NCC Montenegro team wishes you Happy Holidays and all the best in New 2024 Year!
Happy Holldays and New 2024 Year!
Hackaton on the use of Computer vision in Montenegrin S3
During the 3 months of intensive work, NCC Montenegro team members were involved in organising 70 classes for more then 50 participants. Lectures were held twice a week, starting in October this year. The training started with Python programming module which focused on mastering all programming skills needed for further work and engagement with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Then we explored AI concepts, mathematical models, computer vision tasks, and provided hands-on examples of using Convolutional Neural Networks, Yolo architectures (YoloV7 and YoloV8), and the Detectron2 package for various computer vision applications. Throughout these modules, participants not only gained exposure to various tools, Python packages and libraries for facilitating AI model development but also had the chance to learn the integration of AI solutions into modern systems and applications with Flask and other web bases technologies. The attendees were informed on NCC Montenegro activities and introduced to capabilites of HPC and its application for AI development that requires lots of computing resources.
After all classes we organised Hackathon day. The Hackathon gathered 20 teams to work on HPC/AI and Computer Vision projects in agriculture, medicine and tourism. Before the Hackathon Day, after which the best ideas were showcased and awarded, there were two weeks of intense mentor-guided sessions. These sessions helped teams with their projects and in figuring out high-performance computing needs for handling large datasets , execute experiments, and testing advanced AI models. This hackaton was implemented in cross-collaboration with the AI4S3 project funded by the Innnovation Fund of Montenegro.
Workshop “Digital Transformation and HPC/AI” for BSc students
On 8 Dec 2023, a workshop on “Digital Transformation and HPC/AI” unfolded at the University of Donja Gorica. Over the course of this semester, final-year BSc students from the Faculty for Information Systems and Technologies delved into research on HPC and AI technologies within the framework of the Managing Information Technology subject. The EUROCC NCC Montenegro team conducted enlightening lectures and presentations on HPC and AI, providing students with a comprehensive grasp of these technologies and illustrating their pivotal roles in digital transformation.
During the workshop, students had the opportunity to showcase the projects they worked on throughout the semester, projects that will be defended during their final exam in Managing Information Technology course. The presented use cases spanned across various fields such as tourism, medicine, agriculture, and digital marketing. This event not only allowed students to share their findings but also fostered a deeper understanding of the practical applications of HPC and AI in real-world scenarios. Our focus was on the possible applications of interest for Montenegro and in the priority domains of Smart Specialisation Strategy for Montenegro (2014-2019).
Progress on AI4S3 project
In the previous period, as part of the AI4S3 project, which is supported by Innovation fund of Montenegro, numerous lectures on the application of artificial intelligence in S3 areas were organized at the UDG:
- Python programming: Our participants went through a thorough training in Python, starting with the basics of the programming language, all the way to advanced topics. Through homework, our participants demonstrated a high understanding and application of Python in various scenarios. This was the first step towards strengthening their programming expertise.
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI): this module was a journey through the world of artificial intelligence. We started with the historical development of the technology, exploring how machine learning and deep learning algorithms have evolved over time. In the pyTorch and TensorFlow suite, we developed some basic deep learning models. We focused especially on neural networks, explaining their mathematical and technical foundations. Participants gained a thorough understanding of the technologies that shape our world.
- AI in S3 priority areas: this segment was extremely important because the basic idea of this training is precisely the application of new technologies. Innovative projects developed by our lecturers, specifically focused on the application of AI in S3 areas, were presented. This gave participants an insight into the practical application of AI in the real world. Also, we dealt with ethical issues and challenges in the development of AI models, encouraging participants to think critically about the impact of technology on society.
With over 50 participants from various academic and industrial circles, our training has become a meeting place for different perspectives and innovations. By the end of this training, two more modules are planned, namely The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Computer Vision and Tools and Libraries for AI Model Development. At the very end, training participants will present their projects, which they will develop in teams in cooperation with mentors. This training is a continuation of previous NCC Montenegro and Open Mind Academy efforts.
NCC Montenegro at HPC Industry Summit in Berlin, Germany
Representatives of HPC NCC Montenegro, University of Donja Gorica participated at HPC Industry Summit, which took place at GLS Campus Berlin, Germany from 18-19 October 2023 organized by EuroCC and FF4EuroHPC projects.
In today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, the adoption of High-Performance Computing (HPC) has become paramount for staying ahead of the competition. HPC Industry Summit provided a unique platform for attendees to explore the industrial uptake of HPC and to discover a wealth of use cases and success stories from SMEs in various sectors, demonstrating how HPC has catalyzed breakthrough innovations, streamlined processes, and maximized productivity.
During the event and first day, NCC Montenegro representative, Ms. Bojana Malisic participated as a panellist in the session ‘𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗣𝗖 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆’ and shared the status of the MNE HPC user base and how we can engage more efficiently with industrial users to increase the use of HPC in business processes in Montenegro and Europe. During the discussion, we addressed the challenges and the strategy to collaborate with academic and industrial users successfully.
Attendees had opportunity to dive into the world of cutting-edge infrastructures and services specifically tailored to assist businesses in harnessing the full potential of HPC and to gain actionable insights, network with industry leaders, and uncover the transformative power of HPC in transforming your organization’s success.
The live stream were available via the FF4EuroHPC YouTube channel at the folowing link.
Successful twinning: Quantum computing lecture Successful Twinning:
On the 20th of October 2023, Dr. Jaka Vodeb gave a lecture on the topic of quantum computing to the students of the University of Donja Gorica (UDG) and NCC Montenegro academic and industry partners.
During the lecture, Dr. Vodeb addressed several key aspects of quantum computing, including its historical development, early stages, and the motivating factors behind its advancement. Additionally, he provided insights into the current state of quantum hardware and various quantum algorithms. At the end, he presented success stories where quantum computing demonstrated superior performance compared to conventional computing methods. Quantum computing lecture was organized as a fruitful collaboration between NCC Germany and NCC Montenegro. There was around 70 attendees at the lecture.
Implementation of AI4S3 training
At the University of Donja Gorica, the Faculty of Information Systems and Technologies has commenced the implementation of the project “Application of Computer Vision and Deep Learning in Agriculture and Food Production, Medicine, and Energy (AI4S3).” The project is funded within the program to promote the development of an innovation culture and organize education in the fields of smart specialization in Montenegro by the Innovation Fund (https://fondzainovacije.me/).
On September 28th, as part of the 9th Festival of Science and Innovation, we had the opportunity to present our plans for the project’s implementation. The key idea of the project is to bring the application of artificial intelligence closer to the S3 sectors, which represent one of the key strategies for digitization in agriculture and supply chain, medicine, tourism, and energy sectors.
As previously announced, on September 30th, we organized an entrance test and questionnaire for all applicants. More than 65 candidates took the entrance test and questionnaire, and after analyzing the results, we selected more than 40 of them who will undergo training over the next 2 months.
Additionally, on October 7th, we began conducting lectures, starting with Python programming language, which forms the foundation for further training and the development of artificial intelligence models through upcoming modules. This training is a continuation of previous NCC Montenegro and Open Mind Academy efforts.
Congratulations to everyone, and we look forward to collaborating with all our participants.