Cart is empty The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), in partnership with the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE), invites abstracts and panel proposals for presentation at the inaugural Engineering Symposium & Industry Awards 2026. The symposium will foster collaboration across academia, industry, and government, with sessions designed to produce actionable recommendations and policy insights.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation
Addressing SDG 13: Climate Action
- Solutions for flood management, drought resilience, and coastal protection
- Integrating green infrastructure into traditional engineering design
- Leveraging renewable energy innovations for sustainable growth (solar, wind, and hybrid systems)
- Water security and sustainable natural resource management
- Climate-smart irrigation innovations and technologies
- Design standards and engineering codes for flooding, renewable energy, and climate change adaptation
Access to Clean Water and Sanitation
Addressing SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Innovative approaches to water treatment, distribution, and conservation
- Ensuring equitable access to safe water, particularly in underserved regions such as Secunda and agricultural/farming areas
- Managing competing demands for agricultural, industrial, and domestic water needs
Sustainable Infrastructure and Smart Cities
Addressing SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Integrating smart technologies to improve infrastructure resilience and efficiency
- Developing adaptable designs that cater to urbanisation and changing demographics
- Ensuring inclusive access to infrastructure solutions for marginalised communities
- Spatial Planning and Land Use Management (SPLUM) and land cover management
- Innovative approaches to infrastructure management (condition tracking and assessment)
- Applying circular economy principles in urban and infrastructure systems
Future Skills and Engineering Education for a Changing World
Addressing SDG 4: Quality Education
- Strategies for building a diverse and inclusive engineering workforce
- Enhancing STEM education and career awareness among youth, particularly in rural and underrepresented communities
- Strengthening mentorship programmes to guide aspiring engineers
- Reimagining engineering education to respond to digital transformation and sustainability challenges
Digital Transformation in Engineering
Addressing SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Harnessing data analytics, AI, and digital twins for improved design, maintenance, and asset management
- Balancing automation with workforce upskilling to mitigate job displacement
- Enhancing digital collaboration across sectors and regions
Ethics, Governance, and Engineering Accountability
Addressing SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Encouraging transparent decision-making in infrastructure investments
- Embedding ethical frameworks into engineering education and professional practice
- Ensuring alignment between engineering outcomes, sustainability, and community needs
Partnerships for Sustainable Development
Addressing SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
- Facilitating collaboration between academia, industry, government, and civil society
- Building alliances to share knowledge and scale up solutions for greater impact
- Developing funding models that balance innovation with social responsibility
- Encouraging international partnerships while supporting local innovation ecosystems
Engineering Innovations for Emerging Economies
Addressing SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- Identifying scalable, low-cost solutions to improve livelihoods and food security
- Developing engineering solutions tailored to informal settlements and remote areas
- Promoting local material use and sustainable construction practices
- Leveraging indigenous knowledge in combination with modern engineering innovation
Presentation Formats
- Oral presentations
- Panel discussions
- Interactive workshops
- Innovation labs (students & young professionals)
- Poster sessions
Submission Guidelines
- Abstract length: 300–500 words
- Full paper length: Maximum 6,000 words, Harvard referencing style, submitted in MS Word or PDF
- Abstracts must include:
- Title of the paper
- Author(s) name(s), affiliation(s), and contact details
- Objective, methodology, results, and implications
- Relevance to the symposium theme and SDGs
Review Process
All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review for:
- Relevance to symposium themes and SDGs
- Technical quality and rigor
- Originality and innovation
- Practical or policy implications
Acceptance notifications will include reviewer feedback to guide full paper preparation.
Publication and Indexing
- Accepted papers will be published in the official Symposium Proceedings (with ISBN/ISSN registration).
- Selected high-quality papers will be considered for publication in partnered accredited journals (to be announced).
Benefits of Participation
- Present research and innovations to a distinguished local and international audience
- Receive recognition through peer-reviewed publication and awards
- Network with industry leaders, regulators, academics, and policymakers
- Contribute to shaping actionable recommendations for sustainable engineering in South Africa and beyond
- Showcase innovations in a dedicated Industry Exhibition & Expo
Important Dates
Milestone | Date |
Abstract Submission Deadline | 31 October 2025 |
Notification of Acceptance | 15 November 2025 |
Full Paper Submission Deadline | 15 December 2025 |
Symposium Dates | 25–26 March 2026 |
Panel Proposal Guidelines
Proposals to be part of an SDG Panel, should include:
- Title of panel and cross-cutting theme addressed and relevant SDG number(s) considered
- Names, affiliations, and expertise of proposals
- Panel objectives and expected outcomes (max 300 words)
Interactive Workshops
- Short presentations not exceeding 8 minutes to be submitted for consideration.