15th European Computer Science Summit

The European Computer Science Summit 2019 gathered around 180 deans, department heads, research directors, senior academics, industry and public policymakers from over 30 countries in Rome, Italy.

See the conference highlights and photos.
Download the slides of the various talks on the ECSS 2019 program page.

ECSS 2019 past

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ECSS 2019 is the 15th 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.

ECSS conferences are organised by Informatics Europe in collaboration with a host institution, active member of the association. ECSS 2019 was co-organised by the International Research Area on Foundations of the Sciences of the Pontifical Lateran University and held at the Hotel NH Collection Roma Centro in Rome, Italy, 28-30 October 2019. The Summit was co-chaired by Enrico Nardelli, Informatics Europe, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" and Gianfranco Basti, Pontifical Lateran University with organisational support by Paolo Atzeni, Roma Tre University, Roberto Basili, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Alessandro Mei and Tiziana Catarci, "Sapienza" University of Rome.

The central topic of the 2019 Summit was "Social Responsibility of Informatics"

Prominent speakers from all over Europe provided their perspectives and fuelled discussions on lively debated topics like Responsible Artificial Intelligence, Speaking Law to Computer Scientists and Other Folks, Ethical and Social Responsibility Issues in Social Robots, Responsible Research and Innovation in ICT, and Ethics and Privacy in the Digital Societies. Following keynote speakers and panellists shared their expert views and insights at ECSS 2019.

Keynote speakers:

Tony Belpaeme, Ghent University
Virginia Dignum, Umeå University
Mireille Hildebrandt, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Luciano Floridi, University of Oxford (remote participation)
Paola Inverardi, University of L'Aquila
Bernd Stahl, De Montfort University

Panellists:

Guglielmo Tamburrini, University of Naples (Panel Chair)
Philip Larrey, Pontifical Lateran University
Peggy Valcke, KU Leuven
Hannes Werthner, TU Vienna

Chairs of the Social Responsibility of Informatics Sessions were:

Elisabetta Di Nitto, Politecnico di Milano
Paola Mello, University of Bologna.

Leaders Workshop

The 2019 Workshop for Leaders of Informatics Research and Education was held on 28 October, co-chaired by Gregor Engels, Department of Computer Science, Paderborn University and Geraldine Fitzpatrick, Faculty of Informatics, TU Vienna. The central theme was Developing as a Leader in an Academic Context, with main focus on special skills and leadership training needed to play a leadership role at any level in an academic environment.

WIRE Working Group Workshop

The Workshop of the Women in Informatics Research and Education (WIRE) working group was held on 28 October and brought together colleagues from all over Europe working on the forefront of the efforts to increase the number of women in Informatics research, education and profession. The workshop created a forum for experience reports from existing measures and best practices sharing and helped to bring forward a European network of actors and to increase the visibility of their initiatives. The workshop was organised by Erika Abraham, RWTH Aachen University, Lejla Batina, Radboud University, Alexandra Silva, University College London, and Cristina Pereira, Informatics Europe and sponsored by Elsevier.

Workshop Bridging the Digital Talent Gap

For the first time, Informatics Europe organised in partnership with the European Commission DG CONNECT the workshop Bridging the Digital Talent Gap - Towards Successful Industry-University Partnerships. The workshop brought together higher education organisations, industry, public policymakers and students to identify current challenges, opportunities and solutions to bridge the supply/demand gap in Europe for graduates with the skills needed by European businesses to grow and innovate.

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 deans, department heads, and research directors in Informatics 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 2019 is organised by