Future Directions Handbook

Building External Relationships

Relationships with external organizations helps to build value and diversity into the initiative. Relationships can be formed with industry, non-profits, academic institutions, and government organizations. This section includes some ideas of how to establish and grow these relationships.

Industry relations and engagement

• Host industry panels within existing conferences

Non-profits

• ETSI, EIT Digital

Academia

• Partner with universities to develop educational materials

Government Interaction

• It is important to first determine if IEEE may already have an existing relationship via an MOU with any government entity. If so, it is recommended to work with that society/organizational unit to bring items forward in a unified manner. For example, IEEE Power & Energy Society has signed MOUs with several government entities, one of which is the US Department of Energy. IEEE Smart Grid and IEEE Smart Cities work vis-a-vis PES to share its’ information and build collaborative efforts.
• Reach out to government entities in multiple countries to engage on breakthroughs in technology (e.g. NIST)
• Provides opportunity for Society to influence potential funding initiatives worldwide
• Creates formal communication mechanism between the society and government entities responsible for establishing priorities and policies

Roadmap Groups (example)

• IRDS is an example of a partnership which was the continuation and expansion of a former Roadmapping initiative (ITRS)
• IRDS has a working MOU which was developed as a Standards Association Industry Connection and in working partnership with Rebooting Computing Initiative
• IRDS is comprised of volunteer working groups from academia and industry
• IRDS is managed with a IRC (International Roadmap Committee) as defined in the MOU