ROK Symposium October 2024

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INPACE Symposium
October 2024

International Symposium on Digital Technologies and Policies: Supporting the Indo-Pacific-European Digital Partnerships  

From 21 October 2024
to 22 October 2024 

Daeyang AI Center, Sejong University,
Seoul, Republic of Korea 

During the Symposium organised in Seoul, Republic of Korea, we explored the latest advancements in digital technologies and transformative applications in the Indo-Pacific Region and in Europe.
The event addressed the intersections of technology and policy, fostering dialogues between experts from both regions to strengthen Digital Partnerships with the Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, and the cooperation with India in the TTC context.   
The Symposium provided a forum to discuss groundbreaking technologies and their impacts: 

Trusted AI

Unlock the potential of AI while ensuring reliability and ethics

Chips of the Future

Discover breakthroughs in semiconductor technology 

Policy

Future Networks

Explore the evolution of connectivity and communication 

Cybersecurity

Delve into strategies for safeguarding our digital world

Do you want to have more insights about the event?  

Check out the key highlights from the event Read the full report Sign up to the Hub to watch the symposium recording!

PROGRAMME 

21 October 2024

Policy session

09:30-11:00 

3F AI Collaboration Lab

Closed-Door Policy Roundtable:
“The EU – ROK Digital Partnership: from Policy to Practice” 

Moderator : Eva Pejsova


Speakers: Raluca Csernatoni, Sunghun Cho, Michael Reiterer, Dongyoun Cho 


Description

The 2022 EU-ROK Digital Partnership Agreement (DPA) has set the foundations for advancing cooperation in key technological areas such as semiconductors, high-performance computing (HPC), quantum technology, 5G/6G Cooperation, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity. This closed-door policy roundtable aims to discuss the progress, challenges, and explore future directions for bilateral cooperation, including possibilities to align with other EU’s DPAs with regional countries to build a resilient collective digital ecosystem in the Indo-Pacific.  

11:00-11:30 

12F Lounge

Coffee & networking 

Open the descriptions

21 October 2024

Technical Thematic Sessions and Workshops 

09:15-10:30

12F AI Hall

First results of the R&I panorama and roadmapping activity   

Susana Seabra (SPI, Portugal)

Description

The session is focused on the work developed so far on the “Report on synergies and commonalities in policies, strategies and programmes between the EU and IndoPacific partners (Korea, Japan, Singapore and India)” to be delivered in Dec. 2024. Includes an overview of ICT research and development (R&D) initiatives in Indo-Pacific partners, present collaboration with the EU and Potential Synergies and Communalities between European and National programmes in Indo-Pacific countries.
This work aims at empowering the INPACE Hub with the necessary data-based evidence and insights to develop well-informed initiatives for future cooperation between EU and Indo-Pacific partners.

10:30-11:00

12F Lounge

Coffee & networking 

11:00-12:30

3F AI Collaboration Lab  

CloudEdgeIoT  

Moderator: Giacomo Inches

Speakers: Antonio Kung, Jordi Guijarro, Monique Calisti, Hidenori Nakazato, Jin Man Kwon

Description

In this session we will explore the factors enabling the convergence of Cloud Edge and IoT into a Connected Collaborative Computing Continuum and their potential application fields from different angles e.g. standardisation, cybersecurity, AI, data processing and sharing, etc. The individual technologies encompassed in the Cloud Edge IoT are of relevance for the Digital Partnerships and Trade and Technology Council Trade and Technology Council.

11:00-12:30 

12F AI Hall  

Chips for the future: Technical challenges and cooperation for resilient supply chains, Roadmapping, R&D   

Moderator : Francis Balestra, Ken Uchida 


Speakers: Giorgos Fagas, Jehyung Kim, Mitsumasa Koyanagi, Hocheon Yoo, Joon-Kyu Han

Description

The Session “Chips for the future” will focus on the challenges and possible solutions of the enabling technologies for future electronic systems, as well as international cooperation opportunities. The topics presented and discussed during this Session will allow to highlight the technical challenges and the cooperation needed for roadmaps, possible joint R&D activities and resilient supply chains. This Session will cover the main semiconductor topics of Digital Partnerships with Japan, South Korea and Singapore, as well as of the Trade and Technology Council with India  

11:00-12:30

12F Seminar Room 

Trustworthiness in AI: A data and risk management perspective  

Moderator: Antonis Ramfos

Speakers: Nineta Polemi, Tuomo Tuikka, Mukesh Mohania, Sira Maliphol, Junho Shin, Joonho Kwak

Description

This is a Technical Thematic session to address the role of data for the implementation of   trustworthy AI systems. The session will assess technical, business and governance challenges of Data Spaces in the context of their interoperation with corresponding data infrastructures in the Indo-Pacific region. Moreover, the session will assess the significance of the socio-technical environments of Europe and the Indo-Pacific and the management of related technical, legal, ethical, and organisational risks in deploying trustworthy AI systems over the two regions.

12:30-13:30 

12F AI Hall 

Lunch & networking   

13:30-15:00 

3F AI Collaboration Lab   

5G/6G   

Moderator: Adam Kapovits

Speakers: Rui Aguiar, Sunwoo Kim, Hyonwoo Lee

Description

 This session will assess current challenges in 6G development, and how Europe, the Republic of Korea and Japan can jointly address them   

13:30-15:00

12F AI Hall     

Trusted AI in industry    

Moderator: Sebastian Engell

Speakers: 
Iiro Harjunkoski, Stefan Krämer, Senthilmurugan Subbiah, Shuzhi Sam Ge, Joon Ho Kwak

Description

 The session will discuss industrial applications of AI with a focus on online applications where AI-based components interact with technical systems in real time. How to establish trust in the correctness of the AI or machine learning based algorithms is a key issue here. 

13:30-15:00 

12F Seminar Room    

Digital Education and skills    

Moderator: Karolina Gyurovszka

Speakers: Giacomo Inches, Claudia Mattera, Steve McCarty, Ramesh Sharma, Julien Provenzano

Description

Explore the future of digital education and skills in this engaging session focused on Europe and the Indo-Pacific. As both regions face the same yet unique challenges and opportunities in the digital age, we’ll examine their respective innovative approaches to digital education and skills development. Hear from leading experts and practitioners as they discuss successful initiatives, policy frameworks, and collaboration strategies that bridge regional divides. Through interactive case studies and thought-provoking discussions, gain valuable insights into how to enhance digital competencies to meet the goals of Digital Partnerships.  

15:00-15:30 

12F Lounge 

Coffee & networking    

15:30-16:30

12F AI Hall     

Reports from technical sessions   

Moderator: Franck Le Gall

Description

The “Reports from Technical Sessions” will provide an overview of key discussions and outcomes from the earlier technical sessions, summarizing insights, challenges, and innovative solutions shared throughout the day. This session will offer a comprehensive recap for participants to stay informed on the main takeaways.

16:30-18:00   

12F AI Hall  

Information Session on EU Funding Opportunities & Q&A with the INPACE consortium  

Moderators: Dr. Svetlana Klessova, Adam Kapovits

Description

This session will explore the new dynamic following the Republic of Korea’s upcoming association with Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation
funding programme. We will outline key opportunities for collaboration between the EU, the Republic of Korea, and the broader Indo-Pacific region, with a focus on available funding options. Dr. Svetlana Klessova will present examples of Horizon Europe’s opportunities,
particularly Pillar II, which focuses on global challenges and European industrial competitiveness. Adam Kapovits will discuss the Eureka programme and highlight CELTIC-NEXT projects, where Korea is already an active participant. A Q&A session will follow, allowing participants to engage with the INPACE

18:00-19:00  

12F Lounge

Snacks & Networking  

22 October 2024

Join our 2nd day online

Digital Technologies and Policies in the context of Indo-Pacific-European cooperation  

09:00-09:30

3F AI Collaboration Lab 

Registration & Gathering

09:30-09:50 

B1F B107  

Chair 

Speakers: Svetlana Klessova, Jaeseung Song 

09:50-10:15 

B1F B107  

Welcome words  

Speakers: Wooyoung Hong, Chang-Won Ahn

10:15-11:15  

B1F B107  

EU’s Digital Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific: challenges and opportunities   

Moderator: Eva Pejsova 

Speakers: Michael Reiterer, Koichiro Komiyama, Karthik Nachiappan, So Jeong Kim 

Description

The panel aims to explore the “macro” picture of the EU’s Digital Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. By examining the evolving digital landscape, this session sets the foundation for deeper discussions in subsequent sessions aimed at building sustainable, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystems across regions. In this respect, the discussion will address key challenges and opportunities, focusing on long-term trends, digital resilience, and a whole-of-society approach to collaboration. The panel will also highlight the importance of enhancing digital skills, strengthening the science and technological base, and fostering policy alignment between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.   

11:15-11:45 

3F AI Collaboration Lab  

Coffee & networking   

11:45-12:45 

B1F B107

Smart and sustainable regions and cities: need for trustworthy and human-centric digital platform ecosystem   

Moderators: Franck Le Gall, Jaeseung Song

Speakers:  Chandra Challagonda, Inder Gopal, Jeong Hyeok, Rob van den Kranenbourg

Description

As cities around the globe confront significant challenges related to urbanization, climate change, and technological advancements, this session will emphasize the role of digital transformation in promoting sustainable development. Participants will engage in discussions regarding the creation of interoperable data spaces that facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration and innovation. The session will also highlight international perspectives, including insights from India’s approach to urban data management, which has proven effective in enhancing city operations. Furthermore, the session will explore framework proposal for assessing progress toward carbon neutrality in smart cities, focusing on the establishment of key performance indicators (KPIs) and evaluation schemes. Another critical area of discussion will be the evolving landscape of urban governance in response to digitalization. This includes examining how new governance models can enhance citizen engagement and foster collaborative decision-making processes. This session seeks to encourage dialogue and collaboration among EU and Korean stakeholders, facilitating knowledge exchange and joint pilots aimed at creating smarter, more sustainable urban environments. Participants will have the opportunity to envision a future where innovation and sustainability work hand in hand to improve the quality of life in cities.

12:45-13:45  

B1F B107   

Human-centric AI for the citizens: Technological and regulatory issues  

Moderator: Antonis Ramfos   

Speakers: Jan De Bruyne, Richard Stevens, Nineta Polemi, Raluca Csernatoni

Description

This session organized by Cluster 3 delves into current methodologies, policies and regulations of both European and Indo-Pacific regions for creating AI systems that work collaboratively with humans, enhancing decision-making, productivity, and overall user experience and trust. Participants will address the key technological and regulatory concepts and the importance of human-centric AI for trustworthy decision-making and problem-solving. The importance of psychological and social aspects of human-AI interaction in ensuring that AI technologies are aligned with human goals and ethical preferences will be highlighted.   

13:45-14:45 

3F AI Collaboration Lab   

Lunch & networking   

14:45-15:45

B1F B107      

Chips for the future: Technical challenges and cooperation for resilient supply chains, Roadmapping, R&D    

Moderators: Francis Balestra, Ken Uchida 

Speakers: Giorgos Fagas, Jehyung Kim, Mitsumasa Koyanagi, Hocheon Yoo, Joon-Kyu Han 

Description

The Session “Chips for the future” will focus on the challenges and possible solutions of the enabling technologies for future electronic systems, as well as international cooperation opportunities. The topics presented and discussed during this Session will allow to highlight the technical challenges and the cooperation needed for roadmaps, possible joint R&D activities and resilient supply chains. This Session will cover the main semiconductor topics of Digital Partnerships with Japan, South Korea and Singapore, as well as of the Trade and Technology Council with India.

15:45-16:45

B1F B107      

Cybersecurity, IoT and 5G: challenges, stakes and potential solutions  

Moderator: Adam Kapovits 

Speakers: Andrea Salvi, Rui Aguiar 

More speakers to be announced

Description

16:45-17:00      

Presentation of INPACE Hub and final remarks    

Svetlana Klessova 

Description

  

Dr. Svetlana Klessova will introduce the INPACE Hub and its role in supporting Digital Partnerships between the EU and its Indo-Pacific partners, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, as well as in supporting the EU-India Trade and Technology Council, TTC.
Additionally, she will discuss the contribution of Thematic Working Groups in facilitating expert
dialogues between industries, associations, governments, and research institutions. She will also explain the role of the INPACE Hub Community Platform, and the value of INPACE Hub as a whole. The
session will close with a summary of key takeaways from the symposium

17:00-17:30   

Snacks & Networking  

SPEAKERS

Japan Chair at Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy, Brussels School of Governance, Vrije Universiteit Brussels 

Country: Belgium 

Dr Eva Pejsova is Japan Chair at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) of the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG) and Associate Fellow at the French “Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique” (FRS). Until 2019, Dr Pejsova was Senior Analyst for Asia at the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), the EU’s official agency for foreign and security policy research and analysis. She holds a PhD in Strategic Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore and has previously worked with the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the French Prime Minister’s Office, the OECD, and the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF). Dr Pejsova regularly lectures at SciencesPo (Paris School of International Affairs) in Paris, the Geneva Centre for Security Studies (GCSP), as well as briefs the Members of the European Parliament. 

Professor at Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy, Brussels School of Governance, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Research Fellow and Team Leader for the EU Cyber Direct Project Carnegie Europe

Country: Belgium 

Dr Raluca Csernatoni is a professor with the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG) and its Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium. At the CSDS, she is also a senior researcher in the context of the EU-funded project Indo-Pacific-European Hub for Digital Partnerships: Trusted Digital Technologies for Sustainable Well-Being (INPACE). Csernatoni is currently a research fellow, working on European security and emerging technologies at Carnegie Europe in Brussels, Belgium. At Carnegie, she is a team leader and senior expert on new technologies for the EU Cyber Diplomacy Initiative – EU Cyber Direct (EUCD) project and leads Carnegie Euope’s research project on ‘The EU’s Techno-Politics of AI’ funded by the McGovern AI Grant. Since 2022, Csernatoni has joined as a visiting professor the Department of International Relations of Central European University (CEU) in Vienna, Austria. She holds a PhD in International Relations from Central European University.

Senior Researcher, Security & Technology Programme, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) / Assistant Professor, Department of Military Studies, Seokyeong University  

Country: Republic of Korea  

Professor Dongyoun Cho, a former Major in the Republic of Korean Army, is a senior researcher at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Military Studies at Seokyeong University. Her expertise lies in converging security and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, autonomy, cyber, and quantum. With over 20 years of experience in intelligence, military strategy, defense policy, and the aerospace and defense industry, Dongyoun graduated from the Korea Military Academy and holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She was also recognized as a World Fellow at Yale University in 2018. Additionally, she established and led the Center for Future Defense Technology and Entrepreneurship at Seokyeong University. 

Research Fellow, Department of International Trade, Investment and Economic Security, Economic Security Team, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP)

Country: Republic of Korea  

Dr Sunghun Cho is an Associate Research Fellow at the Department of International Trade, Investment and Economic Security, Korea Institute  for International Economic Policy (KIEP). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Hanyang University, a Master’s degree in Economics, and two PhDs in Economics from Seoul National University and Stony Brook University. His expertise includes economic security issues in Europe, the secondary battery industry, and critical mineral supply chains. 

Distinguished Professor, Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy, Brussels School of Governance, Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Ambassador of the European Union ret. 

Country: Belgium  

Professor Michael Reiterer is Distinguished Professor at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) of the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG). He is also an adjunct professor for international politics at University of Innsbruck; Webster University, Vienna; Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali “Guido Carli” (LUISS), Rome; Danube University, Krems/Austria. In addition, Prof. Dr. Michael Reiterer is a former Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Korea (2017-2020). He pursued his academic career always in parallel to his diplomatic one at the Austrian and then European service. His expertise includes EU foreign policy, EU-Asia relations, the Indo-Pacific, inter-regionalism, security issues, diplomacy and human rights. He has previously published extensively on international trade law and relations including WTO, trade and environment, and the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM). 

Professor, IIIT Delhi  

Country: India

Mukesh Mohania joined IIIT Delhi as a Professor in November 2019. He served as a Dean (Innovation, Research and Development) from July 2020-June 2023 at IIIT Delhi. Prior to joining the IIITD, he has held senior technical roles in IBM Research in India and Australia. He served as a Chief Architect of IBM Watson Education. His innovations center on AI for Education, Information (structured and unstructured data) integration, and developing complex systems and applications in these areas, particularly in Education and Financial sectors. Over the course of his career, he has led a succession of successful projects that produced technology and products in use across the industry today, as well as influential and frequently cited technical work and patents. He holds 60+ granted patents and published 120+ technical papers in International Conferences and has widely participated in Industry forums. For these accomplishments, IBM recognized him as an “IBM Distinguished Engineer” (2013), “Master Inventor” (2009), “Member of IBM Academy of Technology” (2010), “Best of IBM” (2014). He has received several IBM corporate and research level awards, such as, “Excellence in People Management”, “Outstanding Innovation Award”, “Technical Accomplishment Award”, “Leadership By Doing”, and many more. He is a founding project director of DST sponsored Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) on ‘Cognitive Computing and Social Sensing’ at IIIT Delhi and received Rs100Cr (USD12M) for 2021-2025. He has held several visible positions, like ACM Distinguished Scientist (2011-), DASFAA Industrial Track co-chair (2024), VLDB Conference Organizing Chair (2016), DASFAA General- co-chair (2022), ER PC co-chair (2022), ACM India Vice-President (2015-17), ACM Distinguished Service Award Committee chair (2017-2018), Adjunct Professors/Industrial R&D board at various top universities in India and Australia, and many more, and has received IEEE Meritorious Service Award and ACM Outstanding Service Award. Currently, He is a member of the National Statistical Commission (Dec-2022 to Dec-2025).

Professor, Univeristy of Piraeus, Dept of Informatics, trustilio BV

Country: Greece 

Nineta Polemi is a cybersecurity professor at the University of Piraeus in the Department of Informatics and CTO/Co-Founder of trustilio BV. She served (2017-2020) as a Programme Manager and Policy Officer in the European Commission DG (CONNECT H1 Unit entitled ‘Cybersecurity Technologies and Capabilities’). Her cybersecurity expertise includes maritime security, operational risk/conformity assessment, security management, supplychain security, threat intelligence, and AI trustworthiness. She obtained her Ph.D. from The City University of New York (Graduate Center). She held teaching and research positions at The City University of New York (Queens & Baruch Colleges), State University of New York (Farmingdale), Technical University of Denamark, and Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)-Solvay Brussels School.  

Professor Polemi has authored over 150 publications in security, organized numerous scientific and policy-related international cybersecurity events and training sessions. She has received research grants from organizations like NATO and IEEE, as well as awards from NSA, MSI Army Research Office IEEE, CYNY, Hellenic Ministry of Maritime, and Hellenic National Defense General. She has participated as a Project and Technical Manager in more than 70 international, EU, and national R&D and commercial cybersecurity projects. Professor Polemi is a member of ETSI in the working groups of Cyber and AI and of the CEN/CLC/JTC 21/WG 1 and WG5 and ENISA Adhoc Working groups on cybersecurity skills, cybersecure AI, and Risk Assessment. She also serves as an external expert, reviewer, and consultant for EC, ENISA, and various SMEs.

Associate Professor, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finlan 

Country: Finland

Dr. Tuomo Tuikka is lead of Data Space Solutions research at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, and Associate Professor at University of Oulu. His research focus on data space related topics, often referred as European Common Data Spaces. Dr. Tuikka is involved in many European and national research and innovation activities including big data, AI, and software and services. Especially now in Data Spaces Support Centre, a European project for trusted and interoperable data exchange. He is Data Space Task Force co-lead, and Board and Technical Board member in Big Data Value Association, VTT contact point to Gaia-X AISBL, and International Data Space Association Ambassador. He has both academic and software industry background with business experience from Finland, Denmark, USA, and Japan. Dr. Tuikka has PhD in Information Systems Science from 2002.

Professor IT Law / Head of Unit, KU Leuven Centre for IT & IP Law (CiTiP) 

Country: Belgium  

Jan De Bruyne is professor IT law at the KU Leuven and head of the Centre for IT & IP Law. He teaches several courses on law and technology, and is the Principal Investigator (PI) of many projects dealing with the legal and ethical aspects of technology. He has numerous publications in academic journals and books, and is the editor of the book “Artificial Intelligence and the Law” (Intersentia, 2022). He is a member of Leuven.AI, the Robotics and AI Legal Society (RAILS) and Ethical and Trustworthy Artificial and Machine Intelligence (ETAMI) as well as of different other academic institutions. He was also involved in the adoption of the UNESCO Recommendation on Ethical AI and has been acting as an expert for several national and supranational institutions. Jan De Bruyne is a regular speaker at/organizer of conferences and seminars. 

Policy advisor and consultant, Martel Innovate  

Country: Switzerland 

Karolina was born and raised in the Czech Republic, where she studied International Relations, Diplomacy and European Law. She has dedicated her professional life to analyzing and sometimes influencing EU regulation, mainly focusing on digital policy. She continues to do so even after moving to Switzerland through consulting on EU projects.   

Director, Global Coordination Division, JPCERT,  Senior researcher, Keio Research Institute  

Country: Japan

Dr Koichiro Komiyama is the Director of the Global Coordination Division at the Coordination Centre of the Japanese Computer Emergency Response Team (JPCERT/CC). He has also been been a visiting scholar at Keio University’s Global Research Institute (KGRI) since 2016, and the Deputy Chair of the Research Advisory Group at the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) since 2017. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Aoyama Gakuin University, and a PhD from Keio University Graduate School of Media and Governance. His research interests include phishing, insider threats, and targeted attacks.   

Fellow, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore  

Country: Singapore

Dr Karthik Nachiappan is a Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore. He previously worked for the Global Issues Team at UNDP China in Beijing and the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at the National University of Singapore. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Politics from the University of Toronto, and a PhD in South Asian Studies from King’s College London. His areas of expertise include Indian Foreign Policy, India’s Technology Policy, India’s Political Economy of Development and International Political Economy. More specifically, his research focuses on India’s Geoeconomics, how issues like trade, technology, and climate change affect Indian foreign policy.  

Senior research fellow, Institute for National Security Strategy   

Country: Republic of Korea

Dr So Jeong Kim is a director of emerging security studies and a senior research fellow of the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS). She advises the science and technology field of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a full-time INSS employee. She is also an adviser to the Korea-U.S. Cyber Security Working Group. Before joining INSS, she worked at the National Security Research Institute, South Korea’s government-funded research institution, from 2004 to February 2022 as team lead. Dr. Kim has spent 20 years working at the intersection of technology and policy issues of cybersecurity. SDr. Kim has authored or coauthored various publications, including articles, reports, and academic papers. Her recent academic paper is about the evaluation of cyberattack severity and proposes a national response matrix. She has also recently contributed to papers for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the EU Institute for Security Studies. Dr. Kim received her PhD in engineering from the Graduate School of Information Security of Korea University in 2005. She earned a master’s degree in political science and a bachelor’s degree in history.  

Professor, Sejong University  

Country: Republic of Korea 

Prof. JaeSeung Song is a full professor in the Department of Computer & Information Security Sejong University. He holds the position of Technical Plenary Vice Chair of the oneM2M global IoT standards initiative. He is also a visiting professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia (UBC) since 2019. Prior to his current position, he worked for NEC Europe Ltd. and LG Electronics in various positions. He received a Ph.D. at Imperial College London in the Department of Computing, United Kingdom. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in computer science from Sogang University. His research interests span the areas of beyond 5G and 6G, AI/ML enabled network systems, software engineering, networked systems and security, with focus on the design and engineering of reliable and intelligent IoT/M2M platforms. 

CEO, EGM  

Country: France 

Dr Franck Le Gall is CEO at EGM, an innovative SME focused on integration and validation of emerging technologies. He is driving company development to deploy data technologies over vertical markets (water, agriculture, smart territories, environment, etc.). He involves himself in standardisation area including ETSI where he is chair of the ETSI ISG-CIM working group on NGSI-LD. He is also elected member of the FIWARE Technical Steering Committee (TSC). Finally, he co-chairs the Intelligent Smart System (I2S) working group of the ICT4Water European research cluster and got elected as chairman of the FIWARE water domain committee. He continuously contributes and drives several projects for public and private customers.

Founder, IoT Council   

Country: Belgium  

Rob has been involved in many capacities in the #IoT space for the past 25 years. He founded a loose network of experts called IoT Council and the IoTDay which this year has its fifteenth anniversary. His most recent publication New forms of Governance for a Hybrid Reality has been accepted by Springer and will be out soon. 

Vice President, Business Development, FIWARE Foundation  

Country: Switzerland  

Chandra Challagonda, VP of Business Development at FIWARE Foundation, is a tech executive with over 20 years in digital ecosystems, smart cities, and AI governance. He advances data space development and has impacted EU projects like DSSC, DS4SSCC, and OpenDEI, shaping data-sharing frameworks for security and interoperability. As the founder of Sampo Software, his leadership led to a Microsoft acquisition, marking a career milestone. He also founded APInf Oy, which was acquired by Contrasec Oy. Challagonda’s work in OpenDEI and DS4SSCC focuses on data spaces for smart cities and compliance with GDPR. He also contributes to forums like AI for Developing Countries at the UN, promoting ethical AI and inclusive growth. 

General Manager, K-water (Korea Water Resources Corporation)   

Country: Republic of Korea 

Dr. Park has been trained and has practiced as an urban hydrologist, urban planner, and urban engineer. He received a Ph.D. in Urban Engineering from Chungbuk National University. He also taught at Chungbuk National University as a Teaching Fellow in Korea for many years. He joined K-water in 2016 as a principal researcher and is involved in the design of Busan Eco Delta City and Busan Eco Delta Smart City in South Korea. He is also contributing to K-water’s future-proof city strategy and implementation plan. Dr. Park provides professional consultation for central and local governments in the areas of urban development and digital transformation for smart cities. In particular, he has comprehensive expertise in the practical aspects of digital twins and data platforms for cities. Currently, as the Head of NexGen Cities Center at K-water, he is working with the Ministry of Environment to promote the expansion of carbon-neutral cities in Korea. In addition, he is dedicated to fostering urban water circulation from an urban-architectural integrated planning and to creating a smart city industrial ecosystem based on public-private partnerships. 

Executive board, Trialog 

Country: France

Co-founder of Trialog, he was CTO until 2018, and CEO until 2024, Antonio is now member of the executive board, focusing on strategy, innovation and knowledge management. He has been active since 2015 on standardisation as well as on standardisation strategy. Antonio has initiated the development of more than twenty standards on architecture, interoperability, conformity in domains such as the internet of things, digital twins, security and privacy or artificial intelligence. Antonio graduated from Harvard university and École Centrale de Paris.  

CEO, Purple Hackademy    

Country: Republic of Korea 

Julien Provenzano, a cybersecurity certified expert (ISO 27001, MCSE), has nearly 20 years of experience in roles such as system administrator, IT architect, Microsoft Certified Trainer, and security workpackage manager at Airbus.   

Based in Seoul since 2018, he is the founder and CEO of Purple Hackademy, a cyber training platform for professionals, and RALFKAIROS, where he assists clients in finance, luxury, telecommunications, and defense industries with cybersecurity needs.   

Julien mentors Korean cyber talents through a Korean research institute KITRI’s “Best of the Best” program, He has represented France at international forums like the G20, and serves as a Counselor for French citizens in South Korea and Taiwan.   

He also manages a LinkedIn community of 36,000 cybersecurity professionals and organizes international events like the Finance & Industry Cybersecurity Congress Asia. 

Osaka Jogakuin University  

Country: Japan

Steve McCarty was born in Boston and became a full Professor in Japan. He currently teaches Intercultural Communication at Osaka Jogakuin University. From 2004-2024 he lectured for the Japanese government foreign aid agency JICA, introducing Japanese People and Society to visiting officials and graduate students from around the world. At Kansai University from 2015-2020 he taught ICT to mixed international and domestic students, and held a unique Global Faculty Development position. In 1998 he founded the NPO World Association for Online Education. His CV lists more than 250 publications, plus presentations on over 100 different topics (including nine international conference keynote addresses), with over 600 citations recognized by Google Scholar. His work spans online education, language teaching with technology, bilingualism, Japan, Asia, and professional development for teachers. 

CEO, Martel Innovate & President, Digital for Planet  

Country: Switzerland  

Dr Monique is the CEO of Martel Innovate, the President of the non-profit Digital for Planet, and the Director of the Next Generation Internet Outreach Office, acting as advisor for several bodies, including the European Commission and the InnoSuisse agency.Monique is a passionate entrepreneur and ICT expert with consolidated experience in the definition and implementation of research and innovation strategies, and in the development of open and sustainable technologies.  With a strong technical profile, she has been coordinating several Horizon Europe projects, contributing to develop research agendas and strategic roadmaps, monitor and elaborate on policy-driven efforts and community engagement.  She has coordinated the European Digital Enhanced Learning for All project and has been involved in the Digital Europe LeADS project at work on advanced digital skills development.  Monique holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne and a PhD in Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Bologna.

Director, Research and Innovation Partnerships,G.A.C. Group   

Country: France

Dr Svetlana Klessova, Director, Research and Innovation Partnerships at G.A.C. Group, France, is INPACE Project coordinator. She holds a PhD in innovation management and has 25+ years of experience in international collaboration in science, technology and innovation. Svetlana had leading roles in over 50 projects on world-wide level, especially in the USA, Asia, India, Europe, and the Mediterranean region. She has coordinated more than dozen multi-million European and international projects with industrial and academic partners developing innovative technologies, methods and tools, especially in energy efficiency, digital and environmental sectors. She has worked with policymakers to create environments that foster innovation, including support mechanisms for startups and research initiatives. She also contributed to the development of policies and practices that enhance collaboration and innovation across Europe and beyond – her expertise in managing large, multi-stakeholder projects has been particularly valuable in this context. Her academic papers received awards at international scientific conferences. In addition, Svetlana is experienced fundraiser and business development specialist. She is elected president of ENRICH GLOBAL, non-for-profit international association with motto “Taking European Innovation Global, and vice versa” 

Associate Professor, Gachon University  

Country: Republic of Korea 

Hocheon Yoo received the B.S. degree in electronic engineering from Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea, in 2014, and the Ph.D. degree from POSTECH, Pohang, South Korea, in 2018. In 2019, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher with Northwestern University Materials Research Center, Evanston, IL, USA. He is currently an Associate Professor of electronic engineering and a director of BK21 System Semiconductor Research Center at Gachon University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea. His current research interests include new semiconductor materials, 3D-integration, neuromorphic devices, security devices, thin-film circuits, and sensors for healthcare and biomedical applications.

Associate Professor, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) 

Country: Republic of Korea 

Je-Hyung Kim received his Ph.D. in Physics at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South Korea, in 2014. He was a postdoc researcher at the University of Maryland from 2014 to 2017. Since 2017, he has joined the Department of Physics at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea, and is now an associate professor at UNIST.  

His group’s major research topics range from fundamental studies of quantum light-matter interactions with solid-state quantum emitters to the development of advanced quantum photonic/spin resources and their applications in quantum information technologies. 

Assistant Professor, Sogang University

Country: Republic of Korea

Prof. Joon-Kyu Han is Assistant Professor in System Semiconductor Engineering and Department of Electronic Engineering at Sogang University. His research focuses on (1) neuromorphic device & system, (2) nano CMOS for logic & memory, and (3) 3D integration. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Korea Advanced Science and Technology (KAIST) in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He obtained his Master’s and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the KAIST in 2019 and 2023, respectively. He was a postdoctoral researcher at Seoul National University and visiting scholar at Harvard University from 2023 to 2024. He received Ph.D. Dissertation Award at KAIST College of Engineering and Excellent Paper Awards from Samsung Electronics in 2021 and 2022.  

Professor, University of Tokyo  

Country: Japan

Ken Uchida received Ph.D. degrees in applied physics from the University of Tokyo. In 1995, he joined the Research and Development Center, Toshiba Corporation, Japan. In Toshiba, he studied device physics and carrier transport in nanoscale devices. In 2008, he moved to academia and worked for Tokyo Institute of Technology as an associate professor and Keio University as a professor. In 2018, he moved to The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, as a professor, where he has worked on low-energy sensors, device physics of cryo-CMOS devices for quantum computing, and advanced 3D FETs.  

Senior Research Fellow, Tohoku University 

Country: Japan

He received Ph.D. degrees from Tohoku University in 1974 and then joined Hitachi where he invented a stacked capacitor memory device which has been widely used in the DRAM production. In 1985, he joined the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center. In 1988 he joined Hiroshima University where he proposed 3D integration technology based on wafer-to-wafer bonding and TSV for the first time in 1989. In 1994, he returned to Tohoku University as a professor where his interests have been 3D integration, optical interconnection, nano-CMOS device, retinal prosthesis chip and neural prosthesis AI chip. He was awarded IEEE Nishizawa Medal, IEEE Cledo Brunetti Award, IEEE Rao Tummala (EPS) Award. He was also awarded the National Medal Order of the Sacred Treasure, the National Medal with Purple Ribbon, the Award of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan. He is an IEEE life fellow. 

Chair of the Steering Board, NetworldEurope European Technology Platform   

Country: Portugal

Prof. Rui L. Aguiar, Chair of the Steering Board of the NetworldEurope European Technology Platform, has been involved in research and strategic research management since 1988, having been involved (in multiple positions) in all European-funded framework programs. He was involved in the development of the NetworldEurope initiative, and the launch of the European 5G Public Private Partnership programme. He has been an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer on 5G in the last years, and has several hundred papers on communication networks and services. He is also the co-chair of the Networks and Multimedia area at Instituto de Telecomunicações, a Portuguese state-associated laboratory, and a Full Professor at Universidade de Aveiro. 

Progamme Manager, Eurescom   

Country: Germany 

Adam Kapovits is Progamme Manager at Eurescom GmbH. He was involved and supported the European 5G Public Private Partnership and led the Internet of Radio Light project of the programme, and initiated the 6G BRAINS project. Adam currently leads the OPTI-6G project within the European Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking. Notably, Adam is also active regarding the convergence of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks in the 5G/6G context and has led and leads several projects for the European Space Agency. Adam is the co-author of several papers on 5G and 6G topics, and the co-organiser of a series of workshops in collaboration with the European Space Agency.

Professor of Process Operations, TU Dortmund, & ENRICH GLOBAL    

Country: Germany  

Sebastian Engell is Professor of Process Operations in the Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering at TU Dortmund. He has collaborated extensively with industry in EU-funded and national projects, recently e.g. in the German project KEEN that investigated the application of artificial intelligen­ce technologies and methods in the process industry and evalua­ted their technical, economical, and social potential. 

Professor, Aato University   

Country: Finland

Prof. Dr. Iiro Harjunkoski, Aalto University, Finland and Hitachi Energy Research. Iiro Harjunkoski is a worldwide leader in the application of mixed-integer programming in industry. He worked for ABB and then Hitachi Energy in Germany before joining Aato University in 2024, maintaining his ties to Hitachi Energy. He will speak on possible applications of AI in the operation of power grids. 

Group Leader for Operational Excellence, Bayer AG & Honorary Professor, TU Dortmund    

Country: Germany  

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Krämer, Bayer AG, Leverkusen is Group Leader for Operational Excellence at Bayer AG and Honorary Professor at TU Dortmund. He will speak about experiences with the application of AI in the chemical industry.  

Director of the Social Robotics Lab, Interactive Digital Media Institute, and Supervisor of Edutainment Robotics Lab, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore   

Country: Singapore

Prof. Dr. Shuzhi Sam Ge is the Director of the Social Robotics Lab, Interactive Digital Media Institute, and Supervisor of Edutainment Robotics Lab, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the National University of Singapore. He will speak about the application of AI in robotics. 

Professor, IIT Guwahati     

Country: India

Prof. Sentilmurugan Subbiah is Professor in Chemical Engineering and Chairperson of the Technology Incubator at IIT Guwahati, India.   Prior to joining IITG, Dr. Senthilmurugan worked at ABB India, Eureka Forbes and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research. He will speak about the application of AI in the process industries.

Former Director, Indira Gandhi, National Open University    

Country: India

Dr. Ramesh Sharma isrecognized as an expert inopen, distance, and technology-mediated learning. Hisacademic roles have includedbeing a Regional Director ofIndira Gandhi National OpenUniversity, India; and Directorof Distance Education at theUniversity of Guyana in SouthAmerica. He has served on theAdvisory Group on HumanResources Development for theUnited Nations Conference onTrade and Development(UNCTAD), Geneva,Switzerland. During his tenureat the University of Guyana, hecollaborated with the UNDP onits Enhanced Public Trust,Security, and Inclusion(EPTSI) project, as well as with Volunteer ServiceOverseas (VSO) and the UnitedNations Volunteers (UNV) todevelop educationalopportunities for communitiesand youth.  

Chief Development Officer , ALL Digital   

Claudia joined ALL DIGITAL in March 2021. Before, she worked as a researcher, project manager and lecturer at universities in the UK and Italy and for public and networking organisations in the Netherlands. Her background is within the contemporary arts carrying out research in the fields of Creative and Cultural Industries, Entrepreneurship, Education and E-learning, Digital Competencies and Gaming. 

She had been one of the pioneers of mobile gaming development running an indie game company focused on educational games to raise awareness on topics with a social impact for youngsters or adults. 
She holds a PhD in Contemporary History of Art investigating the economical and cultural relationships between the Arts and the Economy. She speaks Italian and French.

Head of Digital Ecosystems, IONOS    

Country: Germany

Leading the strategy and execution of smart solutions research projects that leverage cutting-edge technologies and trends, in particular Cloud, Data, and AI. Over 20 years of experience in the field of digital ecosystems and smart solutions, involving areas such as communication networks, data-ecosystems, cloud, IoT, AI, and Natural Language Processing  

Senior Innovation Consultant, Martel Innovate 

Country: Switzerland  

With a background in Computer Engineering, he works across technology and project management and has been active in research and innovation projects for almost a decade. In Martel he is involved in the CloudEdgeIoT initiative (H-Cloud and Hub4Cloud projects), the ongoing NexusForum.EU project and several other initiatives on IoT, Cloud, Data Sharing, Cybersecurity, 5G, AI, Media, Accessibility and Virtual Words.   

Head of CMOS++ and EU Programmes, Tyndall   

Country: Ireland

Giorgos Fagas PhD MBA is Head of CMOS++ and EU Programmes at Tyndall, and member of Tyndall’s Leadership Team. CMOS++ is a strategic programme addressing emerging materials, devices and architectures for next-generation information processing interfacing with CMOS and beyond. He is contributor to key international strategic R&I agendas incl. the ECS-SRIA and IRDS and has initiated several large-scale EU projects. He currently leads the EU-funded programmes for open access to infrastructure for early-stage research on nanoelectronics and semiconductor chips, respectively, ASCENT+ and INFRACHIP, and the ICOS project activity on Technology Scanning and Foresight. Giorgos holds prominent positions in various policy and industry groups including Director of the SiNANO Institute.  

CNRS Research Director, CROMA, & Director Emeritus, European SINANO Institute & President, IEEE Electron Device Society 

Country: France

Francis Balestra, CNRS Research Director at CROMA, is Director Emeritus of the European SINANO Institute and President of IEEE Electron Device Society France, and has been Director of several Research labs. He coordinated several European Projects (NEREID, NANOFUNCTION, NANOSIL, etc.) that have represented unprecedented collaborations in Europe in the field of Nanoelectronics, and is currently coordinator of the Horizon Europe ICOS project dedicated to International Cooperation on Semiconductors with leading semiconductor countries. He founded and organized many international Conferences, and has co-authored more than 500 publications. He is member of several European Scientific Councils, of the Advisory Committees of International Journals and of the IRDS (International Roadmap for Devices and Systems) International Roadmap Committee, as representative of Europe.  

SPI

Country: Portugal

Susana Seabra is a manager at SPI, an international consulting group which has
coordinated and provided expert support on projects based in Europe, Asia, North
America, South America and Africa. She is also an expert in portfolio analysis of research
and innovation projects at national, regional and international level and has project
management experience in areas related to digitalisation, support to the SMEs and
capacity building. Susana is highly experienced in managing and developing in large-scale
projects within international organisations including business-related project activities.
Susana Seabra worked for six years as a project engineer, in the development of new
products and processes in environmental and biotechnology fields.
She has a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Science and Technology Faculty at the
University of Coimbra – Portugal.

tenure-track assistant professor and Graduate Program Director in Technology & Society at SUNY Korea-Stony Brook University and Fellow at the Trustworthy AI Lab at Seoul National University.

Country: Republic of Korea

Sira Maliphol, PhD, is a tenure-track assistant professor and Graduate Program Director in Technology & Society at SUNY Korea-Stony Brook University and Fellow at the Trustworthy AI Lab at Seoul National University. His research interests include technological catch-up and development, STI policy, and innovation systems. Some recent research activities explore global AI policy including how to ensure trustworthiness of new AI technologies by examining comparative case studies in sectors and countries. He is an associate editor at Science & Public Policy and Strategic Change.

Director of Center for Trustworthy AI at TTA (Telecommunications Technology Association)

Country: Republic of Korea

Mr. Shin has been working on artificial intelligence and data since 2018 at TTA. Particularly, He was the main contributor to data quality assurance while engaged in government-led construction of large-scale datasets for many different types of deep learning applications in such areas as computer vision, speech recognition, natural language processing, healthcare, etc. In addition, he has also been involved in development of a guidance for trustworthy AI since 2020. Before working in the field of AI and data, he had well over 15 years of experience in wired/wireless network equipment testing and certification. During the time of those years, he was responsible for developing conformance and interoperability test methodologies for the various network equipment including Ethernet, VoIP, and ADSL/VDSL, Wi-Fi. He had been dedicated himself to the international certification programs such as Wi-Fi Alliance, WiMedia Alliance, USB-IF, NFC Forum, FIDO Alliance and EMVCo. Prior to joining TTA, he was a senior research staff of ETRI (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) from Mar. 2001 to Nov. 2001.  

Research Interests: AI audit, Evaluation of AI safety and trustworthiness, AI-ready data quality management, AI Red-teaming, AI Risk Evaluation 

Education: Mr.Shin earned a Bachelor of Electronics and Electrical Engineering in 1999 and a Master’s degree in communication systems in 2001 from POSTECH(Pohang University of Science and Technology), Korea. 

tenure-track assistant professor and Graduate Program Director in Technology & Society at SUNY Korea-Stony Brook University and Fellow at the Trustworthy AI Lab at Seoul National University.

Country: Republic of Korea

Current Status: 

He is currently serving as the team leader at the AI Trustworthy Center of TTA (Telecommunications Technology Association). His work is focused on research and activities related to policies for trustworthy AI. 

Current Role: 

In his current role, he is responsible for developing guidelines, providing consulting services, and conducting testing to help companies understand and implement AI trustworthiness standards. He played a key role in the development of the “Guidelines for Developing Trustworthy AI” and is actively involved in establishing a certification system to verify AI trustworthiness in companies. 

Additionally, he is engaged in research on AI safety technologies and policies, particularly focusing on testing techniques and risk management strategies for large language models (LLMs) and advanced AI models. He also contributes to government initiatives through his participation in developing technical policies and strategies related to AI trustworthiness, working closely with the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) to enhance national and global competitiveness in this area. 

As a member of the ISO/IEC JTC1/SC42 committee, he is actively involved in ensuring the interoperability of global AI certification and evaluation processes. 

Past Experience: 

He has previously conducted research at TTA in areas such as software quality testing and certification, functional safety consulting, and the reliability of intelligent information fusion systems (including IoT platforms, digital twins, and CPS). He also worked on quality verification for AI training data. 

Academic Background: 

He holds a Master’s degree in Mobile Communication Engineering from Seoul National University. 

Vice President of Sejong University in Korea

Country: Republic of Korea

Professor Wooyoung Hong is  currently the Vice President of Sejong University in Korea.    Since 2013, he has been a Professor with the Department of Defense Systems Engineering, Sejong University.  He received the B.S. degree in electronic engineering from the Republic of Korea Naval Academy, Jinhae, Republic of Korea, in 1982, the M.S. degree in electronic engineering from Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, in 1985, the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1991,  Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Since 1985, he has been a Faculty Member with the Republic of Korea Naval Academy, before leaving the Navy as a Captain, in February 2013. From 1995 to 1997, he served as a Joint Researcher with the Agency for Defense Development,  Korea. From 1997 to 2000, he was an Exchange Professor with the Department of Electrical Engineering, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, USA. 
His research field is underwater acoustic signal processing.