Industry Consortium for AI Research Workshop
University-industry partnerships are crucial for advancing AI research that not only drives economic growth but also promotes ethical considerations, social responsibility, inclusivity in technology development, and effective educational training for the next generation.
RIT is hosting a two-day workshop to build an innovation ecosystem through a university-industry consortium, advancing responsible AI research to tackle complex business and societal challenges. This interactive event will feature distinguished keynote speakers and informative sessions focused on advancing the crucial partnership between academic research and industrial innovation. Industry leaders and RIT faculty will collaboratively lead specialized tracks examining AI applications across key business sectors.
Program Highlights
- Distinguished keynote presentations from academic and industry pioneers will set the foundation for meaningful dialogue on AI's evolving landscape.
- An expert panel will examine strategies for developing a resilient AI innovation ecosystem, addressing both challenges and opportunities in the field.
- Specialized multidisciplinary technical sessions, jointly led by RIT faculty and industry experts, will explore AI applications in critical domains:
- Service Industry Innovation
- Smart Manufacturing Solutions
- Cybersecurity Advancement
- Ethical AI Development: Addressing Explainability, Bias, and Societal Impact
The workshop will culminate in discussions to establish an RIT-industry consortium dedicated to advancing AI research and education, creating lasting collaborative relationships that will drive future innovation.
This gathering represents a significant opportunity to strengthen the vital bridge between academic research and industrial application, fostering partnerships that will shape the future of AI innovation.
Date
Thursday, April 3rd and Friday, April 4th, 2025
Location
Susan R. Holliday Center, Lowenthal Hall 4050, at Saunders College of Business on RIT's campus
Registration
This event is currently invitation-only. For industry partner registration, please contact Lauren Shields for information. For RIT faculty and administrators please register via the Registration From.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Pramod Khargonekar
Dr. Pramod Khargonekar is the Vice Chancellor for Research and Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine.
He received his B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from IIT Bombay and his M.S. in Mathematics and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida. Pramod has held faculty positions at the University of Florida, University of Minnesota, University of Michigan, and UC Irvine. He has served as Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Florida and as Assistant Director for the Directorate of Engineering at the NSF.
Pramod's research focuses on systems and control theory, machine learning, and applications to smart electric grids and neural engineering. He has authored over 160 journal publications and 200 conference papers, and supervised 38 doctoral students. He is recognized as a Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher.
He has received numerous awards, including the IEEE Control Systems Award, NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award, and the IEEE W. R. G. Baker Prize Award. Pramod is a Fellow of IEEE, IFAC, and AAAS. He serves on several advisory boards and committees, including the Governance Board of CESMII and the Advisory Board of NSF Engineering Research Visioning Alliance.
Peter Pianoto
Peter Pianoto has been a dedicated member of Micron since 1998, bringing with him an impressive 26 years of experience in semiconductor manufacturing and operations. Throughout his tenure, he has excelled in a variety of technical and managerial roles, focusing on equipment, quality, cost management, and operations strategy. Currently, Peter serves as the Director of Strategic Program Management at Micron's New York facility. Peter's academic background is equally distinguished. He holds a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree in Engineering from North Carolina State University. He will discuss “AI powered by Micron.”
Dr. Mallik Tatipamula
Dr. Mallik Tatipamula is a visionary leader in telecommunications with over 34 years of experience. As CTO of Ericsson Silicon Valley, he spearheads research and innovation in 5G and 6G, collaborating with industry, academia, and government.
Mallik has held leadership roles at Cisco, Juniper Networks, Motorola, F5 Networks, and Nortel. He has made pioneering contributions to mobile internet technologies and software-centric 5G innovations like network slicing.
A strong advocate for industry-academia partnerships, Mallik has delivered over 100 lectures at top universities, mentored more than 100 students, and serves on advisory boards for leading institutions and startups.
He has received numerous awards, including the "CTO of the Year" from World Communications Awards and Silicon Valley Business Journal, and the IEEE Communications Society Distinguished Industry Leader Award. He is an elected fellow of four prestigious national academies and has received honorary doctorates from Concordia University, Carleton University, and Middlesex University.
With a Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo and degrees from IIT Madras and NIT Warangal, Mallik continues to inspire innovation across the global telecom ecosystem. He has coauthored over 100 publications and patents, and two books in telecommunications and networking.
