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 

The mission of the INPACE project is to support the implementation of the Digital Partnerships between the European Union and Japan, South Korea, Singapore, as well as the Trade and Technology Council with India. During our first 2-day Symposium organised in Seoul, Republic of Korea, we will explore the latest advancements in digital technologies and transformative applications in the Indo-Pacific Region and in Europe. 
The event will address 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 will provide 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

How to attend?  

The Symposium is free but by invitation only.
To express interest to be invited, please contact use our dedicated form:

Get in contact

PROGRAMME 

21 October 2024

Policy session

09:00-10:30 

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.  

10:30-11:00 

Coffee & networking 

Open the descriptions

21 October 2024

Technical Thematic Sessions and Workshops 

09:15-10:30

First results of the R&I panorama and roadmapping activity   

Susana Seabra (SPI, Portugal)

Speakers: Rui Aguiar , Sunwoo Kim, Hyonwoo Lee 

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

Coffee & networking 

11:00-12:30  

CloudEdgeIoT  

Moderator: Giacomo Inches 

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

Description

11:00-12:30   

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 

Trustworthiness in AI: A data and risk management perspective  

Moderator: Antonis Ramfos

Speakers: Nineta Polemi, Tuomo Tuikka, Mukesh Mohania

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  

Lunch & networking   

13:30- 15:00    

5G/6G   

Moderator: Adam Kapovits

Speakers: Rui Aguiar 

More speakers to be announced  

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     

Trusted AI in industry    

Moderator: Sebastian Engell

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

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     

Digital Education and skills    

Moderator: Karolina Gyurovszka

Speakers: Monique Calisti, 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  

Coffee & networking    

15:30-16:30     

Reports from technical sessions   

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     

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

Moderators: Dr. Svetlana Klessova

Speakers: 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  

Snacks & Networking  

Open the descriptions

22 October 2024

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

09:00-09:30 

Coffee & networking 

09:30-10:15   

Opening session   

Speakers: Svetlana Klessova 

10:15-11:15    

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   

Coffee & networking   

11:45 to 12:45 

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     

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    

Lunch & networking   

14:45- 15:45      

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

15:45- 16:45      

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 it’s 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  

Open the descriptions

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). 

Director, Athens Technology Center 

Country: Greece

Antonis Ramfos has over 30 years involvement with the ICT domain, both from a technology and policy related aspects. He has held an academic post at University of Wales, UK, in the Department of Computing Mathematics. He has been the Director of the R&D Department of a leading European ICT Service Providers. Since 2016, he is the Managing Director of ATC International sprl, a Brussels-based, innovation-driven SME. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the SME Athens Technology Center (ATC), member of the Executive Board of the NESSI Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the Big Data Value Association (BDVA). 

Scientific Advisor, Z-Inspection® Initiative in India 

Country: India

With over 14 years of pioneering experience in Data, Analytics, and Research, Adarsh Srivastava leads the Data, Analytics & Research Quality Assurance at Roche Diagnostics. Renowned for his visionary leadership, Adarsh has successfully spearheaded the creation of resilient data analytics solutions, revolutionizing the healthcare sector. A passionate advocate for AI Ethics, Adarsh has been at the forefront of establishing a Z-Inspection Trustworthy AI lab in India where he acts as a Scientific Advisor. He has championed the integration of ethical considerations into AI development, ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability in AI systems. His efforts have included creating comprehensive guidelines and promoting an organizational culture that prioritizes the responsible use of AI.  

Adarsh’s unwavering commitment to implementing trustworthy AI systems has not only propelled the organization towards innovation but also ensured a future-ready stance to fully leverage AI’s transformative potential. His blend of expertise, foresight, and ethical dedication makes him a trailblazer in driving the future of AI, setting a benchmark for ethical standards in the industry.

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 

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. 

Chairman, Centre of Data for Public Good. / Research Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore    

Country: India

Inder is the Chairman of the Centre of Data for Public Good and Research Professor at IISc. He was previously Vice President of Software at Ericsson, where he was instrumental in launching their Edge computing efforts. Before that, he was Vice President of Networking at IBM, where he had responsibility for all of IBM’s hardware and software networking products. He has also served as Chief Architect of AT&T and Chief Technology Officer of Prodigy.  

He has founded, built-up, and successfully sold two venture-funded start-up companies, ReefEdge and Iptivia, and is an investor and board member in several others. He served as the Founding Chairman of a leading open-source networking software group, OpenDaylight, recruiting dozens of top-tier companies to participate.
Inder has also had a distinguished research career in the area of computer networks, with 20 patents and more than 70 technical publications to his credit. He worked at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Centre, earning two IBM Outstanding Innovation Awards. He has served as editor of several technical journals and was elected Fellow of the IEEE. He has a PhD from Columbia University, New York and a BA from Oxford University, England.     

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.