The 2026 SCALE Symposium & Annual Meeting is May 19-20 at Purdue University

The SCALE Symposium & Annual Meeting brings together faculty, industry leaders, employers, and government partners to explore how we can prepare the workforce for the future.

This two-day gathering strengthens the SCALE network, celebrates program achievements, and accelerates collaboration across all verticals.

Our Vision & Purpose

The Symposium is designed to:

  • Celebrate the resiliency, mission, and impact of SCALE

  • Build deeper employer partnerships and expand the SCALE network

  • Examine how AI is reshaping our technical verticals

  • Empower educators to integrate AI into curriculum

Registration Deadline May 1

Monday, May 18, 2026

6-8 pm Welcome Reception at the Union Club Hotel

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

8:30 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast and Networking - All participants

  • Informal networking by vertical (Radiation Effects, Heterogeneous Integration/Advanced Packaging, System on Chip, Trusted AI Hardware, Compound Semiconductors)

9:00 - 9:20 AM Welcome and Mission Framing

  • Welcome remarks from SCALE Leadership

  • Overview of SCALE’s Mission, the defense microelectronics ecosystem, and why AI-enabled workforce development is a critical national priority

9:20 - 10:10 AM Opening Keynote: AI and the Future of Defense Microelectronics

10:10 - 10:25 AM Break

10:25 - 11:25 AM AI in Practice Panel: Industry and Faculty Perspectives

11:25 - 12:30 PM AI Application Spotlights by Vertical

12:30 - 1:30 PM Lunch

1:30 - 2:30 PM Technical Vertical Breakouts

2:30 - 3:30 PM Designing AI-Enabled Learning Experiences Aligned to Authentic Work Projects

  • Mixed faculty-employer working session

3:30 - 3:45 PM Break

3:45 - 4:45 PM Working Groups Reboot

  • Overview of standing and emerging working groups (e.g., Career Pathways, Educational Standards, AWG, Student Recruitment and Retention)

4:45 - 5:30 PM Informal Networking (Optional)

6:00 PM Dinner at Ripple & Company

2026 SCALE Symposium and Annual Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

8:30 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast - All participants

Faculty Track

9:00 - 12:00 PM Topics covering:

  • Meeting Standards and Ensuring Quality

  • Curriculum Mapping

  • Future of SCALE

Employer Track

9:00 - 12:00 PM Topics covering:

  • SCALE Program Update

  • Working Groups for Employers: General Session

  • Student Work Performance Pilot Survey: Results and Insights

  • Open Discussion and Next Steps

12:15-12:30 PM Closing - All Participants

12:30 PM Boxed Lunches and Departure

  • Boxed lunches are available to take on the go or eat on site

  • Optional working time for those who wish to continue planning or meet with partners