Alysson Neves Bessani is an Associate Professor at the Informatics Department of Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal, and a member of the LaSIGE research group. His work focuses on distributed systems, Byzantine fault tolerance, and cybersecurity, with significant contributions to blockchain consensus and intrusion-tolerant architectures. Academic Rank: Associate Professor University: Universidade de Lisboa School: Faculdade de Ciências Department: Informatics Department Research Groups: LaSIGE, Navigators Research Interests span distributed systems design, Byzantine fault tolerance, adaptive consensus protocols, and secure multi-cloud storage. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical implementations like the BFT-SMaRt library and the Vawlt startup. Scientific Awards include multiple Test-of-Time Awards (DSN'24, DSN'21), IBM Faculty Award (2017), and Best Student Paper at Middleware'19. He has advised numerous PhD and Master’s students, contributing to advancements in fault-tolerant systems. Publications (15 most recent) reveal trends in Byzantine consensus optimization, blockchain integration, and AI-driven threat detection. His interdisciplinary work combines distributed computing with genomics and IoT security, reflecting a broad impact across computer science.
Jorge Bernal Bernabe is an Associate Professor at the University of Murcia , affiliated with the Faculty of Informatics and the Department of Information and Communication Engineering . He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Murcia (2015), focusing on 'Authorization and Trust Management in Distributed Systems Based on the Semantic Web.' His research group, Intelligent Systems and Telematics , explores cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions for IoT, 5G/6G networks, and privacy-preserving technologies. He is a key contributor to frameworks like OLYMPUS (privacy-aware identity management) and ARIES (European identity ecosystem). Education : PhD in Computer Science, University of Murcia (2015) Research Interests : His work centers on securing next-generation networks (e.g., 5G/6G), IoT privacy, federated learning applications for intrusion detection, blockchain-based identity systems, and policy-driven security enforcement. He emphasizes privacy-by-design principles and explores challenges in digital sovereignty and decentralized governance. Notable Projects : OLYMPUS: Oblivious identity management system ARIES: Pan-European identity framework ANASTACIA: Security agents for CPS/IoT INSPIRE-5Gplus: Cognitive security for 5G networks Labs/Teams : Active in the Intelligent Systems and Telematics Group , collaborating with industry partners on secure IoT deployments and 5G cybersecurity solutions.
Miquel Oliver Riera is a Full Professor at the Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Pompeu Fabra University. He received his Ph.D. from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in 1999 and holds additional degrees in Business Administration (UOC, 2009) and GloColl Executive Education (Harvard, 2011-12). He previously served as Associate Professor at UPC and Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University (1999). He leads the Networking and Strategies Research Group (NeTS) since its foundation and has held visiting positions at MIT (2013-14) and Columbia University (2011). His research focuses on Wireless Communications with a multidisciplinary approach integrating Regulation , Telecom Policies , and Economic Impact . He has authored over 120 papers, including 40 in ISI WoK Journals, 37.9% in SCOPUS Top 10% Journals. His work includes Blockchain applications in Supply Chains , 5G network protocols , and Smart Cities initiatives. His publications highlight trends in Wireless Networks , Blockchain Technology , and ICT for Urban Innovation . Over his career, he has secured 4 Best Paper Awards and received two Jaume Vicens Vives Distinctions for teaching quality. He has supervised 13 Ph.D. theses, holds 3 patents, and co-founded a spinoff company. His leadership roles include directing the Telefónica Chair and serving in UPF's government as Vice-Director and Vice-Rector for Institutional Strategy and Quality (2008-13, 2015-16).
Pedro Moreno-Sánchez is an Assistant Research Professor at the IMDEA Software Institute in Madrid, Spain. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Purdue University (2018), and previously held a postdoctoral position at TU Vienna. His research focuses on distributed ledgers (blockchain), privacy-enhancing technologies, and applied cryptography, aiming to bridge theory and practice in secure and practical systems. He has advised PhD students (Lukas Aumayr, Erkan Tairi) and master’s students (Jakob Abfalter), and mentored research interns from institutions like TU Delft and Purdue. Education: PhD in Computer Science (Purdue University, 2018), MSc and BSc from University of Murcia (Spain), with visiting stints at Ripple Labs, IBM Research, and Philips Research. Research Interests: Blockchain security and privacy, scalability via Layer-2 solutions, cryptographic tools for transaction privacy, and anonymous communication systems. His work emphasizes formal security guarantees and practical deployment. Key Contributions: Developed protocols like A2L (scalable atomic locks), Blitz (secure multi-hop payments), and SilentWhispers (privacy for decentralized credit networks). His papers address payment channel networks, cross-chain interoperability, and privacy-preserving transaction designs. Awards: Best Reviewer Award at Privacy Enhancing Technologies Symposium (PETS) 2019. Service: Served as Program Chair for FC, NDSS, and multiple blockchain conferences; editorial roles at PETS, IEEE journals, and the Journal of Cryptoeconomic Systems. Labs/Teams: Primary affiliation with IMDEA Software Institute’s security and privacy research group.
Martín Ceresa is a Post-doctoral Researcher at the IMDEA Software Institute in Madrid, Spain. His work focuses on theoretical computer science, programming languages, type theory, and blockchain technologies. He collaborates extensively with Prof. César Sánchez on formal methods for scaling blockchains and verifying smart contracts. Education: PhD in Computer Science from the National University of Rosario (Argentina), under Dr. Mauro Jaskelioff. His thesis developed an effectful improvement theory for languages with algebraic effects. Research Interests: Blockchain scalability, formal verification of smart contracts, runtime verification, embedded systems design, and foundational mathematics. His current projects include Setchain (a Byzantine-tolerant distributed data structure) and a non-Turing-complete language for critical embedded systems. Key Contributions: Co-developed the MegaDeTH tool for test case generation (now QuickFuzz), created the Coq-based Multi library for multi-contract analysis, and pioneered formal methods for layer-2 blockchain solutions. Collaborations: Active in the formal methods community, with contributions to EasyCrypt and collaborations with researchers like Gustavo Grieco and Antonio Fernández Anta.
Marco Galici is a postdoctoral Researcher at the Technological Research Institute (IIT) of the School of Engineering (ICAI) at Comillas Pontifical University. He joined the institute on 26 April 2025, specializing in Distributed Resources, Networks, and Flexibility. He earned his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering (Doctor Europaeus) from the University of Cagliari (Italy) in February 2024 with honors, following his 2020 degree from the same institution. His research focuses on electricity markets for integrating renewable energy, decentralized technologies like Distributed Ledger, and decarbonizing electrical systems . His work examines uncertainty management, transactive energy systems, and blockchain applications in smart cities. The 15 most recent publications highlight his expertise in peer-to-peer energy trading, robust optimization, and decentralized control mechanisms. Marco's technical skills include reinforcement learning , blockchain development (Hyperledger, Solidity), and tools like MATLAB/Python. While he hasn't received specific scientific awards yet, his contributions span conferences in Greece, UK, USA, Italy, Portugal, and China, demonstrating international collaboration.
Francesc Wilhelmi is a Tenure-Track Professor at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and a Research Engineer at Nokia Bell Labs . He holds a Ph.D. in Information and Communication Technologies (2020) and an M.Sc. in Intelligent and Interactive Systems (2016), both from UPF. His research focuses on Wi-Fi technologies , machine learning , decentralized learning , and blockchain applications in telecommunications . He previously served as a researcher at CTTC and taught at UPF (2015–2020) and Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (2020–2022), specializing in networking courses. Key contributions include the Komondor wireless network simulator and standardization work at ITU-T , notably editing recommendation Y.3181 on Machine Learning Sandboxes. Active in FG-ML5G , organizing problem statements for the ITU AI/ML in 5G Challenge. Explores blockchain for O-RAN sharing and AI-driven spatial reuse in 5G/6G networks. His work bridges network simulation with machine learning to address challenges in dense wireless environments, emphasizing practical implementations and open-source tools.
Dr. Matteo Troncia is a Researcher at the Institute for Research in Technology (IIT) within the School of Engineering (ICAI) at Comillas Pontifical University. He holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Cagliari (2021) and a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (2017). His academic career includes postdoctoral research at IIT and international internships, including at the University of Kassel (Germany). Affiliation: Comillas Pontifical University, IIT, School of Engineering. Education: PhD (2021), M.Sc. (2017) - University of Cagliari; Internship at University of Kassel (2014). Dr. Troncia’s research focuses on power system decarbonization, electricity markets, and smart grids. His work emphasizes techno-economic appraisal of smart grid initiatives, market mechanisms for ancillary services, and integration of renewables. He actively contributes to international projects like ISGAN and Horizon 2020 initiatives. He has authored over 30 journal articles and book chapters, with a focus on grid flexibility, market design, and energy communities. Notable collaborations include the EU-funded OneNet and BeFlex projects. His awards include the Best Poster Prize at IRED 2022. Grants/Projects: BeFlex (EU), OneNet, EUniversal, and multiple national/international energy initiatives. Students: Advising PhD candidates E. Ormeño Mejía and J. Fernández García. Dr. Troncia is a member of key organizations like ISGAN and collaborates on policy frameworks for European energy systems. His work bridges theoretical research with practical grid solutions for sustainable energy transition.
Santiago Minguez Perez serves as Lecturer in the Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting at ESADE Business School, contributing to academic programs in business and finance education. His research expertise spans critical areas including: Accounting, with specialized focus on International Accounting Standards implementation and financial impact assessment Finance, particularly examining disruptive technologies in financial services and blockchain applications Regulatory frameworks for commercial law and accounting standard harmonization Publication trends from 2007-2022 reveal evolving scholarship from foundational work on accounting standards toward contemporary analysis of blockchain disruption and future financial services. His research consistently bridges theoretical accounting principles with practical financial sector innovations. No scientific awards or honors were documented in the available information. Details regarding student supervision, research grants, or laboratory affiliations were not provided in the source materials.
Jordi Castellà Roca is an Associate Professor at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili's Department of Computer Engineering and Mathematics. His research specializes in blockchain applications, cybersecurity, and privacy-preserving technologies. Recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on decentralized systems, smart contracts, and secure access control mechanisms, with applications ranging from low-emission zones to smart grids. Key research areas include: Blockchain-based data management Privacy-enhancing technologies Cryptographic applications in IoT His work frequently addresses compliance frameworks like GDPR and explores practical implementations for urban infrastructure and digital services.
Michaela Bednarova is a Full Professor in the Department of Financial Economics and Accounting at Pablo de Olavide University, Spain. Her academic career focuses on the intersection of financial reporting, corporate communication, and digital technologies, with particular expertise in sustainability reporting and social media communication practices of corporations. Dr. Bednarova earned her doctorate from the University of Huelva with a thesis titled Corporate social responsibility reporting practices of Eurozone companies (2014), supervised by Dr. Enrique Bonsón Ponte. Her educational background provides a strong foundation in economics and business administration, which she applies to contemporary issues in corporate reporting and digital communication. Professor Bednarova's research spans several interconnected areas within business and economics. She specializes in integrated and sustainability reporting practices, particularly examining how companies communicate non-financial information to stakeholders. Her work on social media platforms (YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter) analyzes corporate communication strategies and stakeholder engagement in the digital age. More recently, her research has expanded to include emerging technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence, focusing on their implications for corporate reporting, governance, and transparency. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges traditional accounting and finance with digital communication and emerging technologies. Analysis of Professor Bednarova's recent publications reveals a clear evolution in her research focus. While her early work centered on traditional corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting practices, her research has progressively incorporated digital communication channels and emerging technologies. Her publications from 2020-2025 show increasing attention to artificial intelligence, blockchain, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting. The interdisciplinary nature of her work connects accounting, finance, communication studies, and information systems, reflecting the growing integration of technology in corporate reporting practices. Her research consistently examines Western European companies, particularly those in the Eurozone, providing valuable insights into regional reporting practices and their evolution. Professor Bednarova supervises doctoral students in the Information Systems and Supply Chain Management program. Her academic guidance focuses on the intersection of technology, communication, and business reporting. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided materials, her extensive publication record suggests successful research funding to support her investigations into corporate reporting practices across multiple digital platforms and technologies.
Antonio David Berning Prieto serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Public Law at Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain, specializing in Administrative Law with emphasis on digital governance. His academic profile centers on electronic administration, public procurement regulation, and emerging technologies' legal implications in public sector operations. He obtained his PhD from Pablo de Olavide University in 2018 with dissertation "Validity and invalidity of administrative acts and documents in electronic format" supervised by Dr. Eduardo Gamero Casado. His educational background demonstrates deep institutional connection to the university where he now teaches. Berning Prieto's research explores critical intersections of law and technology: Administrative Procedure in digital environments Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in public administration Blockchain applications for local governments Public procurement as social policy instrument Electronic document validity frameworks Oratory techniques in legal education His 15 most recent publications (2017-2023) reveal evolving focus from foundational electronic administration (2017-2019) toward cutting-edge AI governance (2022-2023), with consistent attention to procedural validity and European regulatory alignment. Key thematic clusters include algorithmic accountability in tax administration, blockchain for citizen-government interaction, and social clauses in public contracts. As active member of the "Administrative Procedure" research group under Social and Legal Sciences, he contributes to Spain's PAIDI research framework. While no specific grants are documented in available sources, his work aligns with European digital initiatives like Horizon Europe 2020. His supervisory role includes at least one doctoral graduate (2018 thesis) and pedagogical innovations in student competency development.
David Gil Méndez is a Full Professor in Computer Architecture and Technology at the Department of Information Technology and Computing, University of Alicante. He earned his Doctorate in Computer Engineering from the University of Alicante in 2008 and has supervised 5 PhD theses to date. Member of European Network of Scientific Excellence in AI (ELLIS) Coordinator of 3 European COST Action projects (2021-2027) Published 50+ JCR journal articles His research focuses on Big Data applications, Machine Learning, Data Mining, IoT, and Human Activity Recognition, with particular emphasis on healthcare AI and clinical data analysis. He has developed frameworks for decentralized IoMT environments and conducted extensive work on explainability in medical machine learning models. Recent publications address metastasis prediction in rare tumors (2025), photovoltaic energy forecasting (2022), and blockchain voting systems (2020). His work spans both theoretical and applied domains, including educational data mining and cyber-physical systems. As teaching experience, he has delivered courses in Operating Systems (14 times), Computational Modeling (5 times), Data Mining (5 times), and Big Data Technologies (5 times) at University of Alicante across multiple engineering disciplines. He leads research projects funded by: European Commission (3 active COST Actions) Valencian Government (2020-2021) Spanish Ministry of Education (2009-2010)
Dr. Iker Pastor López is a Researcher at the University of Deusto's Faculty of Engineering, where he serves in the Department of Computing, Electronics and Communication Technologies. His academic credentials include a PhD in Information Systems (2013), Master's in Information Security (2010), and Computer Engineering degree (2007), all from the University of Deusto. His research spans: Machine Learning methods for industrial optimization Computer vision applications in manufacturing quality control Edge computing architectures for Industry 4.0 Big Data analytics in financial and healthcare domains Cybersecurity frameworks for emerging technologies He has led numerous competitive grants including: EU H2020 projects (DANTE 2016-2019) ELKARTEK industrial transformation initiatives Quantum computing security research (QUANTEK) Industry collaborations with ETXE-TAR and VIDRALA His publication record shows strong focus on applied AI research with recent work in: Edge computing optimization Financial time series forecasting Industrial defect detection Biomedical sequence analysis He currently supervises graduate research on industrial AI applications and has contributed to institutional initiatives bridging academia and industry through technology challenges.
Jon Legarda Macon serves as a Lecturer and researcher at the University of Deusto's Faculty of Engineering within the Department of Computing, Electronics and Communication Technologies. Holding a PhD in Engineering from the University of Navarra (2004), he leads research initiatives focused on industrial communication technologies and sustainable systems. His research spans communication technologies, electronics, and IoT systems with specialization in energy harvesting, data spaces, and environmental impact reduction. Current work emphasizes data spaces applied to improving environmental and social impacts across industrial, energy, and governance environments, with significant contributions to textile antennas, RF energy harvesting, and sustainable supply chain solutions. His publication portfolio shows strong emphasis on wireless communication systems (35%), energy harvesting technologies (25%), and sustainable applications (20%), with recent work pivoting toward blockchain applications in energy markets and computational intelligence for agrifood systems. Dr. Legarda has supervised 10 doctoral theses across topics including textile rectennas, energy harvesting optimization, and wireless sensor networks. His research is supported by numerous competitive grants including EU Horizon projects (PARITY, FOODRUS), Spanish national programs, and regional Basque initiatives totaling over €15 million in funding since 2012. He actively contributes to the Deusto Sustainable Research Group and leads multiple industrial collaborations through projects like URETIK (energy-efficient greenhouse platforms) and SIONIA (real-time bird identification systems), focusing on practical implementations of sustainable IoT solutions.
