The International Conference on Recent Trends in Microelectronics, Computing, Automation, and Communication Systems (ICMACC 2026), held over three days from Nov 5-7 at VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering & Technology (VNRVJIET), Hyderabad, brought together researchers, academicians, industry experts and students from India and abroad to exchange ideas on emerging technologies and their real-world applications.
A key focus of ICMACC 2026 was to encourage students to move beyond conventional classroom learning and engage directly with the rapidly evolving technology ecosystem. The conference provided opportunities to interact with international researchers and industry practitioners, explore emerging research directions, present technical work and receive expert feedback. Panel discussions, in particular, enabled students to engage with experts and seek answers to their questions.
Complementing the academic programme was a robotics innovation hackathon that attracted over 450 students across 104 teams from five Indian states and South Africa. Eight shortlisted teams showcased their projects during the conference, with the top three teams receiving prizes.
Themed ‘Fusion of Deep and Emerging Technologies: Shaping the Future Frontiers of Innovation’, the conference received over 2,000 research paper submissions from eight countries: the USA, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Australia, Germany, Oman, Japan and Bangladesh. Of these, 128 papers were selected for publication in the conference proceedings, with selected papers to be submitted to IEEE Xplore® for inclusion. The eight-track programme featured nine keynote addresses by industry and academic experts, alongside 108 research paper presentations. Discussions brought together perspectives from industry, research and academia on technological innovation, women in engineering and emerging opportunities for young professionals.
Addressing the young participants, Dr Clif Kussmaul, Principal Consultant, Green Mango Associates LLP, USA, underscored the importance of collaboration in tackling increasingly complex challenges. Dr Kalyan K Sen, President & CTO, Sen Engineering Solutions Inc., USA, encouraged students to stay relevant by strengthening their fundamentals. Dr Y Sreenivas Rao, Director, R&D, VNRVJIET, emphasised the need to translate research and development into real-world impact through collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Mr Durga Prasad Kode, General Secretary, Vignana Jyothi, urged the research and technology community to direct technological advancements towards addressing broader societal challenges.
