Keynote Speakers
Keynote 1: Industry 4.0 and the data revolution
Francisco Almada Lobo
CEO and Founder of Critical Manufacturing, Porto, Portugal
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Speaker Bio:
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Keynote 2: TBA!
Liliana Cucu-Grosjean
Group leader at INRIA - Paris / Co-Founder of StatInf, Paris, France
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Keynote 3: Industrial Heritage For Training Advanced Robotics Neural Networks
Giovanni Di Stefano
Head of Robotics Engineering at COMAU, Turin, Italy
Abstract:
In the rapidly evolving AI landscape, large-scale models like ChatGPT, Gemini, or SAM dominate consumer applications. However, for industrial companies, the real opportunity lies not in developing their own general-purpose AI but in specializing existing models to fit their highly technical and niche-specific needs.
Many industrial enterprises possess vast amounts of domain-specific, high-quality data ranging from mechanical component design to system identification and technical drawing definitions. These datasets hold the key to unlocking AI-driven automation in complex engineering tasks that general-purpose AI cannot handle.
By embracing AI specialization, automation companies can gain a competitive edge, improving productivity and decision-making without the prohibitive costs of developing foundational AI models. The future of AI in robotics is not about competing with large-scale AI. It’s about adapting and refining it for precision, reliability, and real-world impact.
Speaker Bio:
Giovanni Di Stefano leads technology activities to support the expansion of Comau’s portfolio in both traditional and emerging industrial sectors as the head of Advanced Robotics. He holds a degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Rome and further specialized through a Master in Industrial Automation at Comau in collaboration with Politecnico di Torino, followed by an Executive MBA from ESCP in Paris.
In the early years of his career, he combined field operations with R&D in the automotive industry, later becoming Head of the Process Technologies Department, where he led an international team focused on developing new industrial processes. As the leader of the Innovation and Advanced Robotics team, he has been instrumental in advancing industrial technologies such as mobile robotics for indoor and outdoor applications, vision systems for quality inspection and robot guidance, IoT digital solutions, and complex vision systems.
Throughout his tenure at Comau, Giovanni has significantly contributed to robotics development, securing patents, managing National Operational Plan funds, establishing a Software House, and creating a Public-Private Laboratory with Politecnico di Bari dedicated to digital technologies, vision systems, and artificial intelligence. His expertise extends to managing Intellectual Property and European projects, with a strong emphasis on sustainable technologies, including humanoids, cognitive robotics, and reconfigurable manufacturing systems. Notably, his patented mobile robotics solution for photovoltaic plant installation earned the Innovation Award at the WCPEC.
Recognized for his impact in the field, Giovanni has been selected as one of Fortune’s Forty under Forty.
Conference Activities
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Technical Tracks
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Full Conference Program
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