A half-day convening at the intersection of artificial intelligence, software-defined vehicles, and intellectual property strategy — where engineering leaders, IP counsel, and technology innovators drive the conversation. No papers. No vendor pitches.
The IEEE Midwest AI/SDV/IP Forum brings together the engineering leaders, IP practitioners, and technology innovators shaping the software-defined vehicle revolution — for a focused, practitioner-driven conversation about what's actually working, what isn't, and what comes next.
Hosted at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Detroit-area facility, this is one of the few forums where OEM engineering leadership, IP counsel, AI practitioners, and the federal patent community sit at the same table. No papers. No vendor pitches. Real problems, candid dialogue, and the peers who are solving them.
Hosted at the USPTO Detroit facility, this event creates a rare channel between OEM engineering teams, IP counsel, and the federal agency shaping AI patent policy. The USPTO is a media and venue partner — not a sponsor.
All discussions are pre-competitive and non-proprietary in nature. The forum exists to advance shared understanding across the industry, not to advantage any single organization. IEEE's neutrality is the foundation.
Every panel topic is shaped by the organizing committee — engineering and IP leaders who define what the industry most needs to discuss. The result is a program built around real challenges, not conference themes.
The October 6 event is the launch of the IEEE Midwest AI/SDV Forum — a permanent, peer-level standing committee that meets monthly and publishes an annual industry white paper.
OEMs are investing billions in SDV software features while the IP strategy around those innovations remains fragmented and under-resourced. This forum is the only event in the region directly bridging those conversations.
Southeast Michigan is home to the world's largest concentration of automotive engineering talent and is rapidly becoming a global SDV hub. IEEE Region 4 and the USPTO's Detroit presence make this the natural venue.
A focused half-day program: three consecutive expert panels, networking lunch, and an evening reception. Designed for attendees who drive in the same day.
Each panel is moderated by a domain expert and runs as structured dialogue — no prepared presentations. The questions below are designed to surface candid, experience-based answers from invited practitioners. Reserve questions are held at the moderator's discretion if time and energy permit.
A sensing exercise, not a position-staking event — questions built to surface where the industry actually is, not where press releases say it is.
Agentic AI treated as a technology discipline, not a product category — what practitioners have actually built, actually broken, and actually learned.
Bridging the engineering and legal communities in one room — what IP and engineering leaders are actually grappling with, not what the law says in theory.
The organizing committee is composed of industry leaders who define the event's scope, panel topics, and strategic priorities — and who form the founding membership of the IEEE Midwest AI/SDV Forum standing committee. Committee members are recruited by invitation; the lift is minimal and the network is exceptional.
Founder & CEO, BIG Intelligence · IEEE Region 4 IEC · Former Ford Motor Company (29 yrs)
IEEE Region 4 Industry Engagement Committee Chair · IP Practitioner · AIPLA ETC AI-Subcommittee
AI/Agentic Practitioner · IEEE Multi-Agent Eval Standards Group · 30 yrs software & AI leadership
OpenTechWorks · IEEE World Technology Summit · Longtime CTO · Global technology leader
OEM engineering leadership
OEM / Tier 1 IP leadership
Technology company leadership
University research leadership
The Executive Advisory Committee provides senior-level guidance on forum scope, panel composition, and the strategic direction of the standing IEEE Midwest AI/SDV Forum. Candidates span OEM, Tier 1, silicon, consulting, and IP leadership.
We are assembling a committee of 20 industry leaders who will shape the panel agenda, recommend speakers, and help build the ongoing IEEE Midwest AI/SDV Forum community. Your time investment is minimal — one 30-minute alignment call before the event, and your name and bio on the event website.
Elijah J. McCoy U.S. Patent and Trademark Office · 300 River Place Drive, Detroit, Michigan 48207
Conference center with classroom-style seating for 100. Dedicated AV and technology support. Federal government facility — professional-grade venue with institutional credibility.
Networking lunch and evening reception at the restaurant across the street, frequently used for USPTO events. Details to be confirmed by the organizing committee.
Metro Detroit is within driving distance of Cleveland, Chicago, Columbus, Indianapolis, and Toronto. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is 30 minutes from the venue. The event is designed for same-day travel.
"Having the USPTO as our host adds a dimension that virtually no other automotive AI event has — a direct channel between OEM engineering teams, IP counsel, and the federal agency that examines and grants the patents shaping this industry."
Sponsorship provides direct access to 100 OEM engineering and IP decision-makers in a focused, non-promotional environment. All sponsorship funds offset event costs and support the ongoing IEEE Midwest AI/SDV Forum standing committee.
Sponsorship inquiries: Karl Clark · knclark513@ieee.org
There is no registration fee. Lunch and the networking reception are included. Attendance limited to 100.
OEM engineering and IP leadership, Tier 1 supplier teams, AI and autonomous systems practitioners, patent counsel, and academic research leaders.
Registrations are reviewed by the organizing committee. You will receive a confirmation or wait-list status within 5 business days.
Karl Clark · knclark513@ieee.org · 313.570.2176
We've received your registration interest for the IEEE Midwest AI/SDV/IP Forum. The organizing committee will review and confirm your status within 5 business days. A confirmation has been noted for the email you provided.
