Leveraging People, Technology, and Information for a Smart and Connected Society
The United States (US) and European Union (EU) are partners with a shared history and culture who face similar challenges in areas such as security, economic development, and innovation. Working together on key aspects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and policy can strengthen each partner individually while enhancing the relationship between allies. This event builds on the success of the first Trans-Atlantic Symposium on ICT Technology and Policy, held in Minneapolis, MN, USA on June 19th and 20th, 2017. The first Trans-Atlantic Symposium was organized by the European Commission (EC)-funded PICASSO project with contributions from the EC-funded BILAT USA 4.0 project. It was supported by the US National Science Foundation (NSF), Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS), IEEE Control System Society, and the University of Minnesota, and hosted by the Technological Leadership Institute of University of Minnesota. The 2nd Annual Transatlantic Symposium on ICT Technology and Policy will convene leaders in government, academia, and industry around the theme of leveraging people, technology, and information for a smart and connected society. The symposium will explore key ICT topics for bilateral cooperation, as well as cross-cutting issues including policy aspects and STEM workforce issues. This two-day event will include keynotes, panel discussions, and interactive workshops to facilitate knowledge exchange.
Key Topics. Five key topics were selected based on the outcomes of the first Trans-Atlantic Symposium as well as the stated policy priorities of the US and EU. Conference attendees will discuss cooperation with a focus on innovative early-stage research in the following areas:
· Cybersecurity, including security and information assurance.
· Big Data, including management, analytics, and visualization.
· Cyber-physical Systems and Internet of Things (IoT), including IoT-enabled smart cities.
· Artificial Intelligence (AI), including autonomous systems, robotics, and machine learning.
· 5G and Beyond, including network infrastructure.
Cross-cutting Issues. Beyond these topics, the symposium will explore cross-cutting opportunities and challenges relevant to both bilateral cooperation and individual competitiveness. These include:
· Policy considerations to US-EU cooperation such as privacy, security, and standardization.
· Expanding support for open science, including open data and citizen science initiatives.
Organizing Committee.
Co-sponsors. This event is supported by the Wilson Center, the National Science Foundation, the EC-funded PICASSO project and Mississippi State University.
Outcomes. Participants will gain greater awareness and education of the latest developments in each of the five key topics as well as cross-cutting issues such as policy considerations, open science, and expanding the STEM workforce. Networking will connect leaders from policy, academic, and business circles in the US and the EU. A brief report will summarize the symposium outcomes, while a series of expert policy briefs published by the Wilson Center will explore key topics in greater depth.