16,000 Students to Explore Manufacturing Careers at IMTS 2026

The future of American manufacturing is getting a major boost as thousands of students prepare to explore career opportunities at the Smartforce Student Summit this September in Chicago.

The free event, taking place September 14-19 at McCormick Place during the International Manufacturing Technology Show, expects to welcome more than 16,000 students, teachers, and school administrators from across the nation. It's the 14th edition of a summit that has become a game changer for connecting young people with high-tech career paths.

Students from elementary through university level will get their hands on robots, 3D printers, precision measuring tools, and automated manufacturing systems. The summit floor looks and feels like a trade show designed specifically for the next generation, where learning happens through doing.

In 2024, nearly 15,000 participants came from 49 states to explore opportunities with 62 major companies and research institutions including NASA, FANUC America, and Universal Robots. About one-third of attendees were college and technical school students actively preparing for careers.

The summit addresses a critical need in American industry. Manufacturing companies are hungry for skilled workers who understand modern technology, and many young people don't realize how advanced and innovative these careers have become.

The Ripple Effect

The impact extends far beyond individual students. Teachers and administrators who attend often return to their schools inspired to upgrade equipment and curricula, creating better training programs that produce more job-ready graduates.

This year introduces Smartforce Career Pathways, a digital installation where students can explore actual entry-level positions offered by exhibiting companies. It's a direct pipeline connecting young talent with employers eager to hire them.

The summit has become a national gathering point, especially for Midwest students from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. But participation now spans coast to coast as word spreads about the opportunities in modern manufacturing.

Registration opens in February 2026, and the event remains completely free for students, educators, administrators, and parent chaperones. IMTS exhibitors are even encouraged to register their own family members to attend.

The collaboration between AMT and SME demonstrates what's possible when industry and education work together with a shared purpose: building a stronger workforce for tomorrow while showing young people that manufacturing is cool, high-tech, and full of possibility.