Rafael Palacios Hielscher is a Full Professor at the Department of Computer Science, ICAI School of Engineering, and a Researcher at the Institute for Research in Technology (IIT) at Universidad Pontificia Comillas. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from ICAI (1990) and a PhD in Incipient Failure Detection (1998). His research focuses on Advanced Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Telemedicine, and Aviation Safety. He has led academic programs in Telecommunications Engineering and Computer Science at Comillas-ICAI (2011–2024) and has held visiting professorships at MIT in Cybersecurity, Energy, and Aeronautics (2001–2025). Education: Mechanical Engineering (1990), ICAI School of Engineering, Universidad Pontificia Comillas PhD in Incipient Failure Detection (1998), Universidad Pontificia Comillas Research Interests: Advanced Data Analytics applied to anomaly detection, image processing, and GIS Cybersecurity for vehicles, wearables, and critical infrastructure Telemedicine and aviation safety systems Machine learning for healthcare and industrial applications Publications: His recent work emphasizes cybersecurity vulnerabilities in automotive systems, telemedicine resource optimization, and energy sector planning. Over 60 journal articles and 60 conference papers demonstrate expertise in multidisciplinary applications of AI and data science. Awards: Recipient of the 3rd Technology & Innovation Award for the Master’s in Cybersecurity (2019) and recognized in Actualidad Económica ’s 100 Best Ideas (2009). Advising & Grants: Supervised 4 PhD theses and led over 60 projects, including electrification strategies for Bolivia, Rwanda, and Pakistan. Collaborates with MIT, World Bank, and EU Horizon initiatives. Labs/Teams: Active in ICAI’s Cybersecurity Lab and MIT’s CAMS initiative, focusing on OT cybersecurity integration and smart grid resilience.







