Invited Speakers
Jose Antonio BARATA De OLIVEIRA - Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal
Bio: José António Barata de Oliveira is Full Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computing Engineering (DEEC) at NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA-FCT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal. He is a senior researcher at the Centre for Technology and Systems (CTS/UNINOVA), where he leads the research group RICS — Robotics and Industrial Complex Systems. His research interests include robotics, autonomous systems (e.g. UAVs, service robots), cyber-physical systems, intelligent manufacturing / Industry 4.0, perception and navigation, and applications such as smart agriculture. Professor Barata’s academic formation includes a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from NOVA University of Lisbon (2004), a Master’s in Computer Science from the same institution (1995), and earlier degrees in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering / Digital Systems from NOVA and ISEL. He also holds the honorary title Doctor Honoris Causa awarded by the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca in 2023
Aniello CASTIGLIONE - University of Salerno, Italy
Abstract: A new era of computing is on the horizon, as quantum computation introduces opportunities in optimization, drug discovery, and secure communication, while posing challenges in cryptographic security, error correction, and system scalability. Meanwhile, as quantum computing advances, many widely used cryptographic schemes, such as RSA and elliptic curve cryptography, are expected to become vulnerable to quantum attacks, particularly through Shor's algorithm. To address this looming threat, post-quantum cryptography (PQC) has emerged as a field dedicated to designing cryptographic algorithms that can withstand both classical and quantum adversaries, ensuring long-term security in the quantum era. Practical applications of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) includes the protection of critical IoT devices, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of machine learning models, and enhancing resilience against ransomware attacks.
For IoT devices, adapting PQC algorithms to low-power and low-resource environments is essential. This adaptation involves developing lightweight cryptographic solutions that maintain security without compromising device performance. Furthermore, one of the major challenges in Federated Learning (FL) is the security risks arising from model exchanges between clients and the central server or among clients themselves. Thus, integrating PQC into Federated Learning (FL) workflows can safeguard model integrity by preventing unauthorized alterations and ensuring data authenticity of the decentralized knowledge discovery. Finally, the cryptographic schemes used by ransomware in their operations, such as data encryption, exfiltration, and Command & Control communication, are also potentially vulnerable to quantum attackers. All these examples create a pressing need to transition to cryptographic primitives that are resistant to quantum attacks, ensuring the long-term security of sensitive data and mitigating the risk posed by future quantum-enabled threats.
Bio: Prof. Aniello Castiglione is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management & Innovation Systems at the University of Salerno, Italy. He earned his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Salerno in 2007. His principal research areas include information forensics, digital forensics, security and privacy (especially in cloud and network environments), communication networks, applied cryptography, and sustainable computing. Dr. Castiglione has published broadly in international journals and conferences (~190+ papers) and has held multiple editorial and organizational roles for conferences and journals in his fields of expertise.
Andrei PĂUN - University of Bucharest, Romania
Abstract: In this presentation, we highlight emerging and evolving research directions within the Institute for Computational Intelligence and Applications (ICIA) over the past year. These interdisciplinary efforts span a diverse array of application domains, including medicine, neuromorphic computing, bio-computing, and the detection of deep fakes. We will discuss both novel and ongoing initiatives that exemplify ICIA's commitment to advancing foundational theory while tackling pressing real-world challenges. Special attention will be given to how computational paradigms inspired by biology are shaping the future of intelligent systems, and how these innovations are being translated into impactful applications in healthcare and digital security.
Bio: Andrei Păun is professor of Computer Science at University of Bucharest and Director of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence "Mihai Drăgănescu" (ICIA) (since 2024). Andrei's education and research forming took place on two continents (Europe and North America) and in multidisciplinary research groups from four universities (University of Bucharest: Math and Computer Science, University of Western Ontario: Computer Science and Biology, Rovira y Virgili University: Computer Science and Linguistics, Louisiana Tech University: Computer Science and Biology). His main interests are AI, Biocomputing, Bioinformatics, as well as finite automata and other related areas. Andrei organised/co-organised conferences in automata theory, bioinformatics/Systems Biology both in North America and Europe, the most recent being CMSB 2022. Aside from the deep results in the interdisciplinary areas of Computer Science, Medicine and Biology known as Biocomputing, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Dr. Paun showed a strong versatility to work with various research groups from many disciplines, especially Biology and Medicine.
Organizers
