the hackathon is free. Just sign up during the registration period (Jan 25– Feb 15, 2026).
Is IEEE membership mandatory?
No, IEEE membership is not mandatory to compete in the hackathon. However, if you are selected to the top 6, at least one person from the team has to take IEEE membership to process the travel grant reimbursements.
How are mentors assigned?
Mentorship is optional. If you request a mentor during registration, assignments are made based on the subject area of your proposal. We aim to match teams with mentors who have relevant technical expertise.

What if I don’t have a fully thought out project? That is completely fine. You may request mentorship, and mentors will guide you from ideation to implementation throughout the hackathon. Having an initial idea is sufficient to get started.
What if I don’t have a dataset yet?
We recommend exploring IEEE Dataport or other open repositories. Feel free to collect your own data if feasible.
Do I need a fully working prototype?
The final deliverable is a research paper. While a prototype or simulation is ideal to validate your results, you will be judged primarily on technical depth, originality, and the quality of research.
Can I use open-source libraries or pre-trained models?
Yes, as long as you cite them properly and comply with licensing. Transparency is key in academic research.
What programming languages or frameworks are allowed?
There are no restrictions. You may use any programming language, framework, or platform suitable for your research, as long as your methodology and results are clearly explained.

What is the expected length of the final paper?
The final manuscript should be up to 6 pages, following the IEEE conference template in a two-column format.
Can I submit my paper to a conference independently?
Conference selection will be recommended by the hackathon judging team based on the scope and quality of your paper. You must then submit the paper directly to the recommended conference following their submission process.
Which conferences will papers be submitted to?
Selected papers will be submitted to IECON 2026 or IRAI 2026, depending on relevance and recommendations from the judging panel.
How long does the peer review process take?
The conference peer review process typically takes 1–2 months, after which acceptance decisions are communicated by the conference.

How are winners selected?
From all the accepted papers to a conference (IECON or IRAI), a panel of IEEE IES experts evaluates papers on:

What happens if I miss a milestone?
Missing a milestone may reduce your chances of being shortlisted for the final presentation. Timely submissions are crucial for receiving feedback and continuing to the next phase.
How many teams will receive awards?
For each conference, 3 top teams and 3 runners-up will be selected. This results in 6 winning teams per conference and 12 winning teams in total across both conferences.

What does the hackathon financially support?
The hackathon will covers paper publication even if you attend the conference or not. Author registration and travel costs are covered only for teams receiving travel grants.
Can my team receive more than one travel grant?
No. Travel grants are awarded per team, not per paper. Even if a team has multiple accepted papers, only one travel grant will be allocated.
What if I cannot attend the conference in person?
If your paper is accepted for IECON 2026 and you are unable to attend in person, the hackathon team will present your paper on your behalf, as IECON is a physical-only conference. Since IRAI 2026 is a hybrid conference, authors may choose to present their paper online if they are unable to attend in person.
Do all team members need to attend the conference?
No. Typically, one author presents the paper at the conference. Travel grants, when awarded, are usually intended for one representative per team.
I am a winner, but I cannot attend the conference. Can I receive the travel grant as a cash prize? No. The award is a travel grant, not a cash prize. If none of the team members are able to attend the conference, your team will still be recognised as a winner. However, the travel grant will be reallocated to the next eligible team in the finalist list.