Monday March 23, 2026, 2:00pm - 5:30pm (Coffee break 3:30pm - 4:00pm) (Tentative)
For questions or inquiries about the ACM SAC 2026 tutorials, please contact the Tutorials Chair(s):
Petros Nicopolitidis
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki, Greece
petros@csd.auth.gr
Presenter:
Sanjay Misra
- Institute for Energy Technology (IFE)
Petter Klavik
- Institute for Energy Technology (IFE)
Abstract:
Digital technologies now underpin nearly every facet of modern life, from software platforms and cloud services to smart infrastructure, healthcare systems, and public services. As these systems become increasingly interconnected and data-driven, they raise urgent questions about control, accountability, and trust: Who governs the digital foundations of our societies?
That question lies at the heart of digital sovereignty: the ability of nations, regions, and organisations to govern their own digital futures. The urgency of this issue is evident in the EU AI Act, India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and a wave of regulations shaping AI adoption. For software engineers and CS researchers, digital sovereignty is not just a policy discussion, it is an engineering problem.
Bios:
Sanjay Misra is a Senior Scientist at the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), Halden, Norway. He holds a Ph.D. in Information and Knowledge Engineering (University of Alcala, Spain) and an M.Tech. in Software Engineering (MLN NIT, India). His research spans Applied Informatics, Digital Sovereignty, Sustainability, and AI-based Intelligent Systems. Recognized among the top 2% of scientists globally by Stanford University forsix consecutive years, he ranked 6th in Norway across disciplines in 2024. A recipient of the 2014 IET Software Premium Award, he was a Senior IEEE Member and ACM Distinguished Lecturer (2021–2024). Dr. Misra has chaired major conferences, edited top journals including Nature: Scientific Reports, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Human Capital & IT Professionals. With 100+ books and proceedings, and over 100 keynotes in 60+ countries, he is a leading global voice in informatics, Digital Sovereignty, and AI.
Petter Kvalvik is Head of the Digital Sovereign ty cluster and department head and a Senior Scientist at the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE). He holds a Master's degree in Applied Computer Science, a Master of Management in Strategy and Project Portfolio Management, a Master's degree in Safety and Security Critical Systems, and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Petter leads the new research area on Digital Sovereignty, which includes, among other things, federated and autonomous systems, data spaces and data products, data governance, decentralised identities, digital trust, and interoperability. He is responsible for following up on the European data strategy, the European technology stack, the Big Data Value Association, and the annual International Conference on Digital Sovereignty. He also heads the My Digital City programme and the Norwegian FIWARE iHub for Iot. Both initiatives play a vital role in piloting a Norwegian data space for smart communities, involving project participants such as Halden Municipality, Østfold University College, and Smart Innovation Norway.
Presenter:
Madhusanka Liyanage
- University College Dublin
Engin Zeydan
- CTTC
Abdullah Aydeger
- Florida Institute of Technology
Abstract:
Open RAN (O-RAN) introduces standardized interfaces to enable interoperability among
multi-vendor Radio Access Network components, offering flexibility, scalability, and
reduced deployment costs. By combining softwarization and AI, O-RAN promises innovation
in automation and service delivery. However, this openness also expands the attack surface,
raising pressing security and privacy challenges, particularly in multi-vendor ecosystems
and AI-enabled orchestration.
This tutorial provides a comprehensive analysis of O-RAN security and privacy foundations,
their associated risks, and potential solutions, with a forward-looking focus on the postquantum
era. We will examine threat models, security standardization activities, and
emerging practices such as zero-trust and post-quantum cryptography for O-RAN.
Demonstrations on testbeds will highlight practical implementations.
Bios:
Dr. Madhusanka Liyanage is an Associate Professor, School of Computer Science, University
College Dublin, Ireland. Director of NetsLab, with >250 publications, multiple best paper
awards, and leadership in EU Horizon projects. Expertise in 5G/6G security, blockchain, and
network softwarization.
Dr. Engin Zeydan is a Senior Researcher at CTTC, Spain. Coordinator of Horizon Europe
UNITY-6G project, ex-coordinator of MonB5G. Over 150+ papers, 12 patents, and extensive
experience in EU-funded 5G/6G projects. Research focus: network security, AI-driven
orchestration, and data engineering.
Dr. Abdullah Aydeger is a Assistant Professor, Florida Institute of Technology, USA. PhD from FIU. Expertise in post-quantum cryptography, network security, and virtualization.
Experience with O-RAN and PQC integration in secure network architectures.
Presenter:
Mike Mannion
- Department of Computing, Glasgow Caledonian University
Hermann Kaindl
- Institute of Computer Technology, TU Wien
Abstract:
Software-intensive product lines are a sophisticated software reuse approach often deployed in
mature product markets. However, as a product line grows in scale and scope it can be difficult to
assess the similarity between proposed and existing products. Regular product comparisons are
important for supporting effective product line management, strategic product positioning, and
evaluations against current legislative and regulatory policies, yet few methods are available. In this
tutorial, we will show a product comparison method that can be easily automated and discuss the
benefits and limitations of this method using a mobile phone example.
A software product line comprises products that share sets of features. Some features are shared
across all products; some are shared across many but not all products; some are unique to a single
product. In product line engineering, a feature model is developed to show feature relationships
arranged as a directed acyclic graph. New products are configured from the feature model by
traversing the graph and making feature selections. The set of selections can be represented as a
weighted binary string where a 1 represents a selected feature, a 0 represents an unselected
feature, and each weight represents a feature’s relative importance. Weights can be calculated
using existing graph centrality metrics. Products can then be compared using feature similarity
matching with existing weighted binary string similarity metrics.
Bios:
Mike Mannion is Emeritus Professor of Software Engineering. He is a
Chartered Engineer, a member of ACM and IEEE, and a Fellow of the British Computer Society. He
has published 80+papers and delivered 40+ tutorials.
Hermann Kaindl joined the Institute of Computer Technology at TU
Wien in Vienna, Austria, in early 2003 as a full professor, where he served in this position until
September 2022. After his retirement, Hermann Kaindl is still working on (funded) research projects.
Before moving to academia, he was a senior consultant with the division of program and systems
engineering at Siemens Austria. He has published seven books and more than 260 papers in refereed
journals, books and conference proceedings. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and a Distinguished
Scientist Member of the ACM. He has delivered 70+ tutorials.
Presenter:
Sanjay Madria
- Department of Computer Science, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Abstract:
Effective and efficient communication during disasters or crises is essential, as it helps
ensure a fast and organized response, reduces injuries and deaths, and uses resources wisely.
When emergency responders, government agencies, and aid organizations have precise, timely,
and accurate information, they can understand how serious the situation is, focus on the most
affected areas, and provide help quickly. Communication channels allow for real-time updates,
which help authorities coordinate rescue efforts, manage evacuations, and address urgent
medical needs. Additionally, strong communication prevents misinformation, which can cause
panic, misallocate resources, and slow down response times. Using social networks, machine
learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology can improve how information is shared,
ensuring that essential and accurate information reaches both decision-makers and those in need
as quickly as possible. Effective communication strategies, by enhancing awareness and
coordination, significantly empower us in how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from
disasters. Today, social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok and
others serve as crucial tools for disaster management. They enable affected individuals to share
live updates, photos, videos, and requests for help, making social media a valuable source of
real-time information during emergencies. ML emerges as a powerful tool in disaster response. It
aids in the analysis and understanding of large volumes of data from social media, facilitating
quicker decisions and more effective disaster management.
Bios:
Sanjay Madria is a Curators’ Distinguished
Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the Missouri University of Science and
Technology (formerly, University of Missouri-Rolla, USA). He has published over 300 Journal
and conference papers in the areas of mobile and sensor computing, big data and cloud
computing, data analytics and cybersecurity. He won five IEEE best papers awards in
conferences such as IEEE MDM and IEEE SRDS. He is a co-author of a book (published with
his two PhD graduates) on Secure Sensor Cloud published by Morgan and Claypool in Dec.
2018. He has graduated 22 PhDs and 34 MS thesis students, with 12 current PhDs. NSF, NIST,
ARL, ARO, AFRL, DOE, Boeing, CDC NIOSH, ORNL, Honeywell, and others have funded his
research projects of over $25M. He has been awarded JSPS (Japanese Society for Promotion of
Science) invitational visiting scientist fellowship, and ASEE (American Society of Engineering
Education) fellowship. In 2012 and in 2019, he was awarded NRC Fellowship by National
Academies, US. He is ACM Distinguished Scientist and served as an ACM and IEEE
Distinguished Speaker He is an IEEE Senior Member and IEEE Golden Core Awardee.