IEEE Region 9 Rising Stars Latin America and Caribbean Conference 2026 The IEEE Region 9 Rising Stars Latin America and Caribbean Conference stands as the most prestigious and impactful career-accelerating initiative organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers within this vibrant geographical area. Designed specifically to catalyze the professional journeys of the region's most promising engineering students and young professionals, this summit goes far beyond a traditional academic symposium. It is meticulously crafted to bridge the critical gap between university education and the rigorous demands of the modern technology industry. The conference fosters a unique ecosystem where theoretical knowledge meets practical application, providing attendees with a comprehensive suite of professional development opportunities. Throughout the event, participants immerse themselves in a rich program filled with technical innovation keynotes, interactive panel discussions, and hands-on workshops. These sessions are deliberately focused on the most pressing global challenges and technological frontiers, including the deployment of advanced Artificial Intelligence, the execution of enterprise digital transformation strategies, the development of sustainable systems, climate resilience, and humanitarian engineering. By tackling these themes, the conference ensures that emerging Latin American and Caribbean talent is well-equipped to drive future innovations that address both local and global needs. A prime example of this ambitious regional involvement is the active participation of a single, member representing the IEEE Student Branch from the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH), belonging to the Centro Occidente Section. Serving as the sole delegate for their branch, this standout student will be fully immersed in the diverse array of conferences and workshops, acting as a vital conduit of information. By attending these high-level sessions, the UMSNH representative is on a mission to absorb cutting-edge insights and bring invaluable, world-class knowledge back to their local academic community. Furthermore, this individual will have the unique opportunity to interact directly with global IEEE leaders, distinguished industry experts, and proactive corporate recruiters. This intimate access facilitates powerful personal mentorships, opens doors to immediate career opportunities, and allows this singular delegate to actively contribute to a cross-border community of forward-thinking innovators who are shaping the future of technology across the hemisphere. The Rising Stars Hackathon (COPA & AWS) A cornerstone of the conference experience is the highly anticipated Rising Stars Hackathon, an electrifying, high-intensity competition made possible through strategic partnerships with industry giants such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Copa Airlines. Moving away from traditional, long-form coding marathons, this hackathon is dynamically structured around a fast-paced "Capture the Flag" format. This innovative design requires participants to form highly collaborative, multidisciplinary squads of four that must work synergistically to solve a relentless stream of bite-sized, escalating technical puzzles. Rather than grappling with abstract or purely theoretical concepts, the teams are plunged into real-world industry scenarios. They are challenged to analyze and manipulate authentic commercial aviation datasets, requiring them to extract actionable insights and operational efficiencies under strict time constraints. To conquer these challenges, competitors must demonstrate high proficiency in modern, cutting-edge technology stacks, leveraging advanced data analytics, deploying generative artificial intelligence models, and seamlessly integrating scalable cloud computing services. Adding to the fierce and vibrant competitive spirit of the event, the solitary representative from the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo will be boldly stepping into the arena to compete in this grueling challenge. Joining forces with other bright minds from across the continent to form a highly capable multidisciplinary squad, this UMSNH student will bring their academic rigor, technical prowess, and innovative mindset to the forefront. They will be directly competing against top talents from all over Latin America to crack these complex aviation and cloud-based puzzles. The atmosphere within the hackathon arena is deliberately engineered to be both thrilling and highly competitive, amplified by a prominent live leaderboard that updates in real-time as teams successfully capture flags. Beyond the immediate thrill of the competition and the allure of substantial prizes, the hackathon functions as a premier talent incubator. For this dedicated student from the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, it serves as a high-stakes recruitment sandbox where top technology companies actively scout the brightest emerging minds, offering exclusive mentorships and fast-tracked career opportunities to those who prove they can excel under pressure. Room: N34-137, Bldg: GO Quito Hotel, Av. Eloy Alfaro Catalina Aldaz QUITO, Pichincha Ecuador, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador, 170102
