The inaugural SAIMC INSPIRE Conference will bring together the industrial automation, robotics and academic communities for two days of presentations, panel discussions and networking at the Glenburn Lodge in Muldersdrift, Johannesburg.
Taking place on 14 and 15 October 2026, INSPIRE is a collaboration between the SAIMC, RobMech and PRASA, with endorsement from IEEE and IEEE Southern Africa. The conference has been designed to create a meeting point for people working across smart manufacturing, mining, robotics and automation, while providing a platform for both industrial experience and academic research.
The programme will run across several streams including industry case studies, thought-leadership presentations, and peer-reviewed academic research. Local and international speakers will explore developments affecting manufacturing operations management, automation and robotics, while panel discussions will tackle some of the broader questions facing industry as digital technologies become more deeply embedded in operations.
Among the guest speakers are Dr Ananth Seshan, director of MESA International and chief executive officer of 5G Automatika in Canada; Hubertus Breier, chief technology officer and board member of Lapp Holdings in Germany; Professor Daniel Carruth of Mississippi State University in the United States of America; and Chris Hattingh, executive director of the Centre for Risk Analysis in South Africa.
Three panel discussions will address topical issues around technology and industrial development. These will examine whether Africa should prioritise AI skills or traditional industrial training; the preparedness of smart factories for future cybersecurity attacks; and whether the transition towards Industry 4.0 risks leaving Africa behind.
An important element of INSPIRE will be the interaction between the manufacturing and robotics communities. The involvement of RobMech and PRASA broadens the scope beyond conventional industrial automation, and reflects the growing role of robotics and intelligent systems in South Africa’s advanced manufacturing landscape.
Technology vendors will also be able to exhibit products and services and participate through thought-leadership presentations. The organisers have stipulated that presentations should not be sales pitches, but should instead contribute to the development of a smart mining, manufacturing and robotics ecosystem in South Africa.
Networking will form another part of the programme giving delegates an opportunity to meet industry leaders, researchers, technology suppliers and members of the wider automation and robotics community. A networking cocktail function will be held on the Wednesday evening.
Sponsor and exhibitor opportunities remain available, with packages ranging from R9900 to R69 000. The standard delegate fee is R3995 per person for the two-day conference, including the networking cocktail function, with other attendance rates also available.
The detailed programme is due to be released shortly.
For more information contact Jane Collett, SAIMC, [email protected],
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