Collaboration and Engagement

2026 Call for IEEE SMC Collaboration and Engagement Proposals

The IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society (SMCS) Collaboration and Engagement subcommittee invites you to submit proposals for initiatives that support this mission. We encourage projects, programs, and events that foster meaningful collaboration, community engagement, and knowledge exchange within the SMCS community and beyond.

The 2026 Call for Proposals seeks innovative initiatives that promote collaboration between different stakeholders, enhance community engagement, and facilitate knowledge transfer in systems, man, and cybernetics. Priority will be given to proposals that:

• Foster partnerships between academia, industry, and society
• Engage students and early-career professionals
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration
• Build or strengthen SMCS communities worldwide
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and technology transfer

Each project is eligible for a maximum funding of up to $5,000, with the total funding subject to reduction at the discretion of the committee.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis, considering their quality, feasibility, and expected impact on fostering collaboration and engagement within SMCS and its stakeholder communities.

Reporting Requirements

Funding recipients must submit a final Activity Report within 30 days of the event’s completion. The report should be an article including photos and videos of the event, as well as a detailed description of the activities and their impact on collaboration and community engagement.

The report will be published in the SMC magazine, website, and/or eNewsletter. More info about the eNewsletterare available here: https://www.ieeesmc.org/publications/enewsletter/

Grant Disbursement

Please note that to access the grant, recipients must choose one of the following options.

• Option 1: Funds reimbursed after the event, upon submission and approval of eligible receipts, in accordance with IEEE financial rules.
• Option 2: Direct fund Transfer to an IEEE OU (IEEE Section, Chapter, or Student Branch Chapter). Applicants are responsible for identifying and coordinating with the appropriate unit. Information on IEEE OU is available through the IEEE Organization Roster. Funds can be transferred to the Chapter’s bank account only if it has an IEEE-approved account. When no eligible Chapter exists or when the Chapter does not have an approved bank account, funds can be transferred to the Section’s IEEE-approved bank account. The Section then redistributes the funds to the Chapter, Student Branch Chapter, or, where permitted, supports the individual initiative. Coordination with the Section is the responsibility of the grant recipient. For Student Branches and Student Branch Chapters outside India, funds must be routed through the IEEE Section, unless the Student Branch Chapter has an IEEE-approved Concentration Banking (CB) account.

Proposal Submission

Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year.

Approved activities must start within three months of the notification of acceptance and must be completed by the end of 2026. The proposal lead must be an IEEE SMC Society member.

Proposals must be submitted using the following form: https://forms.gle/TYhDDefMCtdWTXuc6

For any inquiries, please get in touch with [email protected]

IEEE is dedicated to fostering technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. Achieving this mission requires diverse perspectives and talents from individuals of various personal, cultural, and disciplinary backgrounds. IEEE is committed to advancing diversity in the technical profession and promoting an inclusive, equitable culture that welcomes, engages, and values all contributors—regardless of race, religion, gender, disability, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

The IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society (SMCS) Collaboration and Engagement subcommittee invites you to submit proposals for initiatives that support this mission. We encourage projects, programs, and events that drive meaningful impact in collaboration and engagement within the SMCS community.

The 2025 Call for Proposals seeks innovative initiatives, particularly those focused on expanding access to education in systems, man, and cybernetics. While all proposals supporting Collaboration and Engagement will be considered, those that enhance educational accessibility will receive priority.

Each project is eligible for a maximum funding of up to $5,000, with the total funding subject to reduction at the discretion of the committee.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on a first-come-first-served basis considering their quality, feasibility, and expected impact of the planned activities on Collaboration and Engagement within SMCS.

Reporting Requirements

Funding recipients must submit a final Activity Report within 30 days of the event’s completion. The report should include photos and videos of the event as well as a detailed description of the activities.

Reports may be featured in the SMC magazine, website, and/or eNewsletter.

Proposal Submission

Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year.

Activities must begin within three months from the notification of acceptance, and finish by the end of 2025. Please note that the person responsible for the proposal should be an IEEE SMC Society member.

Proposals must be submitted using the following form: https://forms.gle/VGMNpcDfcGvtaEZf8

For any inquiries, please contact [email protected]