Keynote Speakers (in progress...!)

Prof. Angeles Vasquez Castro

Biography: Dr. Ángeles Vázquez-Castro is a Prof. at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and a senior researcher at the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC). She is a leading expert in satellite communications and quantum cryptography, with extensive experience in designing secure and scalable satellite communication systems. Her research spans cutting-edge areas such as quantum protocol design and hybrid quantum-classical security frameworks, with a particular focus on space-based systems and the challenges of the cislunar domain. Dr. Vázquez-Castro's contributions bridge quantum information theory and practical engineering solutions, many of which have been integrated into global international standards. Her research output includes more than 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers, book chapters, and two patents. She is a founding member of the European network of experts in Satellite Communications, funded by the European Space Agency.

Title:  Satellite Communications for Cislunar Space: International Efforts, Challenges, and Future Directions 

Abstract:  The rapid expansion of human activity in cislunar space—the region between Earth and the Moon—presents unprecedented opportunities and challenges for satellite communication systems. This talk will provide an overview of current international efforts to develop resilient and scalable communication architectures to support scientific exploration, commercial ventures, and future space missions in this emerging domain. 

Prof. Cesare Roseti

Biography:

Cesare Roseti is currently Associate Professor in Computer Science at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. He is co-funder and Chief R&D officer at RomARS Srl, an ITC Innovative Company. He graduated cum laude in 2003 in Telecommunication Engineering and received the Ph.D. degree in “Space systems and technologies” in 2007 at University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. In 2003 and 2004, he was a visiting student at Computer Science Department of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 2005 he collaborated as a trainee at the TEC-SWS division of the European Space Agency (Noordwijk, The Netherlands). In 2009, he achieved II-level master on “Homeland Security” at the University of Bologna.

He teaches “Broadcast and Multimedia technologies”, “Security of Internet infrastructures” and “Fundamentals of Computing” at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. He is involved in national and international research projects in the ICT  field, playing the role of technical and project manager. Finally, he is co-author of more than 110 indexed scientific publications. 

Title:  "NTN Softwarization and Virtualization o for the integration in 5G " 

Abstract:  "The current shift toward the virtualization of network infrastructure components enables a dynamic instantiation, deployment and configuration of virtual network functions (VNFs), which can be offered “as-a-service” to multiple tenants, thus enabling 5G architectures. Simultaneously, the recent satellite systems can play an important role in the 5G era thanks to their characteristics, such as their large coverage, fast deployment of the ground infrastructure and native broadcast/multicast broadband capabilities.

An actual and effective integration between 5G and satellite requires to solve the mismatch in technology and design principles, which has made satellite-terrestrial convergence quite challenging over the years, with the satellite role limited to either provider of raw supplementary capacity or a gap-filler in the terrestrial networks. For instance, the use of SatCom for IP based applications typically requires the introduction of middlebox agents for performance optimization, and then technological barriers for integration. 5G intertia towards specifications softwarization and service-based architectures makes possible a cutting-edge for the integration of the satellite, as a software-based virtual service. This allows to review the role of satellite from a “technology to integrate” to an “application to deploy”. This transformation is the main subject of the presentation, considering some reference use-cases coming from ESA-funded research activities. ".

Dr.  Andrea Vena

Biography:  Andrea Vena brings over 30 years of expertise in the space sector, spanning both industry    nd institutional roles. With a degree in Electronic Engineering and a Master in Telecommunication Systems, he began his career at Alenia Spazio, now Leonardo.Since joining ESA in 2000, Andrea has held strategic leadership roles, including Head of the Corporate Strategic Planning Office (2006) and Head of the Corporate Development Office (2016), where he drove the organization’s strategic evolution. Under his leadership, ESA launched transformative initiatives in strategic planning,corporate risk management and knowledge management, that set industry benchmarks. Appointed Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer in 2021, Andrea leads ESA’s Green Agenda, aligning the agency's activities with the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal, fostering sustainability practices across the space sector. 

Passionate about innovation, Andrea champions the role of space technologies in addressing global climate challenges and the value of space exploration for the future of humankind on Earth. An advocate of international collaboration, Andrea works across borders to promote sustainability through the promotion of the Statement for a

Responsible Space Sector.

Title:  "ESA's Role in Achieving a Sustainable Future: how Space accelerates Climate Action"

Abstract:  Amid a growing climate crisis, space-based solutions present unique opportunities to advance global climate action. This session aims to discuss on how ESA leverages space technologies to address environmental challenges and foster sustainability.

Some ESA’s climate initiatives will be showcased, such as climate monitoring programs, cutting-edge Earth observation missions, and collaborative efforts.

Prof.  Suat Özdemir

Biography: Suat Özdemir has been a faculty member in the Department of Computer Engineering at Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey since May 2020.  He is the head of Artificial Intelligence Engineering division of the department. Prior to this, he served at Gazi University’s Computer Engineering Department from 2007 to 2020. He holds an MSc in Computer Science from Syracuse University (2001) and a PhD in Computer Science from Arizona State University (2006). With a professional career that bridges academia and industry, Prof. Özdemir has maintained strong collaborations with the industrial sector for over a decade. From 2010 to 2014, he contributed as a senior researcher at TÜBİTAK, Turkey’s leading research institution, working on nationally significant projects. He is an active member of the IEEE and contributes to the global research community by serving as an editor, technical program committee member, and reviewer for numerous high-impact IEEE and ACM journals and conferences. His work spans areas of computer engineering with a particular emphasis on network security, IoT, and emerging computing paradigms. 

Title:  Digital Twin-Driven Task Offloading for Next-Generation IoT Networks 

Abstract:  As the Internet of Things (IoT) scales into complex, heterogeneous environments, traditional paradigms of static processing and centralized control fall short. The future of IoT demands networks that are intelligent, responsive, and capable of dynamic resource management. At the heart of this transformation lies the convergence of digital twins and task offloading, enabling a new generation of adaptive, efficient, and resilient IoT infrastructures. This keynote will present cutting-edge developments in digital twin-based modeling and its integration with task offloading strategies, particularly in fog and edge computing environments. The talk will also highlight our recent research on deep reinforcement learning frameworks for microservice offloading and digital twin-supported vehicular edge computing.

Moreover, we will explain how digital twins provide real-time, virtualized representations that enhance contextual awareness and decision-making for IoT tasks. Finally, scalable task offloading architectures and case studies demonstrating the operational impact of these technologies in smart city, transportation, and mission-critical applications will be evaluated as well.

Prof.  Umit Karabiyik

Biography:

Title:  TBA

Abstract:  TBA