Event Description
The PhD Cruise Project Competition offers a prestigious platform for phd students to present innovative projects to a panel of distinguished experts from academia and industry. The event celebrates groundbreaking ideas, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world impact, fostering meaningful connections between emerging scholars and global thought leaders.

Keynotes & Experts 

Professor Dr. Hamido FUJITA (Life Senior Member IEEE)
Distinguished Professor at Iwate Prefectural University and Executive Chairman of i-SOMET (Japan), internationally recognized for applied intelligence and healthcare management.
Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate) and Editor-in-Chief of Applied Intelligence and the International Journal of Healthcare Management.

Professor Dr. Andrea Matta
Full Professor at Politecnico di Milano, specializing in analysis, design, and management of manufacturing and healthcare systems.
Editor-in-Chief of the Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal and author of 190+ scientific publications.

Professor Dr. Mohsen A. Jafari
Professor and Chair at Rutgers University (Industrial & Systems Engineering), founder of the Laboratory for Energy Smart Systems (LESS).
Leads major R&D on control/optimization of energy and mobility systems, with $23M+ funded projects, publications, and patents.

Professor Dr. J. George Shanthikumar
Distinguished Professor at Purdue University and Richard E. Dauch Chair in Manufacturing and Operations.
Global leader in stochastic modeling, simulation, and sustainable supply chains, with 300+ papers and strong industrial impact.

Professor Dr. Mauro Gaggero
Senior Researcher at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), working across control, optimization, and data-driven learning.
Connects advanced mathematical modeling with real industrial applications (logistics, robotics, IT systems, predictive control).

Eduard Rodés
Director and founder of Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport and creator of the Port Virtual Lab (PVL) platform.
A leading voice in experiential logistics education, awarded the Mediterranean Medal (ASCAME, 2023).

Alessia Mastromattei
Country Manager (Italy) at Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport, leading operations and EU projects across Italian hubs.
Focused on modernizing logistics education through sustainability, digital transformation, and cross-border collaboration.

Professor Dr. Jun Sasaki
Professor at Yamato University (Japan) and Professor Emeritus of Iwate Prefectural University, with a career spanning NTT and academia.
Works on generative-AI tourism planning, disaster risk reduction information systems, and solutions for ageing societies.

Dr. José Ramón Trillo Vílchez
Assistant Professor at the University of Zaragoza with a PhD in ICT, specializing in AI, sentiment analysis, and group decision-making.
Brings award-winning research and applied insights on AI-powered crowdfunding and responsible data-driven fundraising.

Professor Dr. Simone Di Zio
Full Professor of Social Statistics (University “G. D’Annunzio”, Italy) and a leading scholar in Futures Studies methodologies.
Known for Spatial Delphi and quantitative scenario-building tools integrating GIS, robust ranking, clustering, and AI.

Professor Dr. Enrico di Bella
Full Professor of Social Statistics at the University of Genoa, focused on policy evaluation and data-driven public decision-making.
Expert in causal reasoning, DAGs, robustness strategies, and the use of AI/LLMs to support public administration processes.

Professor Dr. Leonardo Salvatore Alaimo
Research Fellow in Social Statistics at Sapienza University of Rome, specializing in advanced multivariate and indicator systems.
Covers PLS-PM modeling for socio-technical transitions, from latent construct measurement to publication-ready reporting in R.

Professor Dr. Akram Soliman Elselmy
Dean at AASTMT and Professor of Coastal Engineering and Port Planning, consultant in harbor planning and shore protection.
Founder Chair of MARLOG (since 2011) and an active contributor to global port resilience, sustainability, and infrastructure policy.

Professor Dr. Sreejith Balasubramanian (FHEA)
Associate Professor and Head of the Centre for Supply Chain Excellence at Middlesex University Dubai; Chair of Research.
Works on digital twins, disruptive technologies, and sustainable supply chains, with industry consulting and 50+ publications.

Professor Dr. Shawn Mathew
Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University Dubai, researching AI-driven governance, ethics, and data-informed public policy.
Bridges academia and industry experience to address algorithmic bias, privacy, regulation (EU AI Act), and social impact.

Prof. Dr. Iham F. Zidane
Head of the Energy Research Unit at AASTMT and Associate Professor, specializing in CFD and renewable energy engineering.
Focuses on AI-enabled optimization of wind/solar systems and hybrid power solutions for resilient, sustainable energy futures.

Dr. Mohamed H. Mourad
Assistant Professor at AASTMT and Senior Member (IISE), working on cloud manufacturing, Industry 4.0/5.0, and interoperability.
Develops frameworks for smart factories and agentic AI to enable adaptive, resilient, cloud-enabled production networks.

Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Nageeb El-belacy
Head of Construction and Building Engineering Department (AAST Port Said), focused on structural engineering and sustainability.
Integrates AI-based defect detection with green concrete repair materials to support circular economy and resilient infrastructure.

Competition Highlights:

• Participant Presentations: Each PhD Student will deliver a concise, impactful presentation (10 minutes), followed by a Q&A session with the expert panel.
• Evaluation Criteria:
  • Innovation: Originality and creativity of the research concept.
  • Impact: Relevance and contribution to science, industry, or society.
  • Methodology: Rigor and soundness of research design.
  • Communication: Clarity, engagement, and presentation skills.
• Awards: Recognitions include “Best Innovative Research,” “Highest Practical Impact,” and “Outstanding Presentation.”

Why Attend: This competition is a unique opportunity for PhD researchers to receive feedback from global leaders in their fields, inspire innovation, and connect with peers and mentors. It celebrates the pursuit of knowledge, interdisciplinary dialogue, and the power of transformative ideas.

Call for Project Abstract Submissions The PhD Project Competition invites doctoral researchers to submit their innovative project abstracts for evaluation by a distinguished panel of experts in academia and industry. This is a unique opportunity to showcase your research, receive constructive feedback, and engage with thought leaders in your field.

Submission Guidelines

• Abstract Length: Maximum of one A4 page.
• Format:
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12-point.
  • Line Spacing: Single.
  • Margins: 1-inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
• Content Structure:
  • Title: Project title (bold, centered, maximum of 20 words).
  • Author Details: Full name, institution, and email address (below the title).
  • Abstract Body:
    • Introduction: Brief background and significance of the research.
    • Objectives: Clearly stated aims of the project.
    • Methodology: Overview of the approach or techniques used.
    • Results and Contributions: Key findings (if available) and potential impact.
    • Keywords: Up to 5 keywords representing the project’s scope.
• File Format: PDF.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be assessed based on the following:

1. Innovation: Originality and creativity of the research.
2. Impact: Relevance and potential contributions to science, industry, or society.
3. Clarity: Well-articulated objectives and methodology.
4. Presentation: Coherence and readability of the abstract.

Submission Deadline

• Date: January 24th,  2025