IEEE IES Brazil Hosts the 1st IEEE IES Brazilian Members Workshop in Belo Horizonte

Academia–Industry–Society planning the future of Engineering Research in Brazil

Date: July 27–28, 2025

Location: Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte/MG, Brazil

On July 27–28, 2025, IEEE IES Brazil hosted the 1st IEEE IES Brazilian Members Workshop at UFMG in Belo Horizonte. The event brought together IEEE IES leadership, researchers, and industry representatives to strengthen the community, foster academia–industry collaboration, and discuss strategic priorities for the coming years in Brazil.

Workshop attendees at Inhotim Institute (Brumadinho), during the cultural visit — Workshop attendees during the cultural visit to the Inhotim Institute (Brumadinho).

Day 1 — Community-building and cultural immersion (Sunday, July 27)

The workshop opened with an informal welcome and networking, followed by a group visit to the Inhotim Institute (Brumadinho). The cultural program was designed to encourage meaningful exchanges around creativity, interdisciplinary thinking, and societal impact. The day concluded with a cocktail reception, reinforcing a friendly and collaborative atmosphere.

Networking reception during the workshop (evening event) — Networking reception during the workshop social program.

Workshop plenary session with attendees at UFMG — Plenary session at UFMG’s School of Engineering.

Day 2 — Technical program and strategic dialogue at UFMG (Monday, July 28)

On Monday, the workshop continued at UFMG’s School of Engineering with opening remarks by UFMG representatives. A key session featured presentations by IEEE IES leadership, highlighting the IES global mission, strategic vision, and the Society’s growing presence in Brazil.

IES leadership session:

Milos Manic (Virginia Commonwealth University, USA) — IEEE IES President
Stamatis Karnouskos (SAP, Germany) — Vice President for Industrial Activities
Luis Gomes (UNINOVA-CTS, Portugal) — Vice President for Conference Activities
Leandro Buss Becker (UFSC, Brazil) — Chair of the Brazilian IES Committee

IEEE IES leadership presentation during the workshop — IEEE IES leadership presentation during the technical program.

Industry engagement: AI in engineering applications

The program also highlighted industry perspectives. Representatives from Embraer, Instituto Vale de Tecnologia, and Synkar shared briefings on the use of artificial intelligence in engineering applications—reinforcing the importance of bridging strong theoretical foundations with real-world practice.

Industry talk during the workshop (Instituto Tecnológico Vale) — Industry session featuring Instituto Tecnológico Vale.

Industry presentation slide: “AI Strategy Focus Areas” — Industry presentation: “AI Strategy Focus Areas”.

Breakout discussions and engineering education panel

In the afternoon, participants joined breakout discussion groups on themes central to the future of IES in Brazil, including membership growth, student engagement, and ideas for new community-driven initiatives. The day also included a panel on engineering education, addressing curriculum reform, interdisciplinary training, and emerging challenges.

Group photo with the official banner of the 1st IEEE IES Brazilian Members Workshop — Group photo of participants at the 1st IEEE IES Brazilian Members Workshop (UFMG, Belo Horizonte).

Closing and next steps

The workshop concluded with a closing ceremony and a formal dinner, reinforcing the collaborative spirit developed throughout the two days. Overall, the event was regarded as a success—both for its technical content and for strengthening face-to-face dialogue—creating momentum for future initiatives and partnerships within the IEEE IES community in Brazil.