Preliminary Conference Programme

IEEE IHTC 2024

The Scientific and Program Committees and all panel organisers are delighted to announce the preliminary programme for IHTC 2024.
Please be aware that changes to the programme might occur.

Wednesday November 27, 2024


8:30 – Registration opening


9:00 – 10:30
Welcome statements

  • Francesco Cupertino, Magnifico Rettore Politecnico di Bari;
  • Vincenzo Piuri, IEEE Region 8 Director;
  • Tiziana Tambosso, IEEE Region 8 Conference Coordination Committee Chair;
  • Gianfranco Chicco, IEEE Italy Section Chair;
  • Massimo La Scala, IHTC 2024 General Chair;
  • Local authorities: Municipality of Bari, Head of Regione Puglia Industry Department, Registered Engineers Council.


10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break


11:00 – 12:00
Plenary speeches

  • Stefano Besseghini, President of ARERA Italian Energy Regulator (confirmed): “Energy poverty: subtle to define, difficult to contrast”.
  • Lwanga Herbert, Chair-IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board (confirmed): “Engineering a better world for all”.


12:00 – 13:00 Lunch break


13:00 – 15:30 – Aula Magna A
Future Environmental & Humanitarian Challenges

  • Giovanna Ceglie, Director United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) (confirmed): “UNGSC Hub of expertise and services of supply chain and digital technology in support of UN operational needs”.
  • Soichiro Yasukawa, Chief of the Disaster Risk Reduction Unit – UNESCO Natural Science Sector (confirmed).
  • Valeria Termini, CNEL (National Council of Economy and Occupation – CNEL) (confirmed).
  • International Energy Agency (confirmed, remote).
  • Paul Cunningham, IEEE R8 Climate Change Committee Chair (confirmed): “Enabling Technological Innovation Addressing Environmental and Humanitarian Challenges”.
  • René Garello, Chair of the Ocean Best Practices Systems (OBPS) – UNESCO/IOC/IODE, IEEE President of Oceanographic Society, President of the IEEE France Section (confirmed): “Ocean Sustainability and the Impact on Humanity”.
  • Semida Silveira, Professor Cornell University, CEET UN Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (confirmed, remote): “Humanitarian technologies to build climate resilience”.
  • Round of Q&A


15:30 – 16:00 Coffee break


16:00 – 18:00
Workshop on Expressing your Humanitarian Passion through IEEE Smart Village


16:00 – 18:00
Technical Sessions


Thursday November 28, 2024


8:30 – 10:30
Technical Sessions


10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break


11:00 – 13:00 – Aula Magna A
Energy Regulation in Europe, Africa and Middle East

Chaired by Alberto Biancardi

  • Alberto Biancardi, International Relations at Gestore dei Servizi Energetici – GSE Spa (The Italian Energy Services Agency) (confirmed).
  • Houda Ben Jannet Allal, Organisation Méditerraéenne de l’Energie e du Climat (confirmed)
  • Matteo Urbani, Organisation Méditerraéenne de l’Energie e du Climat (confirmed)
  • Bardhi Hoxha, MEDREG (confirmed)
  • Hasan Ozkoc, MEDREG (confirmed)
  • Gianluca Sambucini, UNECE (online – confirmed)
  • Branislav Prelevic, Energy Regulatory Agency of Montenegro (confirmed)
  • Petrit Ahmeti, Albanian Energy Regulatory Authority (confirmed)
  • Elton B. Radheshi, Albanian Energy Regulatory Authority (confirmed)
  • Salvio Lanza, Balkan Energy School (BES) (confirmed)
  • Roberto Vigotti, RES4Africa (confirmed)
  • Round of Q&A.


11:00 – 14:00
IEEE R8 Climate Challenge: AI in Enhanced Weather Forecasting


13:00 – 14:30 Lunch break


14:30 – 16:00
IEEE R8 Climate Challenge: Disaster-Resilient Communication


16:00 – 17:00
HTB Panel: Engineering with purpose: The New Humanitarian Technologies Approach

Chair: Mariela Machado Fantacchiotti, IEEE HT Senior Director

  • Lwanga Herbert, 2024 HTB Chair
  • Grace Burleson, University of Colorado Boulder
  • Stephanie Gillespie, Chair of EPICS in IEEE
  • Theodoros Chatzinikolaou, Chair of the IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Technology Activities Committee


14:30 – 17:00 – Aula Magna A
Research & Industry for the Energy Transition

  • Marcello Capra, SETPLAN – Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (confirmed): From lab to market: How to accelerate the development and manufacturing of innovative technologies”
  • Giorgio Graditi, Direttore Generale, ENEA (confirmed).
  • Franco Cotana, CEO Ricerca Sistema Energetico (RSE) (confirmed).
  • Vincenzo Ranieri, CEO e-distribuzione S.p.A. (confirmed).
  • Francesco Del Pizzo, Executive Vice President for Grid Development Strategies and Dispatching at the Terna Group (confirmed): “Challenges of modern Transmission System Operators for the energy transition”
  • Annalisa Muccioli, Research & Technological Innovation, ENI SpA (confirmed)
  • Francesca Portincasa, Acquedotto Pugliese (AQP) (confirmed).
  • Round of Q&A.


17:00 – 17:30 Coffee break


17:30 – 19:30
IEEE R8 Industry Workshop on Connecting the Unconnected

  • Mohammad Galal Khafagy and Nihel Ben Youssef, Chairs,  IEEE Region 8 Action for Industry
  • Mohamed Slim Alouini, Keynote speech – IEEE Fellow, Professor of Wireless Communications KAUST UNESCO Chair on Connecting the Unconnected: “UNESCO Initiatives”.
  • Gabriele Elia, Head of Technology  Communication and Standards,  TIM (remote)
  • Luke Ibbetson, Head of R&D at Vodafone Group
  • John Matogo, Past Chair, IEEE Region 8 Action for Industry / IBM CSR Leader, Middle East and Africa: “Role of Industry Corporate Social Responsibility & Voice of Africa”.
  • Pr Latif Ladid, 5G World Alliance chair and IPv6 Forum President (remote)
  • IEEE European Public Policy Representative


17:30 – 19:30
IEEE R8 Humanitarian Activities: Workshop on SIGHT Groups Activities, Operations and Management

Speaker to be confirmed.


17:30 – 19:30
Technical sessions


21:00 – 23:30 Gala dinner


Friday November 29, 2024


9:30 – 11:30
Panel on: Water and energy between efficiency and climate change challenges

Sponsored and organized by Acquedotto Pugliese S.p.A.

  • Gianfredi Mazzolani, Director of Research, Development and International Activities: “The international activities of Acquedotto Pugliese”
  • Luciano Venditti, Head of Water Planning and Balance: “Study of the impacts of climate change on the water availability of reservoirs serving Acquedotto Pugliese”
  • Nicola Sicolo, Head of Operation of the Water Transmission: “The management of complex water systems under water scarcity”
  • Giuseppe Rizzi, Energy Manager: “Water and energy between efficiency and sustainability”
  • Nicola Tselikas, Head of Wastewater Treatment: “The experience of Acquedotto Pugliese in managing municipal wastewater treatment plants and refining plants for irrigation reuse”


9:30 – 11:30
Panel: Energy Poverty, Renewable Energy Communities, and Emerging Models of Energy Access

Panel Coordinator: Energy Systems Development Department, Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico, Milan
Chair: Debora Cilio, Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico, Milan

  • Federico Aleotti – Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico, MilanCommon Challenges in Electrification and Energy Transition
  • Gabriella De Maio – University of Naples Federico IIEnergy Poverty and Renewable Energy Communities: Challenges and Opportunities for a Just Transition
  • Ivano Scotti – University of Naples Federico IIEnergy Poverty and Energy Prosumerism in Europe and Africa: Some Insights
  • Alessandra Motz – Institute for Economic Research (IRE)Renewable Energy Communities as a tool for social acceptance: what is working and what is not?
  • Nicola Sorrentino – University of CalabriaIntroducing the next generation of managers to support social issues in sustainable investments through renewable energy communities


9:30 – 11:30
IEEE R8 Humanitarian Activities Congress: Ignite Session on SIGHT Group Stories to Inspire and Get Inspired

Speaker to be confirmed.


9:30 – 11:30
Technical sessions


11:30 – 12:00 Coffee break


12:00 – 13:00
HTB Panel #2: The future of Humanitarian Technologies

Speaker to be confirmed.


12:00 – 13:00
Competitions

Best PhD Student Competition
Best HT Entrepreneurship Idea – demo&poster Competition


13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break


14:00 – 16:00
IEEE R8 Humanitarian Activities Congress: Workshop on Humanitarian Projects Planning and Execution

Speaker list: George Papadimitriou, Miriam Cunningham.


14:00 – 16:00
Technical sessions


16:00 – 16:30 Coffee break


16:30 – 17:30
Panel on Empowering Africa through Industrial certified Electricity Education

Speaker list

  • Tom Murad, President IEEE Canada- Region 7 Director
  • Nader Imani, Executive Vice President Global Education Festo Didactic SE
  • Valerio Ricciardelli, Ex-Vice President of Festo Didactic SE, Global Education sector


16:30 – 18:30
IEEE R8 Humanitarian Activities Congress: Ignite Session on Humanitarian Project Opportunities and Successfully Implemented Project

Speaker list: George Papadimitriou, Miriam Cunningham.


16:30 – 18:30
Technical sessions


Saturday November 30, 2024


8:30 – 10:30
Technical sessions


9:30 – 10:30
Panel on the Role of Academia and Industry on Solving Community Challenges


10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break


11:00 – 13:00
Technical sessions


11:00 – 13:00
Workshop on Innovative Solutions from Scrap: Developing Technology Blueprints for Crisis Response Using Commonly Available Materials


13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break


14:00 – 16:00

Technical sessions


16:00 – 17:00

Closing session & Awards