We are experiencing a pivotal moment in the history of our profession. Our community’s technology finds applications in various fields, including machine learning, integrated sensing, processing, and communication; robotics and autonomous systems; medical and computational imaging; communication systems; and speech and language processing systems, among others. As signal processing technology continues to advance, these applications will likely expand. The need to narrow the gap between academia and industry has seldom been greater. Our newly formed Industry Board addresses the challenge.
As discussed in a past column, the IEEE Signal Processing Society (SPS) has established an Industry Board aimed at better serving our members and defining the future direction of signal processing. Reporting to the Society’s Board of Governors, the Industry Board is composed of seven members who represent leaders, innovators, and practitioners from various signal processing subspecialties, regions, and backgrounds. Anthony Vetro, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs, is the inaugural chair and brings more than 25 years of experience in multimedia signal processing and technology commercialization.
Industry Board benefits for members: Our members now have new opportunities to engage and network through the Industry Board. For one, this board oversees our newly established Corporate Engagement Program, which aims to provide additional benefits to our industry members. More specifically, the program offers our industry partners opportunities in education and professional development, networking, talent acquisition, and pipeline development as well as thought leadership. These efforts will enhance the value provided to industry partners and offer greater opportunities for our industry members to engage more effectively with the broader community.
Furthermore, the board supports ongoing education events specifically for professionals in the industry. These events complement our existing benefits, which include IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, access to the Signal Processing Digital Library, and conference discounts. The educational programs include practical, application-focused courses designed to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies.
Mentorship initiatives are available through the Industry Board for students and recent graduates, supporting their transition from academic life to professional careers. These initiatives provide career guidance, help participants to explore industry prospects, and connect them with seasoned professionals who offer valuable insights into the practical application of signal processing techniques in everyday scenarios.
An industry voice within our Society: If you are an IEEE industry practitioner who is not yet a member of the SPS, the Industry Board presents a compelling reason to join. Approximately 42% of our more than 23,000 members are industry professionals, enabling you to join a growing community that understands both the theoretical and practical foundations of signal processing. We seek nominations for industry volunteers to populate committees and boards, ensuring that the perspectives of practitioners like you influence our technological direction, publications, and honors. You can help to identify key technology trends and markets that will shape our research priorities, inform our meetings, and influence how success is recognized within the profession.
Our membership benefits are crafted for working professionals. Basic membership starts at just US$22 annually, granting you access to IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, reduced conference prices, and our Inside Signal Processing Newsletter. Additionally, the Industry Board plans to launch a new industry newsletter soon, providing timely, industry-relevant updates to its subscribers.
The services of the Industry Board go beyond member services. It includes monitoring trends and issues via the marketplace and technology reports. These reports will be used to shape industry sessions at our conferences, special issues in our journals and magazines, and help to steer our community toward interesting problems and impactful research. Additionally, the board encourages industry innovation through awards, acknowledging breakthroughs in both practical applications and theoretical advancements, extending the influence of our discipline in both industry and academia.
Your partner in progress: In conclusion, the purpose of our Industry Board is not to create a structural fix but to make the SPS relevant, inclusive, and impactful for all members. Whether you are a graduate student exploring your future options, a tenured faculty member considering how to commercialize your research, or an industry practitioner seeking the latest technologies, the Industry Board can open new doors for you.
I encourage you to engage with the Industry Board and its chair, Anthony Vetro, by visiting https://signalprocessingsociety.org/our-story/industry-board. Please share your thoughts on trends you observe in the industry, suggest topics for future continuing education events, and identify significant real-world problems that need to be addressed. Your contributions will help to shape our upcoming events.
Thank you for reading,
Kostas Plataniotis
