Sponsorship Opportunities
The Smartforce Student Summit is your company's opportunity to help lead the next generation. As a sponsor, your brand will be recognized by thousands of educators and students for the technologies you build, and for your investment in the people who will power the future of our industry. You'll engage directly with students, faculty, and administrators from across the country, demonstrating what's possible and placing your company at the center of that conversation.
This is your moment to shape what's next – while connecting with those who are influencing talent pipelines, purchasing classroom technology, and preparing students for careers in manufacturing and beyond.
Download Sponsorship Guide
Smartforce By the Numbers
Tracking Student Summit Engagement in 2024
Smartforce Badge Design Challenge Sponsor
$25,000 | Limit 1 | Available to Smartforce Exhibitors Only
Get involved with a piece of IMTS history with the first-ever collector's edition Smartforce badge, created exclusively for 15,000+ students and educators attending the 2026 Summit.
As the official sponsor of the Smartforce Badge Design Challenge, you'll support a national student competition to design the front of the badge. The winning student will receive a trip to IMTS to see their design come to life on-site.
Your ad will appear on the back of every badge, delivering all-day visibility as attendees explore the Summit and the show floor.
Sponsorship Includes
- Your ad printed on the back of all Smartforce Student Summit Badges
- Distribution to 15,000+ attendees across six days of IMTS 2026
- High-visibility alignment with the Smartforce Badge Design Challenge
- Inclusion in the Post-Summit Impact Report, highlighting sponsor visibility and event engagement metrics
Lanyard Sponsor
$12,500 | Limit 1 | Available to Smartforce Exhibitors Only
Put your brand directly into the hands, and around the necks, of more than 15,000 students and educators attending the Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS 2026. This exclusive sponsorship offers unmatched visibility throughout the entire six-day event and positions your company as a champion of workforce development.
Your logo will appear alongside the IMTS brand on every official Student Summit lanyard, worn by all student and educator attendees as part of their IMTS badge credentials.
Sponsorship Includes
- Exclusive logo placement (white version) on all Smartforce Student Summit lanyards
- Brand proximity to the winning design of the Smartforce Badge Design Challenge, IMTS's first-ever, collector-style badge for students and educators
- Recognition on the Smartforce section of IMTS.com, the go-to resource for Summit attendees
- Inclusion in the post-Summit Impact Report, highlighting sponsor visibility and event engagement metrics
Directional Floor Graphics
$10,000 | Limit 2 | Available to Smartforce Exhibitors Only
Lead the way (literally) for thousands of students and educators as they arrive at IMTS 2026 and make their way to the Smartforce Student Summit.
As the exclusive Directional Floor Graphics Sponsor, your brand will be featured on prominent directional floor signage guiding attendees from the school bus drop-off outside North Building to the Smartforce Student Summit in Hall C. It's a unique opportunity to greet every student and educator with your logo before they even reach the show floor.
Sponsorship Includes
- Your logo on all Smartforce directional floor signs in North Building leading to the Student Summit
- Exposure to 15,000+ student and educator attendees during peak arrival times
- Recognition in the post-Summit Impact Report, detailing reach, engagement, and brand visibility
Smartforce Stories Video
$3,500 Per Interview | Available to Smartforce Exhibitors Only
Showcase your story and amplify your impact through a high-visibility video interview on Smartforce channels before IMTS 2026. Highlight your exhibit, promote workforce initiatives, and feature real voices from your education partners.
Join Summit Leadership for a pre-recorded conversation that elevates your presence and your message across the Smartforce ecosystem.
Sponsorship Includes
- Pre-recorded 5-minute interview with Summit Director Cat Ross
- Access to the video file for your own marketing use
- Interview post on the Smartforce Blog section of IMTS.com and featured placement in a pre-show issue of the Smartforce Newsletter
- Social promotion on Smartforce channels (Facebook, Instagram, X)
- Interview link in “Know Before You Go” emails (August 2026)
- Recognition in the post-Summit Impact Report
Smartforce Newsletter & Blog Advertisements
$1,000 Per Ad | Available to Smartforce Exhibitors Only
Promote your technology, career planning tools, or workforce initiatives while positioning your company as a next-gen champion.
This targeted advertising opportunity connects your brand with thousands of educators and students through the trusted platforms they rely on for curriculum ideas and career exploration.
Package Includes
- Multiplatform visibility for one (1) ad with a link to your IMTS Showroom or preferred landing page:
- One pre-show feature in the Smartforce Newsletter
- One post on Smartforce social media (Facebook, Instagram, and X)
- One post on the Smartforce Blog
- One re-post on the Blog during Q4 of 2026
- Recognition in the post-Summit Impact Report