Biographical note

 Alfred Zimmermann is a Professor at Reutlingen University, Germany. He is Director of Research and Speaker of the Doctoral Program for Services Computing at the Herman Hollerith Center, Boeblingen, Germany. His research is focused on digital transformation and digital enterprise architecture with decision analytics in close relationship with digital strategy and governance, software architecture and engineering, artificial intelligence, data analytics, Internet of Things, services computing, and cloud computing. He graduated in Medical Informatics at the University of Heidelberg, Germany and obtained his Ph.D. in Informatics from the University of Stuttgart, Germany. Besides his academic experience he has a strong practical background as a technology manager and leading consultant at Daimler AG, Germany. Professor Zimmermann keeps academic relations of his home university to the German Computer Science Society (GI), the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the IEEE,where he is part of specific research groups, programs, and initiatives. He serves in different editorial boards and program committees, and publishes results from his research at conferences, workshops, as well as in books and journals. Additionally, he supports industrial cooperation research projects and public research programs. Robert Howlett is the Executive Chair of KES International, a non-profit organization that facilitates knowledge transfer and the dissemination of research results in areas including Intelligent Systems, Sustainability, and Knowledge Transfer. He is a Visiting Professor at Bournemouth University in the UK. His technical expertise is in the use of intelligent systems to solve industrial problems. He has been successful in applying artificial intelligence, machine learning and related technologies to sustainability and renewable energy systems; condition monitoring, diagnostic tools and systems; and automotive electronics and engine management systems. His current research work is focussed on the use of smart microgrids to achieve reduced energy costs and lower carbon emissions in areas such as housing and protected horticulture. Dr. Lakhmi C. Jain, PhD, ME, BE(Hons), Fellow (Engineers Australia) is with the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, and Liverpool Hope University, UK. Professor Jain serves the KES International for providing a professional community the opportunities for publications, knowledge exchange, cooperation and teaming. Involving around 5,000 researchers drawn from universities and companies world-wide, KES facilitates international cooperation and generate synergy in teaching and research. KES regularly provides networking opportunities for professional community through one of the largest conferences of its kind in the area of KES.