About usEducational program
We support the development of young engineers around the world.
What is MECA?
MECA stands for Mission, Experience, Communication, and Achievement. It is a comprehensive educational support initiative provided by Mitsubishi Electric, designed to nurture aspiring engineers and equip them with the skills to excel in the field of factory automation (FA).
Educational competitions
The aim of the competitions is to challenge participants to demonstrate their skills and capabilities in working with FA components and concepts.
Case study: China
In China, the Mitsubishi Electric Cup educational competition has taken place 15 times since its launch in 2007. Owing to the scale of student participation, the quality of entries, and the expert skills showcased, the finals of the competition have attracted significant attention from local governments, media, and companies looking for engineers.
The competition features two categories: System Application and Creative Design. In System Application, students race to assemble a machine using Mitsubishi Electric FA components, matching the accuracy of a provided sample within a set time.
In Creative Design, students showcase innovative ideas for next-generation manufacturing, including green and intelligent solutions. Teams advancing from the preliminaries proceed to the finals, where prizes are awarded for exceptional entries.
Competition round-up
This article introduces the 2023 MECA finals in China, where 84 teams—selected from a pool of 800—competed. It focuses on the inspiring stories of two award-winning teams from the same university. Links to the award-winning project papers in the Creative Design category, a competition decided by razor-thin margins, are available below.
Despite the challenge of proposing innovative solutions—and the fact that it was held for the first time—the Brazilian MECA tournament exceeded expectations with its exceptional quality of submissions. In this article, we present an overview of the two-day conference and highlight four standout projects selected from the many outstanding entries.
Education programs
As well as virtual showroom tours, webinars, and the provision of FA software, we offer several in-person and online learning programs developed jointly by educational institutions and Mitsubishi Electric.
These programs emphasize exposure to actual equipment and training sessions that reflect real onsite situations. As part of this initiative, we often host students and MECA participants in our FA service and support centers to view demo kits and machines. We are also offering support for universities looking to establish their own training rooms.
- ■Online courses
- Online lessons help students to build the basic skills and knowledge required in onsite settings while working remotely. Workshops can help them apply what they have learned to real-life projects.
- ■Offline courses
- Technical training is provided globally through the widespread distribution of demo lecture kits and the establishment of regional training centers. The program, designed to enhance professional task performance, includes hands-on exercises to gain expertise in the use of Mitsubishi Electric FA components such as PLCs, inverters, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), robots, and servo/simple motion systems.
MENTOR ME e-learning program(Italy)
Voices from former students
The following messages are from former students who participated in the MECA program and are now working for Mitsubishi Electric in various countries around the world.
“My journey as an engineer began when my university got hold of some Mitsubishi Electric FA components. I, along with a colleague, was entrusted with a project to create a system in our lab using these components. During this project, I met the manager of Mitsubishi Electric’s FA Center, who came to our lab to provide training on PLCs and simple motion systems. This interaction became a key turning point for my future. The knowledge I gained about Mitsubishi Electric FA through the project and training allowed me to work efficiently from the moment I joined the company.”
Alper Yavuz,
Mitsubishi Electric Turkey A.Ş., 2018 education program participant, and graduate of Konya Technical University.
“Participating in the MECA competition was the best decision of my university life. It improved my ability to learn independently, helped me build solid friendships with my teammates, and gave me a strong sense of accomplishment by winning against other talented university students”
Qin Feng Chao,
Mitsubishi Electric Automation (China), 14th Mitsubishi Electric Cup educational competition participant, and graduate of Tianjin University Renai College.
“Attending the Education Program and the internship gave me the opportunity to gain new technical knowledge, to improve and acquire soft skills and, most important, to experience the daily work. MECA gives all students important and useful skills for the transition from school to working life, filling the experience and knowledge gaps that school can’t offer. In my experience, this opportunity helped me to became more confident towards technology and to improve my capabilities. My advice is to listen, to observe, to ask always questions, to interact and to be curious.”
Niccolò Dimola
Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V. Italian branch
Design Engineer – CEC(E) since 2024.
Participant in the 2018 AcadeMy Educational program
“The AcadeMy Education Program is a unique opportunity to put into practice what you have learned and to learn more and more.
Have always a hunger for knowledge. To the students reading this, don’t be afraid of asking questions, making mistakes or getting out of your comfort zone, this is the way to grow.
My advice is to face the work path with curiosity, determination and passion. Believe in yourself and do your best, because every little effort you make today will be a big step towards your future.”
Loris Casarini
Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V. Italian branch
Motion Application Engineer since 2022.
Participant in the 2016 AcadeMy Educational program
History of MECA activities
| Early 2000s | The beginning of collaboration between industry and academia, including equipment support for university laboratories |
|---|---|
| 2007 | The first Mitsubishi Electric Cup FA competition is held in China and is later extended to India, Vietnam, and throughout Asia |
| 2014 | Education programs are launched in collaboration with learning institutions in Italy |
| 2016 | MECA is developed into a comprehensive education program in Thailand |
| 2017 | Equipment support begins for universities in Turkey |
| 2020 | Support is provided for a system to certify students who have completed a MECA program in South Korea |
| 2023 | The Mitsubishi Electric Cup FA educational competition is held for the first time in Brazil and Taiwan |
- As of February 2025, there are no MECA activities in Japan.
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Supporting tomorrow's factory automation engineers