6th NTNU European Conference: Shaping Our Digital Future: From Vision to Implementation
Shaping Our Digital Future: From Vision to Implementation
6th NTNU European Conference
Tuesday, 7 December 2021 | Renaissance Brussels Hotel | Hybrid event
The current health and economic crisis has contributed to accelerating the digital transformation process. On the one hand this is good news as it led to a quantum leap in effectiveness and efficiency as well, when developing “smart solutions”. On the other hand, is there a price we pay for these benefits?
The NTNU European Conference will explore this double edge of digitalization around various issues:
- Which future are we creating according to the designed strategies and priorities?
- How will enhanced digitalisation impact people's daily lives, products, and services?
- What will be the role and contribution that Education and Research can provide to develop the needed amount of Innovation to fulfil the targeted objectives?
These and other questions will be addressed during the conference starting with a peek into the future and covering specific case studies. A final panel will discuss the role of the involved stakeholders and the tools that will contribute to achieving the digital transformation objectives. More about the conference
Isidro Laso Ballesteros
Cabinet Expert, EC Commissioner Gabriel Cabinet for Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, and Youth
Sokrates Katsikas
Professor Director, Norwegian Center for Cybersecurity in Critical Sectors (NORCICS), NTNU
Martin Gaedke
Dean and Director of University Computer Center, Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC)
Fernando Martinez
Professor, Technical University of Valencia
Emilio Fortunato Campana
Head - Dept. Engineering, ICT and Technologies for Energy and Transport, National Research Council (CNR)
Craig Donlon
Head, Earth Surfaces and Interior Section (EOP-SME)
Earth and Mission Science Division/ESTEC
Fabienne Jacq
Programme Officer, Copernicus Expert, Earth Observation Unit, EC DG DEFIS
Ger Janssen,
Principal Scientist and ad interim, Department Head of the AI, Data Science and Digital Twin, Philips
Kate Crosman,
Hoffman Fellow, Big Ocean Data, Institute of Marine Technology and World Economic Forum Ocean Action Agenda, NTNU
09:00 – 09:45 Opening session
From Strategies to implementation: which digital future for Europe?
In the State of the Union Address in September 2020, President Ursula Von der Leyen, announced that Europe should secure digital sovereignty with a common vision of the EU in 2030, based on clear goals and principles. This called the Commission to set our Europe’s Digital ambitions for 2030 and beyond in the context of Europe’s digital transformation.
- What is the state of implementation of the EU strategies?
- Where do we expect them to lead us?
- Which digital future should we expect and under which conditions?
- How will technologies impact the different societal levels?
These and other questions will be debated in the opening session of the conference.
Moderator: Maryline Fiaschi, CEO ScienceBusiness
09:00 – 09:10: Opening Remarks
Anne Borg, Rector NTNU
09:10 – 09:25: Shaping Europe's Digital Future: Vision and implementation status
Roberto Viola, Director General, EC DG CNECT
09:25 – 09:45: A peek into the digital future
Daria Krivonos, CEO, Copenhagen Institute of Future Studies
09:45 – 10:45 Panel Debate
Roberto Viola
Director General, EC DG CNECT
Ingrid Schjølberg
Dean IV Faculty, NTNU
Ana Garcia Robles
Secretary General, BDVA/DAIRO
Odej Kao
Chairman, Einstein Center Digital Future
10:45 – 11:15 Coffee break-network possibilities
11:15 – 12:45 Parallel sessions
Parallel Session 1 - Safe and Secure AI
Chair: Trym Holter - NTNU
The ongoing evolution of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) transforms the way we live, learn, interact and work. It provides us with new possibilities but may also make us more vulnerable. To ensure a successful digital transformation, AI-powered digital services must function as expected, anywhere and at all times, while preserving the security of information and contributing to the safety and security of citizens and system users.
In this session we will present and discuss new possibilities enabled by AI-powered technology as well as highlight the challenge that the AI develop and deploy is both safe and secure.
Speakers and panelists:
Rune Torhaug
Director, European Affairs,DNV
Sokratis Katsikas
Professor, NTNU
Martin Übelhör
Head of sector, Cybersecurity, Industry and Innovation, EC DG CNECT
Nizar Touleimat
European Affairs manager, Security applications, CEA
Parallel Session 2 - Digital Twins to support Green Transition
Chair: Arianna Guardiola-Villora - UPV
Digital Twin technology is envisioned to play a key role in the digital transformation of society, both within the industrial and the public sectors. Its applications can range from planning, design and manufacturing to decision support and automation. The industry and public sector are increasingly using digital twins as tools as they continuously strive to transform their businesses.
In this session innovative users of digital twin technology within the industry and public sector present and discuss their key takeaways for the use of Digital Twins as tools for societal and business development.
Speakers and panelists:
Eddy Hartog
Head of Unit, Technologies for Smart Communities, EC DG CNECT
Dina Margrethe Aspen
Associate Professor, NTNU
Fernando Martinez
Professor, Technical Univeristy of Valencia
Agustin Perez
Professor, Technical University of Valencia
Ger Janssen
Principal Scientist and ad interim, Department Head of AI, Data Science and Digital Twin, Philips
Oddbjørn Bruland
Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTNU
Parallel Session 3 - Digital Oceans
Chair: Siri Granum Carson - NTNU
The oceans provide livelihoods and food for billions of people and bring trillions into the global economy. They stabilize and drive the global climate and provide a vast and largely untapped source for the development of medicines, materials, and much more. At the same time the oceans are vulnerable to pollution, overfishing and other threats from human activity.
In this session we will exemplify and discuss how technology innovations such as autonomous systems, the Internet of Things and AI applied in ocean-based industries and research, create new opportunities to understand, exploit and preserve the resources the global society depends upon.
Speakers and panelists:
Fabienne Jacq
Programme Officer, Copernicus Expert, Earth Observation Unit, EC DG DEFIS
Päivi Haikkola
Senior Ecosystem Lead, One Sea Ecosystem
Emilio Fortunato Campana
Head, Dept. Engineering, ICT and Technologies for Energy and Transport, National Research Council (CNR)
Elisabet Haugsbø
C4IR Ocean – Ocean Data Foundation
Mary Ann Lundteigen
Professor and Director, SFI AutoShip, NTNU
Kate Crosman
Hoffman Fellow, Big Ocean Data, Institute of Marine Technology and World Economic Forum Ocean Action Agenda, NTNU
Craig Donlon
Head, Earth Surfaces and Interior Section (EOP-SME), Earth and Mission Science Division/ESTEC
Parallel Session 4 - Next Generation Internet
Faster and more reliable, secure and robust: EU’s Next Generation Internet initiative aims to shape the future internet to support societal development, including the fundamental needs for trust, security, and inclusion. It encompasses a large diversity of digital technologies, such as extended reality, natural language processing, connectivity and data privacy technologies, and brings with it a wide range of new possibilities, linking research, policy and society.
In this session we will look at how the Next Generation Internet develops and provides new opportunities for the industry, public sector and the individual.
Speakers and panelists:
Gemma Carolillo
Deputy Head of Next Generation Internet Unit, EC DG CNECT
Patrick Waldemar
Vice President, Head of Technology, Telenor
Martin Gaedke
Dean and Director of University Computer Center, Chemnitz University of Technology
Andrew Perkis
Professor, and Scientific BM in DARIAH-EU, NEM and WAN-IFRA GAMI, NTNU
Monique Calisti
CEO, Martel Innovate
12:45 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:00 Final Debate
The Digital Future in Europe: Realizing the High Ambitions
The European Commission has high ambitions in making Europe fit for the digital age and empowering people with a new generation of technologies to enable Europe’s Twin Transition. This is the EU's Digital Decade, and skills, infrastructures, government, and business are the four cardinal points in the Commission's vision for digital transformation.
Education, research and innovation are central to these ambitions that requires close collaboration between academia, businesses, the public sector and government, and citizens.
However, how are we going to realise these ambitions? What programs, tools, funding and actions plans are in place? How will we implement them? How do we ensure coordination and synergies to realize the vision of a Europe fit for the digital age? These are the main questions to be tackled during this session.
Session Moderator: Maryline Fiaschi, CEO ScienceBusiness
14.00: Live Q&A with:
Isidro Laso Ballesteros
Cabinet Expert, EC Commissioner Gabriel Cabinet for Innovation, Resarch, Education, Culture and Youth
14.20: High Level Panel Debate
Tor Grande
Pro-Rector for Research and Dissemination, NTNU
Isidro Laso Ballesteros
Cabinet Expert, EC Commissioner Gabriel Cabinet for Innovation, Resarch, Education, Culture and Youth
Gianpiero Lotito
CEO, Facilitylive
Venue
Hotel contact: Catherine Luyckx, catherine.luyckx@marriott.com
- Address: Rue du Parnasse 19, 1050 Bruxelles
- Phone: +32 02 505 29 29
- Map
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via medya.t.fenerci@ntnu.no or call us:
- Alexandra Angeletaki: +4793693091
- Medya Temelli Fenerci: +4740209518
- Martine Vogt : +4798613497
Practical information NTNU Brussels office
COVID information
In line with the covid rules in Brussels, if you are participating in-person, you are asked to provide us with Covid Safe Ticket or a valid vaccination certificate at the registration desk on the day of the conference.
For the updated information about the covid situation in Brussels:
Covid Safe Ticket (CST)
This is proof (via a QR code) of a complete vaccination (prior to 2 weeks), a negative PCR test (less than 48 hours old) or a recovery certificate (you have been cured of the virus after testing positive more than 10 days and less than 6 months before the event).”
About the conference
The NTNU European Conference is an event introduced in the Brussels Arena in 2016. It aims to facilitate discussions on R&I and Education policies and strategies between stakeholders.
The conference has grown in siginificance and popularity with increasing registrations and attendance over the years, becoming an arena of interaction between policymakers and representatives of higher education, industry, research, innovation as well as the civil society.
2021 Edition - HYBRID EVENT (in person and virtual)
Organizing Committee
Vilija Balionyte-Merle
Digital Coordinator, NTNU
Torbjørn Karl Svendsen
Professor, Department of electronic systems, NTNU
Camilla Knudsen Tveiten
Senior Advisor, IE Faculty, NTNU
Medya Temelli Fenerci
MA in European Studies,
Trainee NTNU Brussels office
Martine Vogt
BA in Political Science,
Trainee, NTNU Brussels office
Bjørg Danielsen
Senior Adviser Communication Division, NTNU
