LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., 11 September 2025 – Today, the IEEE Computer Society (CS) announced the recipients of its 2025-2026 Emerging Technology (Tech) Grants. Established to help connect emerging technologies with the computing community and support members and constituents in using emerging technologies to benefit humanity, this year’s Emerging Tech Grant recipients include the following 11 deserving programs:
Major awards (gifts of over USD $15K)
- Building a lightweight, community-in-the-loop data labeling tool to detect deepfakes and false information for public use – This project will design and deploy a lightweight, community-focused tool for the collaborative labeling of multimodal deepfake and false content. The tool will enable rapid crowdsourced annotation, support interdisciplinary research on multimodal detection models, and facilitate benchmarking datasets. In addition, to increase the use of the open-source tool, the team will host a series of label-a-thons.
- Empowering Rural Communities in Indonesia through AI-Driven Agricultural Solutions – This project aims to enhance agricultural productivity in rural Indonesian communities by implementing AI-driven solutions. Through workshops and hands-on training, local farmers will learn to utilize emerging technologies, leading to improved crop yields and sustainable farming practices.
- From Data to Diagnosis: Deep Learning in CAD Detection – This project investigates the application of deep learning for the early detection and diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) using medical data such as electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, angiographic images, and patient records. The model aims to enhance diagnostic accuracy, reduce human error, and facilitate timely, data-driven interventions in cardiovascular care.
- Immersive VR Skill Enhancer for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disabilities (ID) – This project develops an immersive VR therapy platform to enhance social, motor, and daily living skills for children with autism (ASD). Combining AI-driven personalization, multilingual interfaces (Hindi/English), and clinically validated modules, it offers a low-cost, scalable solution compatible with entry-level VR headsets. Open-source modules will ensure wider accessibility.
- Low-cost edge-computing-based ultrasound imaging device for underdeveloped communities- Lack of high-quality medical centers in rural areas of Bolivia is a major concern. As such, this project intents to develop an AI-based ultrasound imager using local hardware components, and specialized development boards, to bring to local communities access to health services and on-site monitoring and diagnosis of neonatal pathologies.
- Tech for Tomorrow: Empowering Students to Innovate for Social Impact – Tech for Tomorrow is a student-led innovation challenge empowering IEEE student members to develop low-cost, high-impact tech solutions for underserved Indian communities. Through field visits, mentorship, and prototype building, teams tackle real issues. Finalists showcase innovations at a national hackathon, with top teams receiving funding for deployment.
- TinyML-Powered Edge Solar Irrigation System for Sustainable Agriculture in East Africa – This project focuses on developing an innovative edge-computing solution to integrate a TinyML-powered smart irrigation system with solar pump controllers. Locally designed and built in Uganda, the system will optimize water usage, eliminate fossil fuel dependency, and deliver affordable, sustainable technology to address environmental and economic challenges faced by East African smallholder farmers.
Minor awards (gifts of USD $15K and under)
- Bridging Neuroscience and AI to Transform Brainwaves into Real-Time Multilingual Speech for the Voiceless – This project will explore the development of a non-invasive brain-computer interface system that translates brain signals into multilingual text and speech using advanced electroencephalography (EEG) processing, machine learning, natural language processing (NLP) and neural text-to-speech (TTS) technologies. It aims to empower individuals with speech impairments through accessible and inclusive communication tools to act as a voice of individuals who are speechless.
- Clean City Connect – This project seeks to create a mobile app enabling citizens to report unmanaged waste using GPS-tagged photos, fostering real-time communication with municipal authorities. It is designed to promote civic engagement, enhance transparency, and support cleaner urban environments. Real-time updates and data analytics will help monitor issues, streamline municipal responses, and improve overall public health through timely waste management solutions.
- Jal-Suraksha: Real-time Smart AI and IoT-based Water Guardian for Industrial Zones – This project develops a real-time, AI-powered, IoT-based water-quality monitoring system aimed at detecting pollutants and pollution levels in the Haldia industrial region. The work will enable data-driven decisions, early alerts, and sustainable water-quality management through cloud integration and community awareness. Results will include suggestions of remedial actions and promote environmental safety and public health using emerging smart-sensing technologies.
- Seamless Integration of Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks for Next-Generation 5G/6G Connectivity – This project explores the seamless integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) to enhance global 5G/6G connectivity. It focuses on hybrid network architectures, satellite-terrestrial interoperability, and advanced communication protocols to ensure reliable, low-latency, and high-speed data transmission for diverse applications, including IoT, autonomous systems, and remote connectivity.
IEEE CS selected these programs from many strong submissions, because they exemplify the spirit of the Emerging Tech Grants Program with their thoughtful approaches to growing technology knowledge and application for the betterment of humanity. Awarding just over USD $200,000 in Emerging Tech Grants this year, the IEEE CS community seeks to advance computing worldwide through this and other technology-focused initiatives.
“As the leading global membership organization for the advancement of computing, it’s part of our mission to enable broader access to the technologies that are shaping the field and encourage their positive impact on the world at large,” said Hironori Washizaki, IEEE CS 2025 President. “Through the Emerging Tech Grants Program we are able to work with our community on a grassroots level to activate broader exploration of emerging topics ranging from VR to support those with disabilities to earlier detection of coronary artery disease to AI for healthcare, agriculture, and beyond. We look forward to seeing the results of this latest round of programs and how their discoveries will further benefit humanity.”
Projects selected for the 2025-2026 Emerging Tech Grants Program will launch in Q3/Q4 2025 and will be completed by 31 December 2026. Project leads will report the progress and results back to IEEE CS over the coming year. Subsequent information about each program’s impact may be shared in future IEEE CS Tech News blogs.
For more information about the Emerging Tech Grants Program, visit https://www.computer.org/communities/emerging-technology-fund.
About IEEE Computer Society
Engaging computer engineers, scientists, academia, and industry professionals from all areas and levels of computing, the IEEE Computer Society (CS) serves as the world’s largest and most established professional organization of its type. IEEE CS sets the standard for the education and engagement that fuels continued global technological advancement. Through conferences, publications, and programs that inspire dialogue, debate, and collaboration, IEEE CS empowers, shapes, and guides the future of not only its 375,000+ community members, but the greater industry, enabling new opportunities to better serve our world. Visit computer.org for more information.
