theIEEE

The IEEE, or Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, is a global professional association for engineers, scientists, and allied professionals. It covers a broad range of technical fields including electrical engineering, computer science, telecommunications, and related disciplines. With more than 400,000 members in over 160 countries, the organization operates through volunteer sections, technical societies, student branches, and professional chapters.

Founded in 1963 from a merger of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE, established 1884) and the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE, established 1912), the IEEE represents a long-standing platform for collaboration, standards development, and professional development.

The IEEE’s activities include standards development through the IEEE Standards Association, scholarly publishing via IEEE Xplore and numerous journals, and the organization of conferences and continuing education programs. Its publication programs and standards influence many technologies, such as wireless networking (IEEE 802.11) and wired Ethernet (IEEE 802.3).

Governance is provided by a board of directors and elected officers, with significant work carried out by many volunteer members within technical societies, regions, sections, and student branches. The IEEE is a non-profit organization funded by member dues, publications, conferences, and standards work. Globally, the IEEE plays a central role in education, research, and industry practice, providing resources for engineers and contributing to technology development. Access to its journals and standards is largely through paid subscriptions, though some materials are available openly.