Conference: 2027 Foundations of Computer Aided Process Operations & Chemical Process Control (FOCAPO/CPC) Conference

The 2027 Foundations of Computer Aided Process Operations and Chemical Process Control (FOCAPO/CPC) Conference, which will be held January 10-14, 2027 in Tucson, AZ, will bring together engineers and researchers to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and new technologies can improve manufacturing and production systems. The event will focus on making these systems more efficient, sustainable, and better prepared to solve global challenges like improving supply chains and creating new materials. Experts from various fields will share ideas and work together to develop practical solutions for the future. The conference will also help students and young engineers build the skills they need to solve complex engineering problems. This award will provide partial support for the event, which continues earlier efforts that introduced AI into engineering and prepared students for careers in this rapidly changing field. This conference will bring together leading experts to address the transformative challenges and opportunities arising from the convergence of operations, control systems, and advanced computational technologies. A central focus will be the integration of artificial intelligence into decision-making and control frameworks, with an emphasis on developing robust, transparent, and ethical AI systems that augment human expertise rather than replace it. The conference will also examine the role of autonomous manufacturing in enabling resilient, zero-emission, and highly flexible production systems. Discussions will highlight scalable and adaptive technologies, including digital twins, modular manufacturing architectures, and data-driven optimization strategies that support autonomous and intelligent operations. In addition, the conference will emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in applying advances in computation, systems engineering, and automation to critical societal challenges such as sustainable materials development, circular manufacturing, and bio-based production. Through keynote lectures, panel discussions, and structured debates, FOCAPO/CPC 2027 will foster a broad community dialogue on the future of process systems engineering, with particular attention to AI-enabled operations, autonomous manufacturing, and the development of a technically skilled workforce prepared to lead in an evolving industrial landscape. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.