IEEE Society Helps Researchers Meet Their Next Corporate Backer

['The IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) has launched a Research Collaboration Pitch Session initiative, which is proving to be a catalyst for meaningful engagement between academic researchers and industry innovators. This program connects promising researchers with industry leaders who can offer them funding, mentorship, and connections to bring interesting ideas closer to real-world deployment.', "Rather than relying on chance encounters at conferences, the pitch sessions create a focused environment. Five academic presenters share their work with five industry representatives, known as 'innovation scouts': senior leaders primarily chosen from ComSoc's Corporate Program partner companies such as Ericsson, Intel, Keysight, and Nokia.

The curated format ensures that each idea receives dedicated attention from professionals who are seeking new concepts aligned with their organization's priorities.", "The initiative was launched in November at the IEEE Middle East Conference on Communications and Networking (MECOM) in Cairo and appeared in December at the IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM) in Taipei, Taiwan. One of the most compelling outcomes came from the inaugural session in Cairo, where Angela Waithaka, a student member and biomedical engineering student at Kenyatta University, in Nairobi, Kenya, presented her 'AI-Driven Predictive Communication Networks for Enhanced Performance in Resource-Constrained Environments' paper.", "Waithaka's research tackles a critical challenge: Next-generation communication systems increasingly rely on artificial intelligence and machine learning, yet most existing architectures consume abundant computational and energy resources, which are not always present in developing regions. Waithaka proposed lightweight, adaptive AI/machine learning models capable of delivering predictive, reliable communication performance even under tight resource constraints.

Her vision resonated with Ruiqi 'Richie' Liu, a master researcher at ZTE in China, who invited her to establish an ITU account so she could participate in the organization's meetings discussing global telecommunications standardization projects—which would elevate her work to an international stage.", "The momentum continued at GLOBECOM, where Nirmala Shenoy, a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology, in New York, spoke on the topic of simplifying data center network protocols. Shenoy's focus on reducing protocol complexity while maintaining scalability, resilience, and low latency caught the attention of an innovation scout from Nokia, who heads its eXtended Reality Lab in Madrid. The early success stories demonstrate the power of intentional, structured engagement, and the pitch sessions are becoming a bridge between academic creativity and industry implementation.", 'This year, sessions will be held during the IEEE International Conference on Communications in Glasgow from 24 to 28 May, and more are scheduled during the IEEE International Mediterranean Conference on Communications and Networking in Sardinia from 6 to 9 July, and at GLOBECOM in Macau from 7 to 11 December.