Plenary Lectures

Stefka Fidanova

Institute of Information and Communication Technologies
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
E-mail: stefka@parallel.bas.bg

Ant Colony Optimization and Applications

Abstract. Collective intelligence allows animals to overcome difficulties and obstacles in nature, even when they do not have a high level of individual intelligence. Bees, ant colonies, bird , fish passages, etc. can be given as examples of group intelligence. This phenomenon has inspired scientists to imitate nature in their quest to solve complex problems coming from real life and industry. The unique behavior of ants in nature and their ability to always find the shortest path between the nest and the food source, gives the idea for the creation of the ants method. The application of ant colony optimization include knapsack problem, grid scheduling problem, GPS surveying problem, bioreactor modeling problem, wireless sensor network positioning, image edges detection,  workforce planning, agricultural modelling and many others. The goal of this presentation is to show the diverse capabilities and applications of ant colony optimization.

Brief Biography of the Speaker: Stefka Fidanova is Professor of Computer Science at Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Her research interests include theory, methods, applications of combinatorial optimization and parallel algorithms. She heads the research group of Parallel Algorithms and Machine Learning. She has authored over 200 refereed journal, proceedings and collection papers, edited 13 proceedings, collections and special issues and written 2 monographs. She belongs to the editorial boards of several international journals. She has received the Career Award 2018 of Marie Curie Alumni Association of EU. She is listed in the World's Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University in 2021.

Magda Gregorová

Technical University of Applied Science Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Germany
E-mail: magda.gregorova@thws.de

Deep generative modelling - beyond language and videos

Abstract. In this talk we will discuss deep generative models for other domains and purposes than generating seemingly realistic pieces of text, images or videos. We will explore a range of problems, where we use deep unsupervised methods to learn high-dimensional data distributions for various downstream tasks. In particular, we will investigate the problem of modelling complex relational structures represented as graphs and the challenges these pose for generating new graph examples (e.g. for de novo drug design), we will see how generative models can be used for explaining decisions of independent predictor models, and we will look at some examples of industrial applications such as deep generative modelling for optimization of electrical engine designs. We will conclude with some more general thoughts about the current state of research in deep generative modelling.

Brief Biography of the Speaker: Magda Gregorova comes from Prague, Czech Republic, where she obtained her Master‘s degree in Statistics (2001) from the University of Economics. She started her career of an applied statistician in the Czech National Bank, where she headed a technical unit on financial statistics and collaborated closely with the ECB and the IMF. After several years in banking she has decided to follow an international career and joined Eurocontrol, the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation based in Brussels, Belgium, as a statistical analyst and forecaster. She then moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where she obtained in 2018 a PhD in machine learning from the Computer Science Department of the University of Geneva. She continued as a post-doc in the Data Mining and Machine Learning group of the University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland. In 2021 she got the professorship for representation and learning at the Technical University of Applied Science Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Germany. Since 2022 she heads the research Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIRO) of the University. Her research focuses on deep generative methods for modeling complex high-dimensional distributions, in particular for discrete structures, and for learning useful representations for downstream tasks.

Andrei Paun

Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
University of Bucharest, Romania
Romanian Academy Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence “Mihai Drăgănescu” (ICIA)
E-mail: apaun@fmi.unibuc.ro, apaun@racai.ro

Computing with neuron-like devices: SNP Systems

Abstract. SNP systems are a type of distributed, parallel, neural-like computation model inspired by how biological neurons process information and communicate through spikes. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in understanding neurons and the brain, partly due to two major initiatives: the Human Brain Project (Europe) and the BRAIN Initiative (US). We will discuss several findings related to SNP systems and their variants as computational models, many of which demonstrate Turing Universality, even under certain constraints. Recent research results and open questions will also be described, particularly concerning Spiking Neural P systems with communication on request (SNQ P systems). We have been able to design small, Turing universal SNQ P systems using a limited number of neurons. Specifically, a Turing universal generative SNQ P system (or acceptor and function computing) has been constructed with 12 neurons (11 for acceptor and 21 for function computing).

Brief Biography of the Speaker: Andrei received his BSc in Mathematics with a major in Computer Science from University of Bucharest (Romania) and later he received a Master’s followed by a PhD in Computer Science from University of Western Ontario (Canada) in 2003. His PhD supervisor was Dr. Sheng Yu, from whom he “inherited” the interest in Finite Automata and OOP modeling as well as the Biocomputing research field that was the main thrust of his PhD dissertation. Following the PhD Andrei was a postdoc at Technical University of Wien (Austria) and later at University of Rovira i Virgili (Spain). He then moved to the US as an assistant and later associate professor of Computer Science (tenured) at Louisiana Tech University (USA). He later returned to Europe having positions at University of Western Ontario (Spain), University of Bucharest (Romania) and National Institute of R&D for Biological Sciences (Romania).
His main interests are Biocomputing and Bioinformatics as well as finite automata and other related areas.

Milan Tuba

Head of the Artificial Intelligence Project, Singidunum University
Belgrade, Serbia
Vice-Rector of Research, Sinergija University
Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
E-mail: tuba@ieee.org

Intelligent Systems for Digital Images

Abstract. Many modern systems, like self-driving cars, security apps, and automated diagnostics, rely heavily on digital image classification. Over the years, researchers have developed many techniques, but convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have transformed the field, greatly improving classification accuracy. Results of previously advanced research topics are now achievable with CNNS without a lot of effort or time. However, CNNs also introduced new challenges. One big issue is finding the best CNN architecture, which is really tough because there are so many variables to adjust, like the number and type of layers, the number of neurons, kernel size, pooling type, optimization algorithm, padding, and stride. Each model should be fine-tuned for each problem. To handle this, often used method is a trial-and-error approach, or a method called grid search. Since this is an optimization problem, recent studies have also tried metaheuristics like swarm intelligence algorithms. While these methods take a lot of time, they can significantly boost accuracy. This talk will explore the latest advancements and challenges in CNNs, such as tuning hyperparameters.

Brief Biography of the Speaker: Milan Tuba, Professor of Computer Science, Mathematics and Electrical Engineering, Head of the Artificial Intelligence Project at Singidunum University and Vice-Rector of Research at Sinergia University, is included in both versions of the Stanford University list of 2% of the most influential scientists in the world in all disciplines, one for contribution during the entire career and other for contribution in the previous year (for years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024). Prof. Tuba is highest ranked researcher in Serbia for Computer Science field at AD Scientific Index - World Scientists Rankings. He was Vice Rector for International Relations at Singidunum University, Head of the Department for Mathematical Sciences at State University of Novi Pazar and Dean of the Graduate School of Computer Science at John Naisbitt University. Prof. Tuba is the author or coauthor of around 300 scientific papers (cited more than 7,700 times, h-index 53) and editor, coeditor or member of the editorial board or scientific committee of number of scientific journals, Springer books, congresses and international conferences. He was invited and delivered over 100 keynote and inaugural lectures at international conferences. His research interest includes Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Neural Networks, Nature-inspired Optimization Algorithms, Image Processing, Computer Networks. Senior Member IEEE, Senior Member ACM, AMS, SIAM, IFNA, Executive Board of IASEI. He received B. S. in Mathematics, M. S. in Mathematics, M. S. in Computer Science, M. Ph. in Computer Science, Ph.D. in Computer Science from University of Belgrade and New York University. From 1983 to 1994 he was in the U.S.A. at Vanderbilt University in Nashville and Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University and later as Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at Cooper Union School of Engineering, New York. During that time, he was the founder and director of Microprocessor Lab and VLSI Lab, leader of the NSF scientific projects and theses supervisor. He was the mentor of dozens of doctoral and master's dissertations at the Faculty of Mathematics University of Belgrade, Singidunum University, University of Sarajevo, State University of Novi Pazar, John Nesbitt University and University of East Sarajevo. He was teaching more than 20 graduate and undergraduate courses, from VLSI Design and Computer Architecture to Computer Networks, Operating Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Image Processing, Calculus, Probability, Mathematical Statistics and Queuing Theory at numerous universities in Europe and the USA. Prof. Tuba is a member of the National Agency for Accreditation of Universities of the Republic of Serbia.