Rii Forum 2023 “Innovation 5.0: Navigating shocks and crises in uncertain times Technology-Business-Society” & a plenary debate “Advances in ICT & the Society”

Last week, I had an unforgettable experience at the Research and Innovation Forum (RiiForum) on which I posted previously in Krakow, Poland, serving as plenary speaker and session chair. It was another great experience to have an absolutely amazing plenary session titled “Advances in ICT & the Society: threading the thin line between progress, development and mental health”, where we – Prof. Dr. Yves Wautelet, Prof. Dr. Marek Krzystanek, Karolina Laurentowska & Prof. Marek Pawlicki – discussed disruptive technologies in our professional lives in the past years, how they affected us and our colleagues, how they affect(ed) society and its specific groups, including their mental health, and general perception of technology, i.e. an enemy of humanity, or rather a friend and support, and how to make sure the second take place. And from this we have developed a discussion around AI, chatGPT, Metaverse, blockchain, even slightly touching on quantum computing. Of course, all this was placed in the context of democracy and freedoms / liberties. All in all, we approached the topic of governance and policy-making, which is too often reactive rather than proactive, which, in turn, leads to many negative consequences, as well as elaborated on the engineering practices. 

To sum up – emerging and disruptive technologies, Blockchain, AI, Metaverse, digital competencies, education, liberty, democracy, openness, engagement, metaverse, inclusivity, Industry 5.0, Society 5.0 – and it is not a list of buzzwords, but a list of topics we have managed to cover both plenary speakers and the audience and continued to talk about them during the whole conference. Rich enough, isn’t it?

And then the day did not end, continuing with several super insightful sessions, where, of course, one I enjoyed most is the one that I chaired. Three qualitative talks with further rich discussion after each thanks to an excellent audience, despite the fact this was the last session of the day (before the dinner), namely:

  • Privacy in smart cities using VOSviewer: a bibliometric analysis by Xhimi Hysa, Gianluca Maria Guazzo, Vilma Cekani, Pierangelo Rosati
  • Public policy of innovation in China by Krzysztof Karwowski, Anna Visvizi
  • How Human-Centric solutions and Artificial Intelligence meet smart cities in Industry 5.0 by Tamai Ramirez, Sandra Amador, Antonio Macia-Lillo, Higinio Mora
     

And the last, but not the least, Krakow surprised me lot (in a positive sense, of course) – it was my first time in Poland, and I am absolutely glad that it was on such a beautiful city as Krakow – the place with the rich history and culture! Thank you dear RiiForum2023 organizers – Anna Visvizi, Vincenzo Corvello, ORLANDO TROISI, Mara Grimaldi, Giovanni Baldi and everyone who was involved – it is always a pleasure to be a part of this community!

 

CFP for The IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Computing, Communication, Networking and Services (ICCNS2023)

On behalf of the organizers (Technical Program Chair, Steering Committee, and finally publicity chair) of the IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Computing, Communication, Networking and Services (ICCNS2023), I am inviting everyone, who is conducting research in this area, to consider submitting the paper to it.

Call for Papers:

New advancements in wireless communication systems such as Fifth-Generation (5G), Beyond Fifth-Generation (B5G), and Sixth-Generation (6G) networks will allow for new and unprecedented services to be made available for users with nearly unlimited capacity. These services will be the core driver for future digital transformation of our cities and communities. This will be accompanied by a ubiquitous deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure and supported by computing capacity that will be available at the edge of the network and in the cloud. This computing infrastructure will handle the processing of data generated by users and services. Such a complex and diverse system will require the applications running on the computing/networking infrastructure to be Intelligent, efficient and sustainable. Additionally, the infrastructure will require smart control and automation systems to integrate and manage its different components. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its applications will play a significant role in the design, deployment, automation, and management of future services. This will include applications that will be running on the edge and on cloud servers, networking applications to handle the flow of data between the users and the computing system, and intelligent automation and management software operating on the system. The International Conference on Intelligent Computing, Networking, and Services is aiming to provide an opportunity to present state of the art research in the intersections of Computing, Networking, and Services that are supported by Artificial Intelligence.

Submission Link: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=iccns2023

Researchers from both the industry and academia are encouraged to submit their original research contributions in all major areas, which include, but are not limited to the following main tracks:

💡Track 1: Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals

  • Artificial Intelligent Systems
  • Artificial Intelligent Theory
  • Artificial Intelligent applications in Computers and Communications
  • Artificial Intelligent and Robotics Technologies
  • Artificial Intelligent and cloud computing
  • Artificial Intelligent for Economic paradigms and game theory
  • Machine and Deep Learning of Knowledge
  • Artificial Intelligent based Distributed Knowledge and Processing
  • Artificial Intelligent for Human-Robot Interactions

💡Track 2: Intelligent Internet of Things and Cyber-Physical Systems

  • Intelligent IoT Applications and Services
  • Intelligent security for the Internet of Things and cyber-physical systems
  • Intelligent Internet of Things architectures and protocols
  • Intelligent Cyber Physical Systems (CPS)
  • Blockchain-based application in Intelligent Manufacturing: Industrial Internet of Things,
  • Blockchain and Secure Critical Infrastructure with Industry 4.0
  • Intelligent manufacture and management
  • Consensus and mining algorithms suited for resource-limited IoTs
  • Blockchain-based Controlled mobility and QoS
  • Blockchain-based energy optimization techniques in WSN
  • Blockchain-based Software defined networks

💡Track 3: Edge Intelligence and Federated Learning

  • Distributed and federated machine learning in edge computing
  • Theory and Applications of Edge Intelligence
  • Middleware and runtime systems for Edge Intelligence
  • Programming models compliant with Edge Intelligence
  • Scheduling and resource management for Edge Intelligence
  • Data allocation and application placement strategies for Edge Intelligence
  • Osmotic computing with edge continuum, Microservices and MicroData architectures
  • ML/AI models and algorithms for load balancing
  • Theory and Applications of federated learning
  • Federated learning and privacy-preserving large-scale data analytics
  • MLOps and ML pipelines at edge computing
  • Transfer learning, interactive learning, and Reinforcement Learning for edge computing
  • Modeling and simulation of EI and edge-to-cloud environments
  • Security, privacy, trust, and provenance issues in edge computing
  • Distributed consensus and blockchains at edge architecture
  • Blockchain networking for Edge Computing Architecture
  • Blockchain technology for Edge Computing Security
  • Blockchain-based access controls for Edge-to-cloud continuum
  • Blockchain-enabled solutions for Cloud and Edge/Fog IoT systems
  • Forensic Data Analytics compliant with Edge Intelligence

💡Track 4: Intelligent Networking in Beyond 5G (B5G) and 6G Wireless Communication

  • Intelligent Networking in Beyond 5G/6G Network Architectures
  • large-scale Internet of Things in B5G/6G
  • Vehicular networks in B5G/6G
  • Blockchain with lightweight computation
  • Service and applications for vehicular clouds in B5G/6G
  • Future internet architectures for B5G/6G
  • Intelligent networking services
  • Emerging networks in B5G/6G
  • Byzantine-tolerant FL
  • Churn-tolerant FL
  • FL for NGN and 6G
  • B5G/6G based IoT healthcare systems

💡Track 5: Intelligent Big Data Management and Processing

  • Intelligent Data Fusion
  • Intelligent Analytics and Data mining
  • Intelligent Distributed data management
  • Distributed transaction for blockchain
  • Intelligent Data Science and Data Engineering
  • Protocols for management and processing of data

💡Track 6: Intelligent Security and Privacy

  • Authentication and authorization
  • Applications of blockchain technologies in digital forensic
  • Privacy technologies
  • Blockchain-based threat intelligence and threat analytics techniques
  • Blockchain-based open-source tools
  • Forensics readiness of blockchain technologies
  • Blockchain Attacks on Existing Systems
  • Blockchain Consensus Algorithms
  • Blockchain-based Intrusion Detection/Prevention
  • Security and Privacy in Blockchain and Critical Infrastructure
  • Attacks on Blockchain and Critical Infrastructure
  • Blockchain and Secure Critical Infrastructure with Smart Grid

💡Track 7: Blockchain Research & Applications for Intelligent Networks and Services

  • State-of-the-art of the Blockchain technology and cybersecurity
  • Blockchain-based security solutions of smart cities infrastructures
  • Blockchain in connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) and ITS)
  • Blockchain Technologies and Methodologies
  • Recent development and emerging trends Blockchain
  • New models, practical solutions and technological advances related to Blockchain
  • Theory of Blockchain in Cybersecurity
  • Applications of blockchain technologies in computer & hardware security
  • Implementation challenges facing blockchain technologies
  • Blockchain in social networking
  • Performance metric design, modeling and evaluation of blockchain systems
  • Network and computing optimization in blockchains
  • Experimental prototyping and testbeds for blockchains
  • Blockchain networking for Edge Computing Architecture
  • Blockchain technology for Edge Computing Security
  • Blockchain-based access controls for Edge-to-cloud continuum
  • Blockchain-enabled solutions for Cloud and Edge/Fog IoT systems
  • Forensic Data Analytics compliant with Edge Intelligence

Two workshops are scheduled to take place as part of ICCNS that you cannot miss, namely:

🗓️🗓️🗓️ IMPORTANT DATES

  • Full paper submission: April 21st, 2023 (Firm and Final)
  • Full paper acceptance notification: May 6th, 2023
  • Full paper camera-ready submission: May 20th, 2023

For any inquiries, please contact: intelligenttechorg@gmail.com.

Submit the paper and meet our team in Valencia in June, 2023!
 

With best wishes,

ICCNS2023 organizers

Rii Forum 2023 “Innovation 5.0: Navigating shocks and crises in uncertain times Technology-Business-Society” & a plenary debate “Advances in ICT & the Society”

This April the next edition of the Research and Innovation Forum (Rii Forum) on which I posted previously will take place. For those, who are not familiar with Rii Forum yet, it is an annual conference that brings together researchers, academics, and practitioners in conceptually sound inter- and multi-disciplinary, empirically driven debate on key issues influencing the dynamics of social interaction today. Such a wide scope makes it a great event for those who do not want to be limited to a particular area or research question and want to be aware of everything that happens in today’s dynamic and multidisciplinary world. This, in turn, allows you not only to see another perspectives and topics, but also reconsider your topic, revealing something new, i.e. taking a look on it from a different angle, which is exceptionally valuable!

Technology, innovation, and education, as well as issues and topics located at their intersection, define the key dimensions of all discussions held during the Rii Forum. In continuously fragile international and domestic contexts, characterized by shocks, crises, and uncertainty, the Rii Forum 2023 seeks to address the multifaceted question of how to navigate these shocks, crises and uncertainty and deliver value to our society. Thus, the topic of Rii Forum 2023 is “Innovation 5.0.: Navigating shocks and crises in uncertain times Technology – Business – Society” with seven tracks:

  • TRACK 1: Education in times of shocks, crises and uncertainty
  • TRACK 2: Smart cities and communities
  • TRACK 3: Big data, business and society: Managing the distributed risks and opportunities
  • TRACK 4: Management: Rethinking management in times of profound change
  • TRACK 5: Innovation, entrepreneurship, and innovation management in the era of Industry 5.0.
  • TRACK 6: ICT and the medicine and healthcare cluster
  • TRACK 7: Data-driven approaches & human resource management in the era of digitalization

As part of Rii Forum 2023 a plenary debate “Advances in ICT & the Society: threading the thin line between progress, development and mental health” will take place, where I was honored to be invited as one of four plenary speakers, particularly considering that according tot he invitation, the organizers see me as the person whose “expertise and your contribution to the academic debate make you one of the trendsetters in current debate on open data and data quality management”, as well as leading voice and influencer. The other three panel discussants are Prof. Dr. Marek Krzystanek, Karolina Laurentowska & Prof. Marek Pawlicki. Hope this will be an interactive, fruitful and productive discussion with further involvement of the audience!

Read more here and stay tuned for more information and reflections on the conference, in case you will not be able to attend it.

Participate in the European Digital Skills Certificate (EDSC) feasibility study!

📣📣📣 This is a short post to let you know that we have reached the most important phase of the consultation process for the European Digital Skills Certificate (#EDSC) feasibility study, and on behalf of EDSC – as EDSC Ambassador – I sincerely invite Public authorities, Policy makers, Education & Training providers working in the fields of education, digitalisation, and employment, and to education and training providers at the national, regional and/or local level to participate in this last survey.

🎯🎯🎯This survey aims to get an overview of the potential demand for an EDSC, the needs and gaps in the current digital skills certification ecosystem, the expected value and potential benefits of an EDSC, and of the key requirements for an EDSC. 


The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion has initiated Action 9 of the Digital Education Action Plan (DEAP 2021-2017), that is, to develop a European Digital Skills Certificate (EDSC) that may be recognised and accepted by governments, employers, and other stakeholders across Europe. This would allow Europeans to indicate their level of digital competences, corresponding to the Digital Competence Framework (DigComp) proficiency levels.

In order to participate, you have to first register. If you are not yet registered, please fill in the form available at the link: https://edsc-consultation.eu/register/ 

The survey takes around 30 minutes,  and it will be open until the 7th of April 2023

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the questionnaire! 

The International Open Data Day and my role of Keynote Speaker for the 5th International Conference on Advanced Research Methods and Analytics (CARMA 2023) 🎤🎤🎤

This post is dedicated to two very pleasant events for me, namely the international Open Data Day 🎉🍾🥂, and the announcement of the keynote talk that I was kindly invited to deliver at the 5th International Conference on Advanced Research Methods and Analytics (CARMA) organized and sponsored by Universidad de Sevilla, Cátedra Metropol Parasol, Cátedra Digitalización Empresarial, IBM, Universitat Politècnica de València, Joint Research Center – European Commission and 🥁 🥁 🥁 Coca-Cola – what a delicious conference!🍸🍸🍸

CARMA is a forum for researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas and advances on how emerging research methods and sources are applied to different fields of social sciences as well as to discuss current and future challenges with main focus on the topics such as Internet and Big Data sources in economics and social sciences including Social media and public opinion mining, Web scraping, Google Trends and Search Engine data, Geospatial and mobile phone data, Open data and public data, Big Data methods in economics and social sciences such as Sentiment analysis, Internet econometrics, AI and Machine learning applications, Statistical learning, Information quality and assessment, Crowdsourcing, Natural Language processing, Explainability and interpretability, the applications of the above including but not limited to Politics and social media, Sustainability and development, Finance applications, Official statistics, Forecasting and nowcasting, Bibliometrics and sciencetometrics, Social and consumer behaviour, mobility patterns, eWOM and social media marketing, Labor market, Business analytics with social media, Advances in travel, tourism and leisure, Digital management, Marketing Intelligence analytics, Data governance, and Digital transition and global society, which, in turn, expects contributions in relation to Privacy and legal aspects, Electronic Government, Data Economy, Smart Cities, Industry adoption.

And as almost each and every conference, CARMA expects to have keynotes, which are two – Patrick Mikalef, who will talk about Responsible AI and Big Data Analytics, and me, whose keynote talk will be devoted to the topics I studied in recent years titled “Public data ecosystems in and for smart cities: how to make open / Big / smart / geo data ecosystems value-adding for SDG-compliant Smart Living and Society 5.0?” Sounds interesting? (I hope so) Stay tuned to know more! And return back, since I plan to reflect on the content of both talks and the conference in general.

The CARMA 2023 conference will be held on 28 June – 30 June 2023 in the University of Seville.