From 28–29 March 2026, the 𝟭𝟮𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗘𝗘𝗘 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 in hashtag#Helsinki, #Finland brought together volunteers from across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to collaborate on the future of our professional community.

We were proud to be represented by IEEE Germany Section leadership:
Dr. Christoph Baer Baer, Chair  –  R8 Voting Member and Member of R8 AdHoc Comitte for Cooperation with IEEE S/TCs and National Associations
Thomas Kopfstedt, Vice Chair  – Member of R8 Membership Development Committee

They were joined by dedicated Germany Section volunteers:
Sevda Abadpour – R8 WIE Committee Member
Ahsan Qamer Sheikh – R8 Young Professionals Committee Member
Peter Magyar  – Appointed Member of R8 Life Member Committee
Andreas Koltes  – R8 Assistant Treasurer, Finance Committee

During the meeting, participants engaged in important discussions on:
– Concrete actions to help IEEE Region 8 reach 100,000 members by 2026
– The impact of AI and rapid technological change on careers and communities
– Strengthening membership value, engagement, and resilience
– Attracting and empowering the next generation of engineers

Beyond the formal sessions, the event also provided valuable opportunities for in-person exchange and networking, reinforcing the importance of collaboration across borders.

It is inspiring to see how many volunteers contribute their time and energy to move IEEE Region 8 forward — and especially encouraging to see strong leadership from the IEEE Germany Section within the region.

A big thank you to IEEE Region 8 (Europe, Middle East & Africa) and the IEEE Finland Section for hosting and organizing such a successful meeting.