Our Research Groups

SnT’s research groups are led by internationally renowned experts from across the ICT landscape. Each group has a specialty, with the common thread of security, reliability, and trust connecting their work. Here they are able to execute research with impact.

Signal Processing and Communications (SIGCOM)

Prof. Björn Ottersten, SnT Director & Prof. Symeon Chatzinotas

Ever-evolving wireless communications and sensing require increasingly efficient systems to transmit, analyse and receive high-quality data. SIGCOM conducts research aimed at designing, emulating and testing new, high-performance systems for the future of mobile and satellite communications, and radar signal processing. Fields of applications range from 5G/6G telecommunications to satellite-based internet connectivity, and radar sensing in automotive and indoor applications.

Security, Reasoning and Validation (SerVal)

Prof. Yves Le Traon, SnT Vice-Director

SerVal conducts research in security and reliability in software engineering, with a particular focus on AI, data science and decision-making, as well as designing, testing, and debugging. The group’s goal is to improve software quality across a variety of domains, including FinTech, Energy and Industry 4.0.

Computer, Vision, Imaging & Machine Intelligence (CVI2)

Prof. Djamila Aouada

CVI2 conducts research in real-world applications of computer vision, image analysis, and machine intelligence, with extensive development of AI approaches. Typical fields of application are space, Industry 4.0, surveillance, cybersecurity, healthcare, and automotive. The expertise of CVI2 spans all stages of computer vision, including acquisition, processing, analysis, and decision.

CryptoLux

Prof. Alex Biryukov

Essential security protocols for communications, such as those used in email, cloud computing and IoT devices, are based on cryptographic algorithms. CryptoLuX analyses these algorithms and designs new, more efficient ones to establish the secure standards of the future. The group also investigates security, privacy, and scalability aspects of blockchain-based technologies for FinTech.

Software Verification and Validation (SVV)

Prof. Lionel Briand

Ensuring the security, safety, and reliability of software systems is crucial to our lives. SVV conducts research in automated testing, as well as requirement engineering, design-time and runtime verification, security analysis and testing, and regulatory compliance to create reliable, scalable solutions to real-world challenges. Current fields of application include space, FinTech, legal, automotive, and e-government.

Trustworthy Software Engineering (TruX)

Prof. Jacques Klein

Software development is a complex engineering effort that requires novel techniques to ensure security, reliability, and quality. TruX conducts research in software security, software repair and explainable software, to create key practical solutions for developers, allowing them to achieve trustworthiness, efficiency, and transparency. Application areas include FinTech, embedded systems (e.g. mobile), business or entertainment systems, cybersecurity, and more.

Remote Sending Applications (RSA)

Prof. Tonie van Dam

Observations from space play a fundamental role in driving discoveries about our planet. RSA conducts advanced research in remote sensing, miniaturised satellites, space systems and space mission design to model, analyse and interpret data on phenomena such as geodynamic processes, global warming and the water cycle, and changes in the ice mass of the Earth.

Sociotechnical Cybersecurity (IRiSC)

Prof. Gabriele Lenzini

Systems that hide design flaws, puzzle users, or fail to implement security requirements, remain exposed to misuse and cyberattacks. Reliable, secure, and trustworthy systems have no bugs or design flaws, are easy to use and comply with standards. IRiSC recognises this complexity and integrates methods from social sciences and legal compliance into computer science to conduct research on sociotechnical cybersecurity.

Critical and Extreme Security and Dependability (CritiX)

Prof. Marcus Völp

Critical information infrastructures and cyber-physical systems protect our most sensitive assets, such as healthcare and financial data, satellites and the energy grid. CritiX conducts research in creating robust and resilient systems, enabling them to withstand attacks and accidental faults, while being able to survive and operate without disruptions occurring as a result.

Digital Financial Services and CrossOrganisation Digital Transformations (FINATRAX)

Prof. Gilbert Fridgen

FINATRAX conducts research on the application and impact of digital technologies like blockchain, digital identities, artificial intelligence, and 5G, on organisations in the private or public sector. By doing so, it builds bridges between business research and information systems engineering.

Space Robotics (SpaceR)

Prof. Miguel Angel Olivares Mendez

The new space age relies on advanced technology for its breakthroughs – with robotics at its very core. SpaceR conducts research in autonomous planetary and orbital robotics for space exploration, "in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU)" and orbital servicing. In addition, the group also focuses on aerial and ground robotics and multi-robot cooperation.

Services and Data Management (SEDAN)

Prof. Radu State

Businesses and citizens alike need trusted and efficient solutions to transmit, secure, store and analyse ever-increasing volumes of data. SEDAN conducts research in data analytics and machine learning in FinTech, security for blockchain applications and decentralised finance (DeFi). The group also directs projects on the security aspects of networking, vehicular networks and cloud-based infrastructures.

Parallel Computing & Optimisation Group (PCOG)

Prof. Pascal Bouvry

Solving today’s scientific and realworld problems not only requires high performance computing (HPC), but also new generations of artificial intelligence algorithms. PCOG conducts research in parallel computing, as well as search and optimisation techniques, to provide efficient, scalable and robust solutions to state-of-the-art, large-scale discrete/ combinatorial problems.

Applied Security and Information Assurance (APSIA)

Prof. Peter Y.A. Ryan

APSIA’s mission is to develop and evaluate techniques to mitigate the multitude of cyber threats, and make the digital world more secure and trustworthy for its citizens. This covers design and verification of cryptographic protocols, privacy-enhancing technologies, secure voting and digital democracy, as well as encompassing quantum and postquantum cryptography to future-proof security.

Automation and robotics (ARG)

Prof. Holger Voos

Many complex technical systems need to execute their tasks efficiently with an increasing degree of autonomy, requiring flexible and intelligent automation. ARG conducts research to enable mobile and industrial robots, autonomous vehicles, as well as space and energy systems, to better perceive the world around them and to interact with it in an optimal and intelligent way.