Connected Plant UK
The UK Automotive PLC, SCADA and Industrial Controls Conference
Connected Plant UKThe Eastside Rooms, Aloft By Marriott, Birmingham
IDC Technologies is proud to launch Connected Plant UK, a two-day technical conference dedicated to the technologies and automation lifecycle shaping the modern automotive plant floor.
Connected Plant UK brings together OEM manufacturers, Tier 2/3 suppliers, system integrators and technology providers for a focused look at PLC and SCADA systems, OT/IT convergence, cybersecurity, and the automation demand of the EV transition.
Across two days, delegates will explore eight themes spanning the plant floor and the wider supply chain:
Day 1 | The Plant Floor: Controls, Connectivity & Modernisation
PLC & SCADA Today
OT/IT Convergence
OT Cybersecurity
EV Transition and Automation
Day 2 | Supply Chain, Skills and the Future
What OEMs Demand
Robotics & Cobots
Skills Gap
Funding & ROI
The conference is built around two audiences and two distinct themes in one room. OEMs share the standards and practices shaping the sector, case studies, lessons learnt, new technologies, safety and risk cases. SME suppliers, including component makers, Body-in-White and powertrain suppliers, and EV battery manufacturers, a platform to understand what technologies are working now. The conference is designed to give a technical understanding of what is proven reliable, what test cases have been completed, and what is being designed across the UK. This conference is designed for engineers, a chance to learn, connect, and make future well-informed decisions.
Call for Papers
We are now inviting speakers and industry subject matter experts to submit papers & presentation. Whether your expertise lies in PLC/SCADA systems, OT cybersecurity, robotics, funding, or knowledge of the skills challenge facing UK engineering, we want to hear from you. Get in touch to submit your paper or presentation.
Presenter Requirements
Complete a 100-word abstract outlining your proposed topic, include key learning outcomes.
Sessions may be delivered as a presentation, panel discussion, or practical workshop.
Presentation are 45 minutes in duration, including time for audience questions and discussion.
Workshops/Panel Discussions are 1 to 1.5 hours in duration.
Presentations should provide practical, informative, and experience-based perspectives, case studies, regulatory requirements, emerging technical developments, and the end-to-end lifecycle of projects in development and deployment.
We strongly encourage technology-agnostic content with a focus on industry learning rather than the promotion of individual products, systems, or vendors.
Upon acceptance, presenters must provide their technical paper (where applicable) and presentation slides at least four weeks prior to the conference for review and for the inclusion in conference materials to be shared with conference delegates at the event. Submissions Close: Friday 11th September 2026.
Conference Speaker: Expression of Interest Form
Sponsorship Opportunities
Connected Plant UK offers sponsors and exhibitors direct access to OEM decision-makers and hundreds of SME suppliers across the automotive supply chain. This is a prime opportunity to showcase your solutions to a highly targeted industrial audience. To enquire about sponsorship and exhibition packages, please contact conferences@idc-online.com to request a prospectus.