Organized jointly by the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Informatics, the English-language event placed the spotlight on cutting-edge AI applications. The plenary speaker was the world-renowned Russian-born mathematician Professor Yurii Nesterov.
According to Professor Zoltán Szilvássy, Rector of the University of Debrecen, artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly interwoven with the university’s educational and research activities.
Professor Szilvássy highlighted that conferences of this nature are essential, as they provide a comprehensive overview of this rapidly evolving discipline while immediately placing discussions within an international context.
“Artificial intelligence is the science and technology of the future. Its influence is decisive not only in economic development but also across the social sciences, industrial design, and corporate operations. Thanks to ongoing research, the University of Debrecen could soon become a key development hub in this field,” he noted.
Professor András Hajdu, Dean of the Faculty of Informatics, emphasized that artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in the faculty’s everyday operations — from education and research to administrative management. Together with students, the faculty has developed an AI-based educational platform.
“Artificial intelligence must always be applied ethically and with sound judgment. It is crucial to ensure that it does not mislead, but rather helps us provide accurate and reliable information,” he underlined.
The dean also pointed out that the latest generations of AI systems are so complex that their proper understanding requires engagement with international experts. To this end, the Faculty of Informatics has established collaborations with leading global technology companies, supporting research, development, and education alike.
Professor Géza Husi, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, stated that increasing emphasis is being placed on understanding, researching, and teaching artificial intelligence.
“Our focus lies on the industrial applications of AI — such as evaluating large-scale sensor data, designing customized component manufacturing processes, or optimizing production line cycle times,” he explained.
According to Professor Husi, AI enables computations that once required substantial time and resources, while also making it possible to validate results that, only a few years ago, could not be verified. He expressed hope that the international participants of the conference would contribute valuable insights for further development.
One of the most anticipated presentations of the 1st IEEE Conference on Crisp and Soft Computing in AI, Modelling, and Control was delivered by Professor Yurii Nesterov, a world-leading expert in artificial intelligence and optimization. He spoke about the philosophical and optimization aspects of AI, as well as its role in education, research, and the new opportunities it opens up in industry.
According to Professor Péter Korondi from the Faculty of Engineering, Nesterov’s doctoral degree was recognized at the University of Debrecen in 2023, and his research has since become well known among the university’s experts.
Professor Nesterov is the recipient of numerous prestigious international awards, including the Dantzig Prize, the von Neumann Theory Prize, the EURO Gold Medal, and the INFORMS Lanchester Prize. He was followed by Professor Xuehai Gao from Shanghai Dianji University, who presented an intelligent design system for large-scale bearings.
The thematic sessions of the conference explored topics such as the evolution of AI and digital transformation, the role of artificial intelligence in mechanical engineering design and manufacturing, data-driven polytopic modeling and control theory, vehicle mechatronic applications, and traction battery modeling.