17th European Computer Science Summit

Deans, academic leaders, all levels of researchers, public policymakers, and industry representatives across and beyond Europe gathered in person in Madrid and virtually via Zoom, 25-27 October 2021, for the 17th edition of the European Computer Science Summit, ECSS 2021.

See the conference highlights and photos.
Download the slides of the various talks on the ECSS 2021 program page.
Watch the recordings on Informatics Europe's YouTube channel.

ECSS 2020 past

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ECSS 2021 is the 17th Summit of Informatics Europe. It is the only place, once a year, where leaders and decision-makers in Informatics research and education in Europe gather to debate strategic themes and trends related to research, education, and policies in Informatics. It is a unique opportunity to meet leaders in the field and discuss critical issues of the discipline related to education, research, funding, entrepreneurship, management, career development, and policies.

For the first time in its history, this year’s ECSS was held as a hybrid event, allowing deans, academic leaders, all levels of researchers, public policymakers, and industry representatives across and beyond Europe to gather in person in Madrid and virtually via Zoom to discuss the main theme of this year’s summit: “Informatics for a Sustainable Future”. Prominent speakers from all over Europe provided their perspectives and fuelled discussions on lively debated topics like "Aligning the digital transformation with the UN sustainable development goals", "Interaction and representation challenges of sustainability related information", "The challenges and opportunities of responsible research and innovation in helping develop sustainable societies", "Responsible AI through regulation or innovation". Following keynote speakers shared their expert views and insights at ECSS 2021.

Keynote speakers:

Frank van Harmelen, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Lorenz Hilty, University of Zurich
Marina Jirotka, University of Oxford
Max Mühlhäuser, Technical University of Darmstadt

Conference Chairs:

Enrico Nardelli, Informatics Europe, University of Rome "Tor Vergata"
Javier Soriano, ETSIINF - Universidad Politécnica de Madrid / CODDII

Chairs of the Informatics for a Sustainable Future Sessions:

Dick Bulterman, CWI / Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Michèle Weiland, EPCC - University of Edinburgh

Leaders Workshop

The 2021 Workshop for Leaders of Informatics Research and Education was held on 25 October, co-chaired by Harald Gall, University of Zurich and Manuel Carro, ETSIINF (UPM) and IMDEA Software Institute. The central theme was 'Open Science and its Impact on Research and Career Development'.

Speakers & Panellists:

Roberto di Cosmo, INRIA
Yves Deville, UC Louvain
Arthur Lupia, National Science Foundation,
Ernestina Menasalvas, Technical University of Madrid
Elisabetta Di Nitto, Politecnico di Milano

Professional Development Workshop for Early Career Researchers

The Early Career Researchers Workshop was held on 25 October, co-chaired by Elisabetta Di Nitto, Politecnico di Milano, and Standa Živný, University of Oxford. The goal was to support early career researchers (PhD students and Postdocs) in the development of their soft skills related to presentation abilities, networking, developing a research plan, and connections to industry.

Speakers:

Wolfgang Emmerich, UCL, Zuhlke Group
Geraldine Fitzpatrick, TU Wien
Lynda Hardman, CWI
Nuria de Lama, Atos / Big Data Value Association
Justyna Petke, UCL
Africa Real, HP
Ruoyi Zhou, IBM Research Europe

WIRE-EUGAIN Workshop

The WIRE-EUGAIN Workshop, organised by the EUGAIN Cost Action and chaired by Karima Boudaoud, Université Côte d’Azur and Christopher Staff, Institute of Technology, Carlow., was held on 27 October 2021. The workshop was a follow-up of the previous WIRE Workshops and was focused on sustainability in Computer Science and particularly on "How to retain girls and women in Computer Science" at all the career stages.

Speakers & Panellists:

Reyyan Ayfer, Bilkent University
Ivana Drobnjak, University College of London
Geraldine Fitzpatrick, TU Wien
Judith Good, University of Amsterdam
Miguel Goulao & Catarina Gralha, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa
Robert Hanák, University of Economics in Bratislava
Lafifa Jamal, University of Dhaka
Gabrielle Keller, Utrecht University
Katarina Pantic, Weber State University,
Larissa Schmid, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Alexandra Silva, University College London
Mina Stareva, European Commission
Zeynep Şahin Timar, Karadeniz Technical University

National Informatics Associations Workshop

The Workshop co-organized with National Informatics Associations was held on 27 October, chaired by Pekka Orponen, Aalto University, and addressed the following two themes: "Research Evaluation in Informatics and Informatics in Interdisciplinary Curricula".

Speakers:

Marcel R. Ackermann, Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz Center for Informatics
Aliaksandr Birukou, Springer Nature Publishing
Silvio Peroni, University of Bologna
Andrew Plume, Elsevier Publishing
Klaus Tochtermann, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics

Audience

The ECSS audience includes anyone with a stake in the future of Information and Communication Science and Technology in Europe. Traditionally, many department heads, directors of both industrial and academic labs, and other decision-makers make up a substantial share of ECSS participants. However, the scope of the conference is much broader and professionals from all levels and all sectors (academia, industry, government) would benefit from the discussions and critical debate on the future of the discipline.

Purpose of the European Computer Science Summit:

Debate the future of the discipline, its role, and influence in both academy and society.
Expand the international network of deans, heads of departments, and research directors in Informatics.
Provide a forum for discussion and the exchange of solutions and best practices on common issues.
Examine ways in which Informatics leaders can work together to improve teaching and research, implement the Bologna process, can influence the policies of their universities, governments and the EU, and take joint initiatives on many other issues.
Provide opportunities for liaisons with other groups pursuing relevant interests.

ECSS 2021 was organised by

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