The UK Automatic Control Engineering (ACE) Network has published a new Position Paper making the case for Automatic Control Engineering as a critical national capability for the UK’s prosperity, security and sustainable growth.

The ACE Clean Growth committee focuses on harnessing the power of Automatic Control Engineering to drive sustainable innovation, tackle complex climate and energy challenges, and support the UK’s Net-Zero ambitions through smart, efficient systems across energy, manufacturing, and agriculture. This event served as a collaborative platform for experts from academia, industry, and policy to engage in meaningful discussion about the essential challenges of achieving a low-carbon future.

The ACE Sandpit Workshop, held on 8 September 2025 at the University of Sheffield, focused on exploring the role of automatic control in the rapidly evolving field of future mobility. The event sought to address key challenges within the domain of automatic control engineering and its application in mobility systems.

On the 11th of September 2025, the ACE AI and Data Grand Challenge Research Committee held a Industry/Roadmap Workshop at City St George’s, University of London. This full-day event gathered established industry leaders, academics, and various governmental stakeholders to explore and address the challenges associated with investigating the diverse connections between AI and control theory.

Following months of planning, the joint ACE-MathWorks ‘inspiring innovation through industry-academia collaboration’ took place on 5 June 2025, with an action-packed programme comprising presentations, discussions, and networking sessions. The main thread of the day was centred on the multi-faceted benefits of nurturing and maintaining effective collaboration between academia and industry from a control system engineering design perspective.

The ACE Network Mentor Scheme is a new initiative led by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Group, which is committed to building a more inclusive and diverse Automatic Control Engineering (ACE) community. We believe that diversity is essential for innovation, progress, and long-term success in our field. Our EDI group works to increase representation—particularly of women and other underrepresented groups—foster inclusive environments, and ensure fair opportunities for all. This mentorship scheme is one of the key ways we aim to support individuals in their careers and contribute to a stronger, more equitable ACE community.

On 7 May 2025, Cranfield University played host to a high-impact dynamic gathering of minds at the Industry Workshop on the Role of Automatic Control in Future Mobility, organised by the ACE Network’s Future Mobility Subgroup. The event brought together a vibrant mix of industry leaders, policymakers, academic researchers, and innovators to explore how automatic control is shaping the future of transport across air, road, rail, and marine sectors.