Frequently Asked Questions :: IEEE Industrial Electronics Society

Below are answers to common questions about the IEEE IES Generative AI Hackathon 2027.

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 (October 20 – December 31, 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?
All hackathon papers are submitted to IRAI 2027. You must submit the paper directly to the conference following its submission process.
Which conference will papers be submitted to?
Papers will be submitted to IRAI 2027, the IEEE International Conference on Responsible Artificial Intelligence, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 17 to 20 November 2027.
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 papers accepted to IRAI 2027, 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?
3 top teams and 3 runners-up will be selected, giving a minimum of 6 winning teams. The organizers may award additional travel grants based on paper quality.

What does the hackathon financially support?
The hackathon covers paper publication even if you attend the conference or not. Travel costs are covered only for teams receiving travel grants. Author registration is not covered by the travel grant, and must be paid by the authors.
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?
Presentation options for authors who cannot travel will follow the IRAI 2027 author guidelines. Please contact the organizers if you 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.