Rajendra Akerkar

Rajendra Akerkar is a Professor and coordinator of the Big Data and Emerging Technologies subgroup at the Western Norway Research Institute. With over 30 years in academia across Asia, Europe, and North America, he specializes in combining theoretical AI research with practical applications for societal benefit.

Research Focus:

• Artificial Intelligence for crisis management (resilient communities, situational awareness)
• Social cybersecurity (hate speech prevention, misinformation)
• Urban transport systems optimization
• Energy analytics through data-driven approaches
• Semantic technologies and intelligent information systems

Scientific Awards:

• DAAD Exchange Fellowship
• BOYSCASTS Young Scientist Award

Leadership & Publications:Associate Editor for International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies and Editor for Web Intelligence. Published 16 monographs, 154 scientific articles, and coordinated international networks like ISO15926 Semantic Web Technologies Network.