By Manfred (Fred) Schindler, Tech Summit 2025 General Chair
Our inaugural IEEE Tech Summit was held in Glasgow, Scotland, on October 2 -3. Two hundred participants convened on the timely topic of CleanTech Solutions. Tech Summit is a curated event, so there was no call for papers, and no proceedings will be published. We invited speakers and panelists across IEEE and beyond. Many of our Societies and Councils participated along with other IEEE units. All of IEEE’s six major boards played a role. We would also like to thank our many sponsors, including numerous Societies and Councils. You can find the list of sponsors and the full program at techsummit.ieee.org.
One of the highlights of the Summit was the Grand Challenge, the IEEE Global Start-up Competition. It was organized in partnership with IEEE Entrepreneurship, Young Professionals, and Student Activities. We received entries in two tracks: 117 for the Ideation track and 64 for the Startup track, representing 40 countries. Finalists were invited to make their final pitches at the Tech Summit. The judging was highly competitive! On day one, four Ideation Finalists pitched, and Beta14 Labs from the UK, with a biodegradable packaging technology, was our winner. On day two, five Startup finalists pitched, and Urava Labs from India, with a novel water-from-air system, was the winner.
We had two days filled with engaging and insightful discussions, as well as a terrific social program. Our reception was at the Glasgow Science Centre. The closing session gave me an opportunity to summarize the key takeaways from the two days. They were:
1. We didn’t leave the Stone Age because we ran out of stones — innovation drives progress. This was the most memorable quote of the Summit. We don’t need to wait for shortages of fossil fuels to act; it’s much more urgent.
2. Technology alone isn’t enough; behavior and markets must evolve alongside it. Advances in technology are enablers, and it’s critical to understand that economics, attitudes, and resources are at least as important. For example, adequate infrastructure is crucial for electrocution to be embraced.
3. We must “look in the mirror” and take ownership of the change we seek. This was highlighted by the critical role the semiconductors play in our society, and the need to make their manufacture more sustainable. Furthermore, we need to understand the full life cycle of our products, especially when the product’s useful life is over.
4. Policy matters — long-term commitment is crucial. We’ve observed that policy makers’ dedication to sustainability varies over time. We must take a long-term perspective, recognizing that the fundamental need will persist.
5. Climate change increases disasters and their severity, and technology can be part of the response. The technologies we develop are crucial for locating, forecasting, and assessing the wide range of climate-related disasters. The IEEE MOVE program, now a global effort, demonstrates how our technologies can address the immediate needs of victims and support disaster responders.
6. Our motivation must be for future generations. My most adorable grandson can symbolize future generations. We need to leave them a sustainable home.
And that led to our Call to Action: Collaboration across verticals is key to advancing CleanTech for the next generation. I hope the convening of all our disciplines at the Tech Summit leads to more collaborations across our communities. I look forward to the next Tech Summit and the additional opportunities it will bring for us to work together to advance technology for the benefit of humanity.
