Projects / Programmes
Decentralized solutions for the digitalization of industry and smart cities and communities
January 1, 2022
- December 31, 2027
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.07.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Computer science and informatics |
|
| 2.08.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Telecommunications |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.02 |
Natural Sciences |
Computer and information sciences |
| 2.02 |
Engineering and Technology |
Electrical engineering, Electronic engineering, Information engineering |
? Digitalization, distributed ledger technologies, blockchain ? Internet of things, 5G/6G, bigdata, cyber security, trust, digital identity, industrial processes ? Industry, smart cities, smart communities ? Human centered, user experience
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
April 24, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
Data for ARIS tenders (
04.04.2019 – Programme tender,
archive
)
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
310 |
4,520 |
4,214 |
13.59 |
| Scopus |
452 |
6,254 |
5,812 |
12.86 |
Researchers (24)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
The research program addresses decentralized approaches and solutions for the digital transformation of industry and smart cities and communities. Distributed ledger technologies (DLT) and blockchain technologies are a digital security solution that in a unique way ensures trusted exchange and processing of messages without centralized entities. They are the basis for decentralized applications that enable machine autonomy. In connection with cyber-physical systems they enable new technological solutions and new business models. Within the research program we will explore in particular: ? harmonization and technological bases of decentralized solutions for smart cities and communities; specific requirements of smart city and community user scenarios; scaling solutions for broad user adoption; ? architectures of decentralized solutions for digital transformation in industry in the direction of decentralized product lifecycle management of industrial and production systems, and virtualization as part of decentralized industrial applications; ? cyber security of decentralized solutions, including the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain security aspects; privacy; digital identities; ? approaches to integrating decentralized solutions into the architectures of modern 5G / 6G networks to ensure operational performance, fault tolerance and cyber security; ? user centred design approaches and methodologies of digital (user) interfaces and interactions for users of decentralized solutions. The anticipated outcomes of the research in the form of analyses, new methods, algorithms, procedures, processes, proof-of-concepts, prototypes, use cases, guidelines, (social) instruments, new functionalities, prototypes, scientific and professional papers and monographs, will yield significant impact in science and profession as well as in the economic and social development in the country.
Significance for science
Within the proposed research programme, we will provide scientific understanding and professional recognition of the Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs) and the possible solutions, based on DLTs. These include (i) understanding and matching the gap between the needs of smart city and smart industry application domains, and DLT opportunities, (ii) investigating the stakeholder and user perspectives towards DLT applications for better acceptance, and usability of the anticipated DLT systems, (iii) proofs-of-concepts for initial laboratory experimentation and validation and (iiii); solving some fundamental questions on DLT architectures and security, relevant for scaling from laboratory to relevant environments, with potential impact on standardization in DLT. International relevance of the proposed research can be seen from different priority areas of the Digital Europe and Horizon Europe Research and innovation funding programmes until 2027, the national recovery and resilience plan of Slovenia, and other domestic research programs. According to the Horizon Europe Research and innovation funding programme, the proposed research areas can be placed into the scope of Digital, industry and space, Climate, energy and mobility and some parts also into Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment. The research also fits into Digital Europe, a programme of the European Commission focused on building the strategic digital capacities of the EU and on facilitating the wide deployment of digital technologies. The programme will boost investments into digital technologies across the economy and society, including through Digital Innovation Hubs (4PDIH, led by our research group, was appointed as one of the Slovenian candidates by the Slovenian Government and will apply to become a member of the EDIH Network). According to the Slovenian research programmes, the proposed research group can be placed into the priority areas of the Smart Specialization Strategy, which aims to support the development and innovation of the areas with the highest positive effect on Slovenian economy. Among them, Smart Cities and Communities, Smart Factories and Industry 4.0 and Smart Mobility can be found, into which the referred research of the group can be classified. Relevance of the proposed program can also be observed by comparing it with programs of similar groups worldwide and by the plans to participate in Horizon Europe and Digital Europe projects. In certain areas, the research is already being implemented, which can be seen in valuable research and development results and scientific publications. It is expected that existing research will continue also in the future, with the addition of other proposed areas, where new solutions and results are expected.
Significance for the country
Throughout the years, the Slovenian National Research and Development Programme and its resolutions emphasized the importance of several areas of our proposed research program for the development and competitiveness of the country. In 2015 the Slovenian Government confirmed a document of Smart Specialization Strategy with national strategic development priorities defined, where Slovenia has a critical mass of knowledge, capacities, competencies and comparative advantages, and thus the potential for positioning on global markets. It identifies three priority pillars and nine areas of application: (1) Digital: Smart cities and communities, Smart buildings and home with a wooden chain; (2) Circular: Networks for the transition to a circular economy, Sustainable food, Sustainable tourism; and (3) Industry 4.0: Factories of the future, Health-medicine, Mobility, Materials as final products. The research focus of the group can directly be mapped onto the chosen priority areas, more specifically to Smart cities and communities, Factories of the future and Mobility. Digitalization and the use of distributed solutions as a part of information and communication technologies represent an area, which has important positive effects to the economy, society, people and after all also the environment and climate resilience. It is about new technology solutions, new business models, more optimal and efficient energy and raw material use, lower environmental pollution, production flexibility, improved working conditions, user centered interaction design, improved trust, aspects of sustainable development and a higher economic added value. For these reasons, the group research topics represent one of the most important strategic directions in Slovenia and worldwide, especially due to the fact Slovenian industry and communities are below the EU-average and are lagging behind other European countries. Our research group has formed strong partnerships with innovative domestic and foreign companies in the field of information and communication technologies and industry as well as advanced municipalities and communities. The established connections to partners allow the use of new technologies, developed methodology and innovative approaches to solving practical problems. The obtained results and their transfer and exploitation to an industrial and smart community environments therefore increase the competitiveness and capabilities of both the service providers and the industry. Furthermore, they indirectly allow proper training of the employees, according to the newest technological trends. All of the above has a positive effect on the development of new innovative environments and jobs, and furthermore also to other areas such as the environment protection, quality of life and others. The largest direct effect of the proposed research group is undoubtedly reflected in the pedagogic process carried out by the group. The research group represents two most important educational and research organizations in the combined fields of information and communication technologies, industry, smart cities and communities complemented with psychologists that research human aspects of ICT and STEM. The group is responsible for the education of more than half of Slovenian engineers in these fields and for the multidisciplinary expansion of its research challenges in the fields of psychology and research in education. Current market demands show that such profiles are highly employable and sought intensely. Research results, developed methodology and other acquired knowledge are successfully integrated into the pedagogic process in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, which ensures that the educational program and the given knowledge is always up-to-date and comparable to the most renowned foreign educational institutions. The results of the performed research will be disseminated through scientific publications in high-end international journals, conferences, promotional activities, public relations in media and internet, lifelong training courses, regular pedagogic process and after all through mentoring undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. candidates.
