Keynote speakers
Prof. Dr. Mo Elbestawi, Ph.D., FCAE, FCIRP, FASME, FCSME, P. Eng.
McMaster W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology (SEPT), Canada
Keynote Title: "Additive Manufacturing"
Bio: Dr. Elbestawi's experience spans a number of research and administrative roles over 30 years, including Vice President Research and International Affairs, Dean of Engineering, Chair of Mechanical Engineering, and founding Director of the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute. His experience in Industry included research engineer, unit head-structural dynamics, Ontario Hydro Research Division. Currently, he is the Director of McMaster's W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology (SEPT).
Dr. Elbestawi’s fields of expertise are focused on manufacturing including machining systems and additive manufacturing. He has published more than 260 manuscripts in refereed journals and conference proceedings, as well as contributed to four specialized books in manufacturing research. He continues to conduct innovative research activities and has consistently been able to do so due to his ability to attract more than $29.5 Million in funding from Canadian federal and provincial funding organizations during his career. His research contributions to Engineering have been transferred to, funded and used by Canadian and international industries. These contributions include fundamental, applied, theoretical and practical research using analytical, computational and experimental approaches.
In addition to his research programs, Dr. Elbestawi has led initiatives in SEPT to embed Industry 4.0 and Smart Systems into the curriculum of all programs. In large part this curriculum will be made possible through a hands-on Learning Factory that implements modern manufacturing approaches. Dr. Elbestawi has led the development and implementation of such a facility that engenders the learning of Industry 4.0, cyber-physical systems, Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). This Learning Factory is designed for teaching, research, and training of students as well as industry professionals.
Dr. Ildiko Peter
Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Keynote Title: "Light alloys for automotive: opportunities and challenges "
Bio: Ildiko Peter received the M.S. degree in Bio-chemistry and has obtained her PhD degree in Material Science and Engineering from Università degli Studi di Torino and Politecnico di Torino, Italy, respectively. Since 1999 she has continuously been with the Department of Applied Science and Technology of the Politecnico di Torino. In 2014 she has been granted by the Scientific Habilitation for Associate Professor in Material Science and Technology and Metallurgy.
Her main research interest is oriented to the development and characterization of different metallic alloys for automotive/aeronautical industries and biomedical applications, the development, optimization and characterization of thin and thick coatings on metallic substrates, the study of metal based alloy nanoparticles for oxygen reduction reaction, the development and characterization of metals containing humidity sensors for environmental monitoring, the synthesis and characterization of materials for advanced electromagnetic applications. She has 125+ publications on these topics, she has delivered 10+ invited talks and is co-inventor of 2 granted patents. In 2010 she has been a Visiting Researcher at Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia. She has participated in various European and National projects. She is acting as reviewer for several Journals and since 2015 she serves as Associated Editor of the IEEE Access, a strongly interdisciplinary high-impact scientific journal.
Prof. Dr. Gyula Mester, D. Sci., Full Professor, Academician
Óbuda University, Doctoral School of Safety and Security Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
Keynote Title: "Future of Autonomous Robotic Self-Driving Cars"
Bio: Dr. Mester studied at University of Belgrade 1964-1970 and received his D. Sci. Degree in Engineering from the University of Novi Sad in 1977. Gyula Mester works/worked at 3 Universities and 2 Doctoral Schools in 2 countries: University of Szeged, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Informatics, Doctoral School of Applied Informatics, Szeged, Hungary, Óbuda University, Doctoral School of Safety and Security Sciences, Budapest, Hungary, University of Novi Sad, Mihajlo Pupin Technical Faculty, Zrenjanin, Yugoslavia/Serbia. In the period of 1997 - 2000 he was the head of the Neuro-Fuzzy-Genetic Intelligent Control Research Center, ERUDIT node, in Subotica, Yugoslavia.
His professional activities contain different fields of robotics and engineering: cloud robotics, self-driving cars, unmanned autonomous systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous quadrotors, smart cities, soft computing techniques, fuzzy logic control, sensor-based remote control, humanoid robotics, autonomous wheeled mobile robots, micro- and nanorobots, rigid-link flexible-joints industrial robots, scientometrics, academic ranking of world universities.
Gyula Mester is a member in the Editorial Boards/Associate Editorship of 16 and invited reviewer for 22 scientific journals.
Gyula Mester was also an invited reviewer of 15 proceedings of scientific conferences.
He 40 times was plenary, keynote, invited lecturer of the national and international symposiums, conferences and congresses.
He was member of he organizing committee, section chair, member of the international organizing committee, section chair, general chair, member of the international publicity committee, program committee member, technical program committee member, editor of the conference proceedings, scientific committee member, advisory board member, member of the organizing committee of the invited session, scientific committee member, member of the section organizing committee, member of the organizing of the special session, international scientific committee member, general chair of the scientific board, scientific board member, publications chair, editor in chief.
He participated in organizing of the 62 national and international symposiums, conferences and congresses.
He was a contact person of the Robotics Laboratory of European Robotics Research Network at the University of Szeged.
He is member of the IFToMM - International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science. Hi is member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Institute for Computer Science and Control. He is, furthermore, a member of the 18 scientific organizations. Gyula Mester as project manager, supervisor or researcher, took part in a total of 35 scientific projects.
Gyula Mester is the author of 261 research papers, the number of citations is: 1455, source: Hungarian Scientific Bibliography Database, his h index=26, g index=31. In the period 2009 - 2013, he was the author of the chapters in 4 Springer research monographs. His ORCID ID is: 0000-0001-7796-2820, Researcher ID: S-5950-2017, Scopus ID: 24478916000.
At the Doctor School in Computer Science at the University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary he supervised 2 PhD students and he teaches 4 PhD course.
At the Doctoral School on Safety and Security Sciences at the Óbuda University, Budapest, he is the Supervisor for 2 PhD students and teaching 2 PhD courses: Intelligent Robotics, Obstacle Avoidance Control of Autonomous Quad-Rotor. Gyula Mester was the Supervisor and External Examiner of 16 PhD Thesises.
He is the member of the IEEE, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, No.: 95095594.
Gyula Mester was elected for the: Man of the Year 1997 and Man of the Year 2011 by the American Biographical Institute.
From 2013 he is the Full Member of the Hungarian Academy of Engineering.
From 2000 he is a member of Public Body of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. His CV was published in the Marquis ’Who’s Who in the World 1997’. From 1994 he is a member of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Between 1988 – 2018, Gyula Mester made outstanding research contributions in the field of Soft Computing methods and its application for Intelligent Robots in Europe.
Prof. Dr. Köksal Erentürk
Electrical & Electronics Engineering Department, Ataturk University, Turkey
Keynote Title: "Smart Grid: An Interdisciplinary Engineering Application"
Bio: Prof. Köksal Erentürk received in 1994 his B.S. degree (with honors) in the field of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering from Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey and in 1997, M.S. degree in the field of Electrical Engineering from Istanbul University. In 2002 he obtained the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from State University of New York and Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
He started his academic career as research assistant in 1994 at Ataturk University, followed by Karadeniz Tech. University and Ataturk University where between 2014-2017 he was the Head of the Electrical & Electronics Engineering Department. Also, since 2002 he is Chair of the High Voltage & Power Division. Since 2013 he held the professor position at Electrical & Electronics Engineering Department, teaching various undergraduate and graduate level courses such as PLCs, High Voltage Engineering, Fundamentals of Power Electronics, Mechatronics, Introduction to Robotics Systems, Electrical Machines, Electromagnetic Field and Wave Theory, Control System Theory, Electromechanical, Energy Conversion, Electrical Energy Generation-Transmission and Distribution, and
Power System Analysis, Fuzzy Control and Modeling, Smart Grid Technology, Green Energy and Industrial Applications, Advanced Control System Design, Power Systems Protection, Modelling of Dynamical Systems, and Dynamics of Electrical Machines in English.
His main research interests are focused on the field of smart grids, renewable energy systems, development and application of control theory to a variety of mechatronic systems, with a focus on observation and estimation based control. Most of his recent work is focused on the analysis and control of dynamical systems that arise in engineering applications, his research achievements being published in many Conferences and prestigious journals such as Measurement, Journal of Electrical Engineering and Electronic Technology, Control Engineering And Applied Informatics, Applied Thermal Engineering, etc.
Prof. Erentürk is involved as editor or referee to a series of publications such as Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences, American Journal Of Energy And Power Engineering, Int. Journal of Electrical Components & Energy Conversion, Int. Journal of Systems Science & Applied Mathematics, Automation And Control Systems Journal, IEEE Industrial Electronics, IEEE Industrial Informatics, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, IET Electric Power Applications, IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution, IET Power Electronics, IET Control Theory and Applications, Robotica.
Prof. dr. Mahmoud Zaky Sitohy
Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt
Keynote Title: "Food Safety Challenges and Adequate Modern Technological and Biotechnological Approaches"
Bio: Prof. Sitohy received his B.Sc. from Ain-Shams University (1971), M.Sc. (1976) and Ph.D. (1983) in Biochemistry from Zagazig University. After completion of his degree he was appointed at Zagazig University where he served as lecturer, assistant professor and full professor at Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture. Currently he held the position of Advisor to the president of Zagazig University on Project Management Unit and Director of TICO Technology, Innovation and Commercialisation Office (TICO).
Dr. Sitohy owns over 44 years of professional experience encompassing management of international research projects; management of National Education projects; being an experienced trainer in the National Training Higher Education programs and serving as a peer reviewer for many scientific journals (e.g. J of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Journal of Dairy Research, Industrial Crops and Products, IUBMB Life). As key reference points can be mentioned his activity as head of Biochemistry department (5 years), manager of the central lab (6 years), Executive manager of UPMU (University Project Management Unit) and director of TICO (Technology, Innovation and Commercialisation Office), expert for the European Commission (EC, Tempus projects), national and international expert of Bologna process and ECTS system (leading member of the Egyptian and European Bologna promoters group. (Expertise in the educational systems and development), extensive experience as research project evaluator at national and international levels (US-Egypt joint project, FP7, RDI), ISO9001 lead Auditor (QMS) certified by IRCA, expert and trainer of strategic planning at Zagazig University, coordinator of the BUILDING BRIDGES initiative between California University Davis, USA and 4 Egyptian universities, since July 2008, coordinator for the French Egyptian Year for Science and Technology 2010, interviewer for ParOwn initiative (2011-2012) launched by the Ministry of Higher Education assessing young scientists travelling abroad for scientific missions.
His major scientific achievements in the field of biotechnologies ware published in more than 75 papers in journals and conference proceedings.
He is a member of American Chemical Society, Sigma Xi, Society for Green Vegetation Research, Egyptian Biochemical Society, French Academic Society, Egyptian Medical Biochemical Society and Egyptian Agricultural Biochemistry Society.
Prof. dr. eng. Abdelazim M. Negm
Professor and Executive Manager of Zagazig University Crisis and Disaster Center, Egipt
Keynote Title: "Sustainability of University Campus"
Bio: Prof. Abdelazim Negm was born in Sharkia, Egypt on 16th April 1962 and has been graduated in May 1985 from Zagazig University (ZU), Zagazig, Egypt and was awarded the B.Sc. Degree in "Civil Engineering - Irrigation and Environmental Engineering" with average grade "Very Good with honors, with 84.5%". Negm has been awarded the degree of Master of Science (M.Sc.) in civil Engineering (Irrigation and Hydraulics) from Ain Shams University, Egypt and the PhD degree in Hydraulics on 1992 from Zagazig University. Currently, he is a professor of Hydraulics and (Water Resources) in Water and Water structures Engineering Department at Faculty of Engineering of Zagazig University.
He worked as a demonstrator in Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University in 1986 and continued till he occupied the position of vice dean for Academic and Student Affair. He worked for Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST) as a professor of Water Resources since Dec. 2012 until Sept. 2016 and chairperson of Environmental Engineering Dept. at E-JUST since March 2013 until March 2016.
He published about 300 papers in national and international Journals and conferences. He is listed in (a) Marquis Who is Who?, (b) IBC's 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century , and (c) ABI directory for his achievement in the field of Hydraulics and Water Resources. He was nominated for many other awards from both IBC and ABI. He participated in more than 60 conferences. He has awarded the prizes of best papers three times. His research areas include hydraulic, hydrology and water resources. Currently, he is very interested in sustainability studies, Sustainable development and green environment.
Prof. Negm is a member of IAHR and a member of the Egyptian permanent promotion committee for Water Resources (51b) for promotion associate and professor positions and currently he is the acting head of this committee. He is a member of the editorial board of several scientific journals and Int. Conferences, associate editor-in-chief for IWTJ and was member of the organizing committee of Oceanography 2015, and IWTC2013-IWTC2017. Also, he is the secretary general of the IWC ( www.IWTC.info) since 2013. He is the head of the ZU committee for assessment of the scientific publications of ZU faculties and the head of the committee for developing the Bylaw of the Faculty of Higher Studies in Sustainable Development and Green Economy including Climate changes, mitigation and adaptation.
Prof. dr. eng. Omar Fakih Hamad
Faculty of Engineering, Zanzibar University, Tanzania
Keynote Title: "Mathematics, Computational and Communication Science and Engineering (MCCSE) for Enhanced Development Projects and Increased Productivity"
Bio:
Dr. Omar Fakih Hamad was born on the 21st of March, 1971 at Kwamwewe, Pandani, Wete, Pemba. In February 2008, Dr. Omar graduated PhD in Computer Engineering from Chonnam National University, South Korea. In 2000, he graduated Master of Engineering in Electronics and Communications specialized in Microwave from Birla Institute of Technology, India, where he also graduated his Bachelor of Electronics and Communications Engineering in July 1998. In December, 1996, he received Correspondence Postgraduate Diplomas in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations (PGD-PMIR), International Relations (PGD-IR), and Investment Planning and Control (PGD-IP&C) from Central Institute of Management, India.
Dr. Omar is currently Associate Professor of Computer and Telecommunications Engineering at the Engineering Faculty, Zanzibar University in Tanzania. Since August 2011 until October 2012 2 he was Senior Lecturer and Dean of the School of Mathematics, Computational and Communication Science and Engineering at the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology where, he has been teaching and doing research in the field of Information and Communication Science and Engineering. Between April and July 2011, Dr Omar had briefly been the Coordinator of Planning and Resource Mobilization at the College of Information and Communication Technologies (CoICT) of the University of Dar es Salaam. Dr Omar was a post-doc fellow at the University of Johannesburg in 2010-2011. Among the committees and management assignments that Dr. Omar has been involved include: ICT Resource Centre (IRC) Committee; Resource Mobilization and Investment (ReMoI) Committee; Member of Communication and Institutional Partnership (CIPa) Committee; Member of the Senate; Member of Tender Board all of the NM-AIST. He has been a member of the College Management Committee, of the College of Information and Communication Technologies; Members of Research and Postgraduate Studies Committees of the College of Engineering and Technology and of the College of Information and Communication Technologies of the University of Dar es Salaam.
Dr. Omar has attended trainings on Research Methodologies in Science and Engineering; Teaching Methodologies in Higher Learning Institutions; and Effective Methods of Teaching in Institutions of Higher Learning. Dr. Omar has received several awards including: The 2011 Best Academic Staff Award in the Department of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering of the University of Dar es Salaam; 2009 TWAS-AAS-Microsoft Award for Young Computer Scientists Working and Living in Africa; and 2008-2009 Brain Korea (BK21) award for Graduate Researchers. In terms of international research collaborations and MoUs, Dr. Omar has been a member in a team for VLIR-UOS 12 years’ Project between the NM-AIST, Arusha and the Flemish Universities in Belgium. Together with NM-AIST’s VC, Dr. Omar has recently developed a successful USD 1.3 Million Grant Proposal for Establishment of ICT Resource Centre with ICT and Telecommunications Testbeds, funded by Indian Government.
Dr. Omar is a professional member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE); Institute of Electronics and Information Communications Engineers (IEICE); New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) Council; Central Institute of Management; National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE). He has been a reviewer and Technical Programme Committee member in several international conferences and journals including the South African Journal of Sciences, AFRICOMM, and ICT Africa. Dr. Omar has published several refereed journals and conference papers. “Analog, Digital and Multimedia Telecommunications” is the book that Dr. Omar has recently completed to write and it has been originally and widely published in UK, USA, and Australia.
Mohamed Louzazni
Applied Mathematics and Informatics, National School of Applied Science, Tanger, Morocco
Keynote Title: "Metaheuristic Algorithm for Photovoltaic Power System"
Bio: Mohamed Louzazni obtained B.Sc. degree in Electronics and M.Sc. in Electronics & Telecommunication at University Ibn Tofail, Faculty of Science, and Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Science, respectively. .
He was a visiting Phd student at Polytechnic University of Bucharest at Faculty of Electrical Engineering in 2015. Since 2017 he continued his research at Solar Tech laboratory, Energy Department from Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy. Currently, he is a Phd researcher at National School of Applied Sciences, being member of Applied Mathematics and Informatics Team, Abdelmalek Essaadi University and Research Group in Electrical Technologies for Sustainable and Renewable Energy, University of Cadiz at Higher Polytechnic School of Algeciras. .
His research area covers the application of Meta-Heuristic Algorithms, Analytical and Mathematical Methods, Computational intelligence in Photovoltaic system and Nonlinear systems.
Special Invited Talks
Edgar Cardenas-Sanchez
Lean Management Coach
Operations Director for ALFRA Consulting Europe
Keynote Title: "Scientific Thinking Coaching to Drive Innovation & Superior Performance"
Bio: Edgar obtained Industrial Engineering & Management Bachelor Degree from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. He spent the last 10 years providing support to companies on their improvement journey, with a multicultural experience (Romania, Hungary, Russia, Mexico, Colombia, Spain, USA…).
Edgar has received direct coaching and professional development from renowned leaders like:, Ritsuo Shingo (Former Toyota President ), PhD. Jeffrey Liker (The Toyota Way), Gary Convis (Former VP at Toyota N.A. )
His focus is on coaching leaders to improve the quality of people & processes. Edgar is Certified as Lean Practitioner & Six Sigma´s Black Belt by the IIE, Atlanta , Georgia and is a Co-developer of the Toyota Way assessment model.
He has collaborated with several industries including: Automotive, Electronics manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Plastics, Shared Service Centers, logistic services. He also was Operational Excellence speaker at several international Lean Conferences & Summits and Lean for Business Processes corporate trainer for several companies, training over 1000 managers & leaders.
He recently provide support to companies like Bosch, Celestica, Kimball Electronics, Hino Motors, Mercedes Benz, Zebra technologies, Takata, Inteva Products, BOA, Mars, Rubbermaid, Faist Group, Emerson, Harsha Engineers.
Arnold Dirk
Technical Plant manager
Bosch Plant Blaj, Romania
Keynote Title: "Industry 4.0 - Approch of Bosch"
Bio: Dirk Arnold studied mechanical engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Germany and he has a diploma degree mainly focused on manufacturing.
Currently, he is technical manager at Bosch Blaj Plant, Romania, being responsible for all technical plant functions, manufacturing of products for five Bosch business units 3100 employees, revenue volume 480 Mio. EUR in 2018.
From July 2012 to January 2014 he held the United Automotive Electronics Systems Plant manager position in Wuxi, China. He was involved in the ramp up of GDI production.
From March 2008 to June 2012 he was Director of Manufacturing gasoline direct injection at Robert Bosch GmbH in Nuremberg. His main focus was the ramp up of GDI high pressure pump.
Dr. Eng. Alexandru Pozdîrcă
Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, ”Petru Maior” University of Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
R&D Center for Agricultural and Forestry Machinery – iFOR, IRUM S.A. Reghin, Romania
Keynote Title: "Smart Forestry"
Bio: Dr. Pozdîrcă received in 1984 his B.S degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and received his Ph.D. degree in 1997 in the same university. His research interests are: mechanical transmissions, developing CAD/CAM/CAE software applications, products and processes analysis and optimization.
At his thesis, Dr. Pozdirca has worked with Acad. Dezideriu Maros, developing AutoWORM software for computer aided design of worm gears, based on the simulation of meshing and contact. He introduced and patented a new worm technology, based on recent NC lathes, with 4 or 5 controlled axes, using cylindro-frontal standard milling tools. Hi is member of ARoTMM – Romanian organizations member of International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science. Currently, Dr. Pozdirca is Ass. Professor at ”Petru Maior” University of Tirgu Mures, Mechanical Department - where he teaches Mechanisms and CAD-CAM courses.
His current work is dedicated to optimize products related to the forestry equipments, and to introduce new modern technologies in IRUM Company – as OPP Manager. Founded in 1953, IRUM is a Romanian specialized in machinery construction. Today IRUM becoming a leading supplier of a wide range of forestry and agricultural equipment on the Romanian market and beyond. Dr. Pozdirca was involved in two recent major projects: TAF 2012 (a new model of skider with Tier IIIB motorisation stage of pollution) and iFOR (a new Research and Development Centre of agricultural and forestry machinery).
