The following modes of presentation will be accommodated in the program:

• Oral
• Poster
• Virtual (only for international delegates who will not be able to travel to South Africa to attend the conference)

One registration will allow you a maximum of TWO presentations and papers.

PUBLICATION OF PAPERS

All accepted papers, whether presented in-person, as poster or virtually, will undergo a double peer-review process as per the review policy (See button below: “Information for authors, ethics and review policy”). This means that all papers accepted will be published as conference proceedings by AIP Publishing, which is indexed in Scopus, Web of Science (Thomson Reuters) etc. Click below to access the ICSSM 2024 Conference Proceedings.

Note to South Africa authors: DHET no longer accredits conferences, but they give credit to Scopus index-published conference proceedings. Since AIP is Scopus-indexed, South African authors will get a credit of 0.5 for their conference output after publication of the conference proceedings.

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

Option 1: Full Papers (6-10 pages): Authors can only submit a paper if their abstract has been accepted. Full papers of 6-10 pages should be submitted, providing detailed descriptions of original contributions that are not currently under review elsewhere. General overviews of ongoing projects are also acceptable in this category.

Option 2: Extended Abstracts (2 Pages): Authors can submit extended abstracts of 2 pages, which will be featured in the book of abstracts but not included in the proceedings. These abstracts should encompass all essential elements, including references, figures, etc. Topics for abstracts should focus on industrial applications, showcasing real-world use cases that leverage machine learning and AI techniques. Alternatively, authors may submit abstracts outlining ongoing Ph.D. projects, with the first author being a Ph.D. student. These abstracts should clearly introduce and motivate problem statements and research questions.

Please scroll down to links for templates and information around paper preparation and submission.

THEMES

Submissions falling in the following themes will be welcomed:

CORE TECHNOLOGY THEMES
AI & Machine Learning: Practical, explainable, and generative AI linked with digital twins for data-driven decisions.
Digital Twins: Model-based twins for operations, planning, maintenance, and re-/de-manufacturing across the lifecycle.
Cloud & Edge Infrastructure: Scalable cloud/edge plus interoperable data spaces for secure, FAIR industrial data.
Collaborative Robotics & Flexible Automation: Human-aware robotics, autonomous production, and agile logistics.
Big Data & Analytics: High-quality lifecycle data for insight, optimisation, and closed-loop control.

OPERATIONAL THEMES
Sustainability & Green Manufacturing: Circular, resource-efficient production aligned with clean-industry goals.
Energy & Carbon Strategies: Electrification, heat integration/re-use, and storage/management for decarbonisation.
Cybersecurity: Securing platforms, data spaces, and converged IT/OT in connected factories.
Resilient & Agile Manufacturing: Adaptable, shock-resilient value chains and reconfigurable production.
Supply Chain Management: Digital Product Passports and data-driven planning for integrated logistics and traceability.
Smart Factories: Advanced manufacturing with in-line metrology and lightweight/functional materials.

HUMAN & SOCIETAL ASPECT THEMES
The Human Factor:Safe, ergonomic human–AI collaboration and work design.
Skills Gap:Industry–academia programs, micro-credentials, and continuous upskilling.
Ethical Frameworks:Responsible AI and “safe-and-sustainable-by-design” principles for materials and processes.
Education for Industry 5.0 (Human-centric, AI-enabled Workforce & Education): Personalized, experiential, sustainability-aligned learning co-created with industry.

AWARDS

The following awards will be presented at the conference:

1. Best paper presented at ICSSM 2026
2. Best Oral Presentation at ICSSM 2026
3. Best Student Oral Presentation at ICSSM 2026

SUBMITTING YOU PAPER

If your abstract has been accepted, please submit your paper by 19 June 2026. On the buttons below you can download a document with some valuable information supplied by AIP, the template to be used for the paper and the link to the submission site. Please upload your paper ON THE SAME PROFILE you created when submitting your abstract. Simply upload it as requested on the form. Previous files uploaded will not be erased, but can still be accessed using the options in the top right menu.