Organising Institute:

Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany

Named after Otto von Guericke (1602 - 1686), the renowned son of Magdeburg and well-known for his research on the vacuum, the Otto von Guericke University (OVGU) was founded in 1993 and is thus one of the youngest universities in Germany: a place where tradition meets innovation. With nine faculties, the university has gained in importance as a notable institution of teaching and research. Roughly 14,000 students are enrolled at the moment and approximately 25% of them are international students. Around 770 doctoral students, among which 285 are from abroad, are researching in various fields of engineering, natural science, medicine, econonomics, etc. By offerring many interdisciplinary research opportunities, OvGU Magdeburg is one of primal research hub in Germany

Co-organising and Host Institute:

University of Naples Federico II, Italy

The University of Naples Federico II (Italian: Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Latin: Universitas Neapolitana) is a prestigious public research institution located in Naples, Campania, Italy. Founded in 1224 by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, after whom it was officially named in 1992, it is the world’s oldest public, secular university and the sixth oldest university in continuous operation. As of 2022, the university serves over 90,000 students, making it one of the largest academic institutions in Europe. Throughout its more than 800-year history, the University of Naples Federico II has made significant contributions to various fields of knowledge. It boasts a rich academic tradition, with notable alumni such as the philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas, who not only studied but also taught at the university. Other distinguished alumni include several Presidents of the Italian Republic, such as Enrico De Nicola and Giorgio Napolitano, as well as prominent figures in science, arts, and politics. The university is structured into three main divisions—Science and Technology, Life Sciences, and Social and Human Sciences—encompassing 13 schools and 82 departments. It operates across three major campuses in Naples: the historic centre, Fuorigrotta, and Camaldoli, with the latter being the home of the renowned School of Medicine. In recent years, the university has focused on innovation and international collaboration, including the establishment of the first Apple iOS Developer Academy and the Cisco Digital Transformation Lab in Naples. It is also active in global humanitarian efforts, exemplified by initiatives like the "Gulunap" project, which aims to improve medical education in Uganda and neighbouring countries. University of Naples Federico II has a significant history in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and cybernetics. It was one of the first institutions in Italy to engage in cybernetics research, which later evolved into the broader field of AI. The university's pioneering work in this area began in the mid-20th century, laying the groundwork for Italy's contributions to AI and robotics. The university’s involvement in cybernetics and AI research can be traced back to the establishment of key research groups and collaborations that focused on the intersection of engineering, mathematics, and computer science. This early research set the stage for the development of advanced AI programs and significant contributions to fields such as multimedia forensics, intelligent systems, and deep learning, which the university continues to be recognised for today.

Steering Committee: