Driving Innovation and Capacity Building: HPC/AI Workshop and Student Conference

The University of Donja Gorica hosted the highly anticipated HPC/AI Workshop and Student Conference on Saturday, December 21st. This event served as a key platform to highlight the outcomes of the HPC4S3ME IPA project and the AIFusion training program supported by the Innovation Fund of Montenegro. Both projects were developed within the framework of EuroCC2/EuroCC4SEE, with support from the NCC Montenegro team. The events showcased significant advancements in high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) in Montenegro.

Ms Zoja Scekic presenting HPC4S3ME project result
Mr Stevan Cakic presenting AIFustion training that was supported by the Innovation Fund of Montenegro

The workshop commenced with presentations on the results and achievements of the HPC4S3ME and AIFusion projects. Participants were also introduced to the activities and contributions of NCC Montenegro and the broader EuroCC2/EuroCC4SEE initiatives. These sessions underscored the critical role of collaboration and innovation in advancing HPC and AI capabilities.

Dr Luka Filipovic discussing the EuroCC2/EuroCC4SEE projects and HPC initiatives/opportunities

A highlight of the event was the student conference, which featured 19 project presentations by student teams, primarily from MSc and BSc programs. These projects demonstrated the creativity, technical acumen, and forward-thinking approaches of the next generation of researchers and innovators. The diversity of ideas presented reflected the growing interest and expertise in leveraging HPC and AI for real-world applications. The project discussed HPC and AI applications in digital transformation of education, medicine, fashion, mathematcis, and tourism.

A variety of interesting project implemented by student teams were presented
This was a great opportunity to exchange experiences and lessons learned
Computer vision and robotics applications
The presentation covered applications of HPC/AI in all domains in S3 Montenegro

The day concluded with a dynamic panel discussion focusing on the potential of HPC and AI, emphasizing the importance of training, skills development, and success stories from academia and industry. Experts and participants engaged in vibrant discussions, exchanging insights and exploring the future possibilities of these transformative technologies.

This event was a great way to conclude activities on the HPC4S3ME project

With over 50 attendees, the event fostered a collaborative and engaging atmosphere, encouraging knowledge sharing and networking. The conference provided participants with an inspiring experience, leaving them motivated to explore further advancements in HPC and AI.

Over 50 people attended the event

The event concluded on a high note with a cocktail reception, offering attendees the opportunity to network in an informal setting. This gathering reaffirmed the University of Donja Gorica’s commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in HPC and AI, further establishing its role as a regional leader in these critical domains. This was another successful cross-project collaboration.

The event finished with a coctail and networking in the club

The Book of abstracts can be accessed by clicking on the image below (link).

Click on image to open the Book of abstracts

HPC/AI Workshop and Student Conference

On Saturday, December 21st, the University of Donja Gorica will host an HPC/AI Workshop and Student Conference, where participants from the AIFusion and HPC4S3ME projects will present their results. This will be a great way of finalizing efforts in both projects!

HPC/AI Workshop and student conference are organized in context of HPC4S3ME and AI Fusion projects

The event will include:

  • Presentation of key results and achievements of both projects,
  • NCC Montenegro and EuroCC2/EuroCC4SEE presentation,
  • Presentation of student projects,
  • Panel discussion,
  • Coctail and networking.

Location: AP Amphitheatre, University of Donja Gorica
Time: 10:00am – 16:00pm

After the program, the socializing will continue with a cocktail.
Join us to celebrate the results and exchange ideas in the field of HPC and AI.

Workshop agenda

Inspiring lecture by Professor Jingxin Yang from BUU

The University of Donja Gorica (UDG) hosted a captivating lecture by Dr. Yang Jingxin, Associate Professor at the Robotics College (Artificial Intelligence College) of Beijing Union University (BUU). A distinguished expert in artificial intelligence, Dr. Yang has an impressive academic journey, including a Doctorate in Materials Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University and a National Visiting Scholarship at Rice University in the USA. Her extensive research bridges intelligent manufacturing and artificial intelligence, focusing on innovation and sustainability.

Prof Yang gave an inspiring lecture on AI research and applications
The presentation included both background on AI and current research activities at BUU

During her lecture, Dr. Yang provided an in-depth exploration of AI’s transformative potential, its cutting-edge applications, and the future trends shaping this dynamic field. She highlighted AI’s role at BUU and shared insights into the intersection of intelligent manufacturing and AI.

Is Singularity near?

Lecture by prof Kezunovic from Texas A&M on AI/HPC supported risk management in energy sector

As planned, the invited lecture “Risk Management of Future Large-Scale Electrification” by prof. Mladen Kezunovic took place on 25 October 2024 in Enterpreneurial nest at UDG. Threre was over 60 attendees including students, academics from Montenegrin universities and representatives from the industry. This workshop was organized in the context of HPC4S3ME project and supported by EUROCC NCC Montenegro team.

What are the risks? Methodology for risk management and mitigation? What data do we have and how do we manage all that data? How can AI/ML supported by HPC help?

Dr. Mladen Kezunovic is a University Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M with over 35 years of expertise in power engineering. Renowned globally, Dr. Kezunovic has authored over 600 papers and consulted for 50+ companies worldwide. His extensive research and industry contributions, notably in fault modeling, data analytics, and smart grids, have earned him IEEE Life Fellow status and recognition from the US National Academy of Engineering. 

The workshop took place on 25 october at UDG
prof. Kezunovic from Texas A&M gave presentation on a nove approach to Risk managemement in energy sector
Over 60 people attended
How AI/ML supported by HPC can help mitigate risk in energy sector?
Several students from Faculty for information systems and Faculty for applied sciences attended

Master thesis: HPC/AI for breast cancer detection

Ms. Tamara Pavlovic defended her MSc thesis on the use of HPC/AI for creating prediction models for breast cancer detection on 23 October 2024. With the support from NCC Montenegro, Ms Pavlovic did her research in the context of the HPC4S3ME project and the focus was on AI and computer vision applications in medicine. From the motivational point of view, we congratulate Tamara for finalizing and defending her thesis during the Breast Cancer Awareness Month (‘Pink October’) as people around the world adopt the pink colour and display a pink ribbon to raise awareness about breast health.

ABSTRACT – Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing numerous sectors, including medicine, by offering innovative methods for diagnosing, treating, and researching diseases. This master’s thesis focuses on the application of AI in the diagnosis of breast cancer, using computer vision algorithms to analyze mammographic images. Through a combination of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and deep learning, models have been developed that identify malignant changes, potentially contributing to earlier and more precise disease detection. The thesis examines in detail how AI can improve the efficiency of screening processes, reduce the time required for diagnosis, and enable a more personalized approach to treatment. In addition to technological progress, ethical issues such as patient safety and the transparency of AI systems are also considered. The results of this study confirm that the application of AI in breast cancer diagnostics can significantly enhance medical procedures. The models tested, ResNet152 and DenseNet121, demonstrated quite good performance in classifying breast cancer. Their AUC scores, which exceed the threshold of 0.9, indicate their potential for use in clinical practice. These findings not only contribute to the improvement of diagnostic processes but also open up opportunities for further research and development of AI technologies in medicine.

This research was done in th context of HPC4S3ME and with the support from EUROCC NCC Montenegro
Ms Pavlovic finalized her thesis during the Breast Cancer Awareness Month (‘Pink October’)

Master thesis: Deep learning in energy sector

Ms. Zoja Scekic, a young researcher on HPC4S3ME project, defended her MSc thesis “Deep learning and applications in energy sector” today. This is one of the main project outputs in capacity building aimed at HPC/AI skills for applications in priority domains of Montenegrin S3.

ABSTRACT – This master’s thesis explores the application of advanced deep learning models for predicting day-ahead electricity prices, focusing on the accuracy and efficiency of these models compared to traditional forecasting methods. With the increasing integration of renewable energy sources and the growing complexity of electricity markets, accurate price forecasting has become crucial for market participants, grid operators, and policymakers. The research is structured around four case studies, each employing different deep learning techniques, such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), and hybrid models like CNN-LSTM. Despite the promising results, the research recognizes limitations related to data quality, model complexity, and computational resource requirements. The study emphasizes the need for further research into optimizing model efficiency, integrating more diverse data sources, and expanding the applicability of these models to different energy markets.

Ms Zoja Scekic defended her MSc thesis on Deep leaning applications in energy sector
This MSc thesis was done in the context of HPC4S3ME with support from EUROCC NCC Montenegro
Friendly support from young researchers from UDG and HPC4S3ME team

Lecture on AI and Collective Intelligence

On Friday, September 27, UDG welcomed Divya Siddarth, one of the 100 most influential young people in the field of artificial intelligence, as chosen by TIME magazine!

Ms Divya Siddarth is one of the 100 most influential young people in the field of artificial intelligence

Divya is a researcher at Microsoft Research, in the Political Economy and Social Technologies (PEST) department, and co-founder of the Collective Intelligence Project. Her work focuses on using technology to create fairer societies, with a particular emphasis on decentralized technologies, artificial intelligence and digital democracy.

She was recently recognized as one of the key minds shaping the future of artificial intelligence in the service of the common good!

It was a pleasure to be a part of this discussion. There was over 200 people in the audience
Divya is a researcher at Microsoft Research and co-founder of the Collective Intelligence Project

Revolutionising Agriculture with HPC and AI: Real-World Applications

At the “Revolutionising Agriculture with HPC and AI: Real-World Applications” conference, the AIMHiGH project, coordinated by DigitalSmart, was presented as part of the HPC Fortissimo initiative under the Horizon 2020 FF4EuroHPC program. The project, titled “AI/ML Enabled by HPC for Edge Camera Devices for the Next Generation Hen Farms,” brought cutting-edge HPC and AI/ML technologies to the poultry farming sector. Key achievements included real-time monitoring and data-driven insights through AI-powered edge cameras that continuously surveilled poultry, detecting early signs of illness and abnormal behavior. This innovation allowed farmers to intervene promptly, improving animal welfare, reducing losses, and enhancing productivity.

S. Cakic presented the project AIMHiGH that utilised HPC and AI for computer vision in smart agriculture

Additionally, the AI models developed during the project provided advanced solutions for early disease detection, resource optimization, and automation, leading to more sustainable and efficient farming practices. The system reduced manual supervision needs, cut operational costs, and optimized feed and water usage based on real-time data. The technology’s scalability and flexibility made it accessible to both large and small farms. Collaboration with partners like DunavNET, the University of Donja Gorica, and Montenegrin companies Meso-promet Franca and Radinović ensured practical relevance, aligning the project with Montenegro’s Smart Specialisation Strategy while supporting innovation and local economic growth in the poultry sector.

Presenting HPC and deep learning approach to the problem
Discussing the experiment results and prospects of the future wok

AIFusion! Course on AI in S3 domains

AIFusion! Apply for a course on artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture, medicine and energy. HPC4S3ME team mebers will actively participate in training and workshop sessions. The training is carried out in the context of NCC Montenegro and EUROCC with the financial support of the Innovation Fund of Montenegro. We continue last year’s success! This is an activity supported by the Innovation Fund of Montenegro.

More info: link.

Clic on image to register!

Webinar – Revolutionising Agriculture with HPC and AI: Real-World Applications

Would you like to explore the transformative power of HPC and Artificial Intelligence in agriculture and learn about real-case application?

Join the webinar “Revolutionising Agriculture with HPC and AI: Real-World Applications on Tuesday, 24 September, 14:00-15:00 CET.

More info & registration ▶ https://www.sling.si/en/news/ncc-sling-webinar-revolutionising-agriculture-with-hpc-and-ai-real-world-applications/

HPC4S3ME team members will participate in the webinar and also present their experiences in developing computer vision solutions for precision farming.

Click on image to register