6G SUMMIT 2022

PAN 1: The Roadmap to 6G

Moderator: Prof. Sami Muhaidat, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi-UAE

Panelists

1. Ertugrul Basar, Koc University, Istanbul. Email: ebasar@ku.edu.tr
2. Ernesto Damiani, Khalifa University, UAE, Email: ernesto.damiani@ku.ac.ae
3. Angeliki Alexiou, University of Piraeus, Greece, Email: aalexiou@ieee.org
4. Nawaf I. Almoosa, Director of Emirates ICT Innovation Centre (EBTIC), Email: nawaf.almoosa@ku.ac.ae

Abstract: The emergence of new disruptive technologies is paving the way towards shaping the upcoming sixth generation (6G) of wireless networks, which is envisioned to enable several innovative applications over a ubiquitous, secure, self-sustainable, and fully intelligent platform. This panel brings together speakers from academia and industry to exchange visions and discuss key technical challenges and potential solutions associated with 6G

Panelists

Dr. Sami Muhaidat

PhD degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario

Ertugrul Basar

Associate Professor - Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Koç University, Istanbul

Nawaf I. Almoosa

Assistant Professor at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)
Director of Emirates ICT Innovation Centre (EBTIC)

Ernesto Damiani

Professor
Khalifa University, UAE

Angeliki Alexiou

Professor - Department of Digital Systems
ICT School, University of Piraeus, Greece

Biography

Angeliki Alexiou is a professor of Broadband Communications Systems at the department of Digital Systems, ICT School, University of Piraeus, Greece. She received the Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens in 1994 and the PhD in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London in 2000. Since May 2009 she has been a faculty member at the Department of Digital Systems, where she conducts research and teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Broadband Communications and Advanced Wireless Technologies. Prior to this appointment she was with Bell Laboratories, Wireless Research, Lucent Technologies, (later Alcatel-Lucent, now NOKIA), in Swindon, UK, (January 1999-April 2009). Professor Alexiou is a co-recipient of Bell Labs President’s Gold Award in 2002 for contributions to Bell Labs Layered Space-Time (BLAST) project and the Central Bell Labs Teamwork Award in 2004 for role model teamwork and technical achievements in the IST FITNESS project. Professor Alexiou is the Chair of the Working Group on Radio Communication Technologies and of the Working Group on High Frequencies Radio Technologies of the Wireless World Research Forum. Her current research interests include radio interface for 6G systems, MIMO, THz wireless communication technologies, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces, cooperation and coordination for Ultra Dense wireless networks, ‘cell-less’ architectures and machine learning for wireless systems. She is the project coordinator of the H2020 TERRANOVA project (ict-terranova.eu) and the technical manager of H2020 ARIADNE project (ict-ariadne.eu).

PAN 2: The Role of 6G in Advancing Smart Cities Service and Applications

Moderator: Prof. Fakhri Karray and Dr. Moayad Aloqaily Mohamed Ben Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence -MBZUAI. Abu Dhabi-UAE. E-mails fakhri.karray@mbzuai.ac.ae, moayad.aloqaily@mbzuai.ac.ae

Panelists

1. Enrico Natalizio, Vice President of the Autonomous Robotics Research Centre (ARRC),Technology Innovation Institute.
2. Hussein Mouftah, University of Ottawa, Canada, Email: mouftah@uottawa.ca
3. Murat Uysal, Özyeğin University, Turkey. Email: murat.uysal@ozyegin.edu.tr
4. Ismaeel Al Ridhawi, Kuwait College of Science and Technology, Kuwait, Email: i.alridhawi@kcst.edu.kw

Abstract:The topic of smart services and emerging applications for the advancement of smart cities is a new vision and strategy for Abu Dhabi’s smart city. Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies is the enabler of this vision.

Panelists

Prof. Fakhri Karray

Mohamed Ben Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence -MBZUAI
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Enrico Natalizio

Vice President of the Autonomous Robotics Research Centre (ARRC)
Technology Innovation Institute

Title: UAV and mobile networks: synergies, challenges and perspectives

Abstract

As soon as national legislations allow Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to fly autonomously, we will see swarms of UAV populating the sky of our smart cities to accomplish different missions: parcel delivery, infrastructure monitoring, event filming, surveillance, tracking, etc. The main issues that a designer of a UAV network must face are related to the altitude of the UAVs above the ground as well as their mobility in a three-dimensional space. Furthermore, the UAVs are physically constrained by the limitations on the carriable payload as well as energetically constrained by the limited battery capacity. These issues make UAV communications very specific and raise a set of interesting research challenges for networks practitioners as well as for optimization researchers: How to take into account the effects of dominant UAV-ground channels and the consequent interference? How to use UAV mobility to improve the network performance while letting them carry out their mission? How to track the different communications requirements for application and control data?

In this talk, a survey of the current state of the art of the solutions for the mentioned problems will be presented, with a focus on the promising research directions for a smooth integration of UAV networks into future mobile communication systems.

Biography

Enrico Natalizio (Member IEEE) is currently a Vice President of the Autonomous Robotics Research Centre (ARRC) with the Technology Innovation Institute (Abu Dhabi, UAE) and Full Professor with the LORIA laboratory at the Université de Lorraine (France). He obtained his master’s degree magna cum laude and his Ph.D in Computer Engineering at the University of Calabria (Italy) in 2000 and 2005 respectively. In 2005-2006 he was a visiting researcher at the BWN (Broadband Wireless Networking) Lab at Georgia Tech in Atlanta (USA). From 2006 till 2010, he was a research fellow at the Titan Lab of the Università della Calabria (Italy). In October 2010, he joined POPS team at Inria Lille – Nord Europe (France) as a postdoc researcher and from 2012 till 2018 he was an Associate Professor at the Université de technologie de Compiègne (France). His research interests include UAV, robot and sensor communications with applications in networking technologies for disaster management and infrastructure monitoring and IoT privacy and security. He is currently an associated editor of Elsevier Vehicular Communications, Computer Networks, and a former associate editor of Elsevier Ad hoc Networks.

Prof. Hussein T. MOUFTAH

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and Distinguish University Professor School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Biography

Prof. Hussein T. MOUFTAH received the BSc in Electrical Engineering and MSc in Computer Science from the University of Alexandria, Egypt, in 1969 and 1972, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Laval University, Canada, in 1975. He joined the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (was School of Information Technology and Engineering) of the University of Ottawa in 2002 as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair Professor, where he became a Distinguished University Professor in 2006. He was with the ECE Department, Queen’s University (1979–2002), where he was prior to his departure a Full Professor and the Department Associate Head. He has six years of industrial experience mainly at Bell Northern Research of Ottawa (Nortel Networks). He is the author or coauthor of 13 books, 78 book chapters and more than 1800 technical papers, 17 patents, 5 invention disclosures, and 148 industrial reports. Dr. Mouftah served as the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Communications Magazine (1995–1997) and IEEE ComSoc Director of Magazines (1998–1999), Chair of the Awards Committee (2002–2003), Director of Education (2006–2007), and a Member of the Board of Governors (1997–1999 and 2006–2007). He was a Distinguished Speaker of the IEEE Communications Society (2000–2007). He is a Fellow of the IEEE (1990), the Canadian Academy of Engineering (2003), the Engineering Institute of Canada (2005), and the Royal Society of Canada RSC Academy of Science (2008). He is the joint holder of 26 Best/Outstanding Paper Awards. He has received numerous prestigious awards, such as the 2017 Gotlieb Medal in Computer Engineering and Science, the 2016 R.A. Fessenden Medal in Telecommunications Engineering of IEEE Canada, the 2016 Distinguished Technical Achievement Award in Communications Switching and Routing of IEEE ComSoc Communications Switching and Routing Technical Committee, the 2015 IEEE Ottawa Section Outstanding Educator Award, the 2014 Engineering Institute of Canada K. Y. Lo Medal, the 2014 Technical Achievement Award of the IEEE Communications Society Technical Committee on Wireless Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks, the 2007 Royal Society of Canada Thomas W. Eadie Medal, the 2007–2008 University of Ottawa Award for Excellence in Research, the 2008 ORION Leadership Award of Merit, the 2006 IEEE Canada McNaughton Gold Medal, the 2006 EIC Julian Smith Medal, the 2004 IEEE ComSoc Edwin Howard Armstrong Achievement Award, the 2004 George S. Glinski Award for Excellence in Research of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Engineering, the 1989 Engineering Medal for Research and Development of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario, and the Ontario Distinguished Researcher Award of the Ontario Innovation Trust.

Dr. Murat Uysal

Professor - Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Ozyegin University, Istanbul, Turkey

Prof. Ismaeel Al Ridhawi

Associate Professor - Department of Computer Engineering
Kuwait College of Science and Technology, Doha, Kuwait

PAN 3: Edge AI: Dream or Reality? The Limit is the Sky!

Moderator: Dr. Hakim Hacid
Technology Innovation Institute , Abu Dhabi,UAE
Email: Hakim.hacid@tii.ae

Panelists

1. Zakaria Maamar, Professor, Zayed University, UAE. Email: Zakaria.Maamar@zu.ac.ae
2. Yan Chen, Senior Expert of Wireless Communications, Huawei. Email: bigbird.chenyan@huawei.com
3. Imran Zualkernan, Professor, American University of Sharjah, UAE. Email: izualkernan@aus.edu
4. Abderrahmane Lakas, Professor, UAEU, Al Ain. UAE. Email: alakas@uaeu.ac.ae

Abstract:The Artificial Intelligence (AI) community has invested a lot to develop techniques able to digest very large amounts of data to extract added value information and knowledge. Most techniques, especially the deep learning models, needs a lot of computation/storage power, making them appropriate for cloud-based environments. This makes the intelligence far from the end-user, raising concerns about, e.g., data privacy and latency. Edge AI comes to bring solutions for some problems inherent to the cloud and focuses on best practices, architectures, and processes for extending data AI outside the cloud. Edge AI bring AI closer to the end-user and uses, e.g., less communication resources, as the processing is operated directly on the edge device.

Edge AI is combined with a cloud architecture to perform inference. The training of the models is left to the cloud AI. In fact, while training AI models necessitates may sophisticated micro-controllers and architectures with a high computation power, e.g., GPUs, inference on the other hand can run on standard CPUs equipping most of today's smart devices. Highly efficient AI chips, becoming more and more available nowadays, can also improve the performance of edge devices in the inference and reduce energy consumption.

Edge AI is at its early stage and the future seems with no limit. This panel will discuss the principles, opportunities, and requirements of an efficient and useful Edge AI that goes beyond the inference.

Panelists

Dr Hakim Hacid

Principal Scientist
Technology Innovation Institute (TII)

Dr. Yan Chen

Senior Expert of Wireless Communications
Huawei

Dr. Zakaria Maamar

Professor
Technological Innovation at Zayed University, Dubai, UAE

Dr. Imran Zualkernan

Professor
American University of Sharjah, UAE

Dr. Abderrahmane Lakas

Professor
UAEU, Al Ain, UAE

PAN 4: 6G Network security : Challenges and Opportunities.

Moderator: Dr. Adel Ben Mnaouer
Canadian University Dubai, Dubai, UAE
Email: adel@cud.ac.ae

Panelists

1. Moayad Aloqaily, Researcher at MBZUAI University, UAE. Email: moayad.aloqaily@mbzuai.ac.ae
2. Chan Yeun, Associate Professor, Khalifa University, UAE. Email: chan.yeun@ku.ac.ae
3. Bassem Ouni, Lead Researcher, Technology Innovation Institute, UAE. Email: Bassem.Ouni@tii.ae
4. Deepak Puthal, Assistant Professor, Khalifa University, UAE. Email: deepak.puthal@ku.ac.ae
5. Soumaya Cherkaoui, Full Professor Polytechnique Montreal, Canada. Email: soumaya.cherkaoui@polymtl.ca

Abstract:As a new foreseen future wireless telecommunications technology with a big bunch of promises expected to be delivered, and as a vital enabling technology for several disrupting technologies such as remore robotic surgery, shaping a holographic society (thru metaverse), enhancing digital sustainability among others, addressing security concerns constitute a strong pillar of current and future research endeavour. Indeed, as the stakes are at all time high in the above mentioned application domains, definiltely, challenges in providing tamper-proof security solutions are expected to be of similar magnitude.

The applicability of Physical layer security solutions devised for 6G technology need to be revisted, adapted, enhanced or modified to be applicable to the 6G Technoly. A proven technology such as Blockchain presents itself as a serious player in the provisioning of security constructs for 6G enabled applications. As such, Blockchain rigid profing mechanisms and Smart contracting may need adaptability to be applicable. That constitutes a Challenging field of research and investigation.

This panel is bringing experts in 6G and in Security (including the Blockchain technology) from Academia to discuss the challenges and opportunities present and expected to be encountered in 6G Networks and what are the best practices and tools that will help to secure this type of Networks.

Panelists

Dr. Adel Ben Mnaouer

Professor - Canadian University Dubai
Dubai, UAE

Biography

Dr. Ben Mnaouer (IEEE SM'2008) is a full Profesor at the Canadian University Dubai. Received PhD in ECE from Yokohama National University Japan, in 1997, Master of Eng in EE from Fukui University Japan, and BSc in Computer Science from Ecole SUP’COM Tunis. He has over 25 years of teaching at undergraduate and graduate level. His Research portfolio includes 4 QNRF-NPRP funded projects worth US$ 3.7 million. Published one International and one US patent. Authored and edited two books and two book chapters. He published over 132 refereed Journal and Conference research publications. Supervised two PhDs on routing and on Physical Security for 5G Networks and 14 Masters in CS and CE. Dr. Ben Mnaouer has Served as Dean of the College of Engineering and IT at Dar Al Uloom University (DAU), Riyadh, and Vice-Dean of research in the same College at DAU. His research interests are in Applied AI and ML, IoT, Blockchain and Cybersecurity, Edge and fog Computing, VANETs and FANETs. Currently He is serving as General Co-Chair of the IEEE International Conference on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency (ICBC-2023) to be held in Dubai in May 2023. He served as General Co-Chair of ISNCC-2021 Conference in Dubai (June 2021), the IEEE LCN 2016 Conference in Dubai, and of the Wireless Days 2018 Conference held in Dubai. He is active in organization committees and TPCs of Major IEEE Communications, IEEE Computer, IFIP/IEEE conferences. He was the recipient of the best researcher award in 2016 (at Canadian University Dubai) and Listed in the Marquis Who’s Who in Engineering in 2000. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE Communication Society, Since May 2008 and he is also acting as Associate partner in the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree (EMJMD) in Green Networking and cloud (named GENIAL), in collaboration with University of Lorraine, France, Luleå University, Sweden and Leeds Beckett University, UK

Dr. Moayad Aloqaily

R&D Manager at MBZUAI University
UAE

Biography

Dr. Moayad Aloqaily (S'12, M'17, SM'21) received the M.Sc. degree in ECE from Concordia University, Canada, in 2012, and Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Ottawa, in 2016. He was an instructor in the Systems and Computer Engineering Department at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, 2017. He has been working with Gnowit Inc. as a Senior Researcher and Data Scientist since 2016. From 2018-2019, he was an assistant professor with American University of Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. From 2019-2021, he was the Cybersecurity Program Director and an assistant professor with the Faculty of Engineering, Al Ain University, UAE. He is the Managing Director of xAnalytics Inc., Canada, since 2019. He is currently with the Machine Learning Department, Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), His current research interests include the applications of AI and ML, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, Blockchain Solutions, and Sustainable Energy and Data Management. He was the recipient of many honors and awards. He received the 2020 best paper award from Ad Hoc Networks Journal. He has chaired and co-chaired many IEEE conferences and workshops including BCCA20-21, EnergyCom-GC21, ITAVT-IM21, DISSECT-IM21, SNP-ICC21, MECDA-WFIoT-21, AdHocNets20, PEDISWESA-ISCC20, ITCVT-NOMS20, E2NIoT-IWCMC20, ICCN-INFOCOM19, AICSSA19, and BAT-FMEC19-20. Served as a guest editor in many journals including IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine, IEEE Network, Computer Networks, International Journal of Machine Learning and Cybernetics, Elsevier IPM Journal, Springer JONS, Springer Cluster Computer, Internet Technology Letters, Transaction on Telecommunications Technologies, Security and Privacy, and IEEE Access. He is an Associate Editor of Ad Hoc Networks, Journal of Network and Systems Management, Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, Cluster Computing, Security and Privacy, IEEE Access. He has also been appointed the Co-EiC of IEEE CommSoft TC eLetter, 2020. He started his own Special Interest Group (SIG) on Blockchain and Application as well as Internet of Unmanned Aerial Networks. He is an IEEE Senior Member, ACM Member and a Professional Engineer Ontario (P.Eng.).

Dr. Bassem Ouni

Lead Researcher
Technology Innovation Institute, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dr. Chan Yeob Yeun

Associate Professor
Khalifa University, UAE

Dr. Deepak Puthal

Assistant Professor
Khalifa University, UAE

Dr. Soumaya Cherkaoui

Professor
Polytechnique Montreal, Canada

Biography

Dr. Soumaya Cherkaoui is a Full Professor at Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of Université de Sherbrooke, Canada which she joined as a faculty member in 1999. Her research and teaching interests are in wireless networks. Particularly, she works on next generation networks (5G and beyond), Edge computing/Network Intelligence, and communication networks for verticals such as Connected and Autonomous Cars, IoT, and Industrial IoT. Since 2005, she has been the Director of INTERLAB, a research group which conducts research funded both by government and industry. Before joining U. Sherbrooke, she worked for industry as a project leader on projects targeted at the Aerospace Industry. Pr. Cherkaoui has held invited positions at leading institutions including the University of California at Berkeley, Bell Laboratories, Monash University, and the University of Toronto, as well as an adjunct position at Lulea University, in Sweden.

Pr. Cherkaoui avails of a long research experience in the wireless networking. Her work resulted in technology transfer to companies and to patented technology. She has delivered several keynote addresses and invited talks in the area. Pr. Cherkaoui has published over 200 research papers in reputed journals and conferences. She co-edited 7 books and collective works, has been an associate editor and guest editor of several IEEE, Wiley and Elsevier Journals. Her work was awarded with recognitions and best paper awards including a best paper award at the IEEE Communications Society Flagship conference IEEE ICC in 2017. She has chaired prestigious conferences such as IEEE LCN 2019, and has served as a symposium co-chair for flagship conferences including IEEE ICC 2018, IEEE Globecom 2018, IEEE Globecom 2015, IEEE ICC 2014, and IEEE PIMRC 2011. She is a Professional Engineer in Canada, a senior IEEE Member, and is serving as the Chair of the IEEE Communications Society IoT-Ad hoc and Sensor Networks Technical Committee since 2020.