XXVII Annual Convention and Exhibition - ACE 2001 organized by IEEE India Council and Delhi Section was held at India Habitat Center, New Delhi from November 01 to 03, 2001. With the theme as Convergence in SPICE (i.e., Semiconductor, Power, Information Technology, Communications and Entertainment), the Convention in all had in the very first day four tutorials, in the remaining two days twelve sessions, each starting with invited lecture and involving forty-three papers in total in the concerned areas. With 149 participants (50 IEEE Members and 99 others) attending the event, it was inaugurated on November 02 by the Honorable Union Minister of Power Mr. Suresh P. Prabhu. He stressed the issue of taking benefit of technological development in various fields and coordinate the applications for producing quality goods and efficient servicing to the end-users. In this regard, example of power line for use of tele-communication needs too were mentioned. In his key-note address, Mr. H.W.Bhatnagar, Director (Industry), Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. gave a brief account of advances in various fields of power, communications, electronics, entertainment, etc. and inter-dependence on each other in usage in the background of global scenario vis-à-vis that in India. Mr. H.L.Bajaj, past-Director, IEEE Region 10, while delivering the presidential address in the same tone highlighted the status of technological development in India and a picture of that exist in the advanced countries, thereby projected the goal to be targeted.

The Convention ended with a panel discussion Chaired by Dr. D.P.S.Seth, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. with Prof. R.Balasubramanian (IIT Delhi), Prof. M.S.Sachdev (University of Saskatchewan, Canada), Prof. H.M.Gupta (IIT Delhi), Dr. Dilip Paul (IEEE Washington Section, USA) and Prof. V.K.Damodaran (IEEE India Council) as the other panelists. It emerged from the discussions that though the advances should continue in individual disciplines with specialization, convergence to deliver end-product as already evident in certain spheres, like, Cable TV, Internet Service, Communication, might encompass further areas of technologies. In this context strong inter-action between academia and industry towards Research & Development was also advocated.