Healthcare and Medical Robotics TC Cluster Cross-TC Collaboration Award

The IEEE RAS Healthcare and Medical Robotics Cluster is pleased to announce the Cross-TC Collaboration Award. This award recognizes outstanding journal papers that demonstrate strong interdisciplinary collaboration across Technical Committees (TCs) within the Cluster. The purpose of this award is to promote cross-TC research activities and to encourage broader participation in the Cluster’s TC community.

Healthcare and medical robotics is inherently interdisciplinary. Progress in this field often emerges from collaboration across areas such as surgical robotics, rehabilitation and assistive robotics, bio robotics, neuro-robotics, wearable robotics, micro/nano robotics, and cyborg systems. Through this award, the Cluster aims to recognize high-quality research that bridges multiple TC areas and contributes to the advancement of healthcare and medical robotics.

To be eligible, a paper must satisfy all of the following conditions.

Eligible Publications

The paper must be published in one of the IEEE RAS Sponsored Publications listed here:
https://www.ieee-ras.org/publications/

In addition, IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics (T-MRB) is also considered eligible because of its strong relevance to healthcare and medical robotics.

Eligible journals include:

• IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L)
• IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine (RA-M)
• IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (T-ASE)
• IEEE Transactions on Robotics (T-RO)
• IEEE Transactions on Field Robotics (T-FR)
• IEEE Robotics and Automation Practice (RA-P)
• IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics (T-MRB)

Eligible Publication Period

The paper must have been published during the following period:

August 1, 2023 – July 31, 2026

TC Requirement

The paper must include at least two different authors affiliated with at least two different eligible TCs listed below.

Healthcare and Medical Robotics Cluster

• Automation in Health Care Management
• Bio Robotics
• Cyborg & Bionic Systems
• Micro/Nano Robotics and Automation
• Neuro-Robotics Systems
• Rehabilitation and Assistive Robotics
• Surgical Robotics
• Telerobotics
• Wearable Robotics

Additional Condition

TC Chairs are not eligible to apply.

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following points:

• Interdisciplinary synergy
• Scientific contributions

Impact on healthcare and medical robotics

Applicants must submit the following materials.

1. Published Paper

Please submit the published paper in PDF format.

2. Editorial and Review Comments

Please submit the comments from the editor and reviewers related to the paper.

3. Cover Letter

Please submit a cover letter including the following information:

• Paper information
  Title, journal name, publication date, DOI, etc.
• Author list and TC affiliations
  Please indicate the TC affiliation(s) of each author.
  Applicants who are not yet TC members will be invited to join a relevant TC at the time of submission.
• Interdisciplinary synergy (Approximately 100 words)
  Please describe how the work integrates multiple TC areas and how collaboration across those areas contributes to the paper.
• Scientific contributions (Approximately 100 words)
  Please summarize the main scientific and technical contributions of the paper.
• Impact on healthcare and medical robotics (Approximately 100 words)
  Please explain the significance and expected impact of the work in healthcare and medical robotics.

The award will be provided in the form of travel reimbursement for IROS 2026.

• Best Paper Award: up to USD 1,000 reimbursement
• Outstanding Paper Awards (2 papers): up to USD 500 reimbursement for each paper

Eligible reimbursement items are limited to:

• Airfare
• Hotel accommodation
• Meals during the conference
• Transport (taxi to and from airport)

Further details on the reimbursement procedure will be provided to the selected awardees.

• Submission deadline: July 31st, 2026
• Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by August 31, 2026
• Final notification of results: September 10, 2026

Please note that the notification will be sent only to the selected awardees.

For questions regarding eligibility or submission, please contact:

Yasuhisa Hirata

Chair of the IEEE RAS Healthcare and Medical Robotics Cluster

[email protected]