Foreword of the Project Coordinator
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Dear colleagues, partners, and friends,
As we approach the conclusion of the FrontSeat project, it is with great pride that I look back on the last six months—months that have been rich in new scientific results, collaborations, and community engagement.
The 25th International Conference on Process Control (PC25) in Štrbské Pleso and the 14th IFAC Symposium on Dynamics and Control of Process Systems, including Biosystems (DYCOPS 2025) in Bratislava were both organized by our team. These conferences gathered leading experts, researchers, and industry representatives from around the world, offering a platform to present new research ideas, foster collaboration, and showcase Slovak excellence in automation and control engineering.
The successful organization of these events required tremendous effort, and I am deeply grateful to all colleagues and partners whose commitment and professionalism made them milestones not only for our project but also for the broader scientific community.
Alongside these highlights, our consortium continued to demonstrate strong international visibility. We contributed actively to key conferences such as ECC 2025 in Thessaloniki, ESCAPE 35 in Ghent, and ACC 2025 in Denver.
Equally important were our initiatives in knowledge sharing and education. The summer school at Ruhr University Bochum offered a unique opportunity for young researchers to bridge theory and practice in optimization-based embedded control, while our Research Seminar on Smart Cybernetics continued to serve as a forum for scientific exchange. We also opened our doors to the wider public during CHEMSHOW 2025. These events, along with collaborative dialogues like the visit from the RUB WORLDFACTORY Start-up Centre, have been vital for sharing knowledge and inspiring future innovators.
I would also like to stress the importance of the visits and scientific exchanges that brought fresh perspectives and deepened our collaborations. Colleagues from Pisa, Ilmenau, Shanghai, and other partner institutions joined us in Bratislava, while our researchers enriched their knowledge and networks abroad. These exchanges strengthened not only our scientific work but also the spirit of partnership that has been at the heart of this project.
Looking back, these achievements confirm that FrontSeat has fulfilled its mission: fostering opportunities towards Slovak excellence in automatic control for smart industries. Looking ahead, I am confident that the networks, methods, and tools developed within the project will continue to have an impact long beyond its official end.
While this chapter is closing, the legacy of FrontSeat will endure through the strong partnerships we've built and the knowledge we've shared. I extend my sincerest gratitude to every researcher, student, and administrative staff member across our partner institutions. Your hard work and enthusiasm have been the driving force behind our success. It has been a privilege to lead this endeavor.
Thank you for being part of our journey.
Sincerely,
Miroslav Fikar
Project Coordinator, FrontSeat
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CONSORTIUM MEETINGS AND PROJECT EVENTS
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Final FrontSeat Consortium Meeting at STUBA
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On September 25 and 26, 2025, the FrontSeat Horizon Europe project organized its latest Consortium Meeting at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU). This two-day meeting offered a comprehensive and inspiring program that brought real value to everyone involved. The agenda combined project updates, interactive discussions, and in-depth scientific sessions with a welcoming social programme that strengthened connections across the consortium.
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WORLDFACTORY Start-up Centre of Ruhr University Bochum Visits CEPSIT STU
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In April 2025, the WORLDFACTORY Start-up Centre (WSC) of Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) visited the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU) to meet with the representatives from the Centre of European Projects, Centre of Technology Transfer, and University Technology Incubator (CEPSIT). WSC representatives Michelle Twardzik and Vanessa Vaughn engaged in this best-practice dialogue to advance university-driven innovation and entrepreneurship.
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Summer School at RUB on Optimization-Based Embedded Control Systems
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From September 1–9, RUB hosted the summer school “Optimization-Based Embedded Control Systems” within the EU Horizon project FrontSeat. Over five days, participants explored how modern optimization and model predictive control (MPC) can be transferred from theory to real-world implementation on embedded platforms such as microcontrollers and industrial PCs.
The program combined lectures on core principles of control and optimization with hands-on exercises on embedded hardware. Designed for participants with basic control knowledge, the school provided an accessible entry point into the growing field at the intersection of control, optimization, and real-time computing.
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FrontSeat at the 14th IFAC Symposium on Dynamics and Control of Process Systems, including Biosystems (DYCOPS 2025)
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The prestigeous 14th IFAC Symposium on Dynamics and Control of Process Systems, including Biosystems (DYCOPS 2025) was co-organized by the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava and took place on June 16–19, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel in the historical center of Bratislava, Slovakia.
The symposium brought together experts in process dynamics and control systems to explore recent theoretical advances and practical applications across various industries, including biosystems.
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IEEE International Conference on Process Control 2025
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The 25th International Conference on Process Control (PC25) was jointly organized by STUBA and the Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Department of Control Engineering. The conference took place on June 3–6, 2025, in Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia.
Among the scientific highlights was the invited session “Recent Advances in Model Predictive Control” (June 4), organized by FrontSeat partners and featuring leading researchers presenting the latest developments in MPC. In addition, consortium members contributed across multiple technical sessions, reflecting the thematic and methodological diversity of ongoing research.
Together with the International Program Committee, the organizers recognized outstanding work in four categories: Best Paper Award, Best Paper by a Female Researcher Award, Best Paper by a Young Author Award, and Best Poster Award (see dedicated Awards page for details).
Beyond the technical program, the conference fostered networking and community building, with highlights including a banquet featuring traditional Slovak cuisine and a range of social activities that reinforced the collaborative spirit of the Process Control community.
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FrontSeat Project Celebrates Excellence in Research and Gender Equality
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The FrontSeat project proudly supported the Best Paper by a Female Researcher Award granted at the IEEE International Conference on Process Control 2025, reaffirming our ongoing commitment to fostering gender equality and promoting excellence in scientific research.
The award was presented to Ana Martinović from the University of Zagreb, Croatia, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the field. The award was presented by Prof. Miroslav Fikar (STUBA), the principal coordinator of the FrontSeat project.
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FrontSeat at the American Control Conference (ACC) 2025
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The American Control Conference (ACC 2025) was held on July 8–10 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, with pre-conference workshops on July 7. Organized annually by the American Automatic Control Council (AACC), ACC is a flagship event in automatic control and the U.S. member conference of the International Federation for Automatic Control (IFAC).
The FrontSeat project was represented at ACC 2025 by two contributions from our colleagues.
Juraj Holaza (Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava) presented “Introducing Implicit Tube Model Predictive Control to MPT+: Efficient Design for Large-Scale Systems” (co-authors: E. Pavlovičová, J. Holaza, L. Galčíková, J. Oravec), introducing new features in the MPT+ toolbox for scalable implicit tube-based MPC design.
Martin Klaučo (Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava & Czech Technical University in Prague) presented “Nearly-optimal Explicit NMPC Control Law Generated by Reinforcement Machine Learning” (co-authors: P. Valábel, K. Kiš, M. Kalúz, M. Klaučo), demonstrating a novel combination of reinforcement learning and nonlinear MPC for efficient explicit control law generation.
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FrontSeat at the International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering (SSCHE)
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The 51st International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering (SSCHE) 2025 took place in Jasná, Demänovská dolina, Slovakia on May 27-30, 2025. Rastislav Fáber, Adam Fedor, Jakub Gaborčík, and Dr. Radoslav Paulen participated in the conference, representing FrontSeat.
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FrontSeat at the 35th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering (ESCAPE 35)
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Our colleagues attended the 35th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering (ESCAPE 35), held July 6–9, 2025, at KU Leuven’s Technology Campus Ghent, Belgium. FrontSeat was represented by Ing. Rastislav Fáber, Ing. Jozef Vargan, Assoc. Prof. Ing. Radoslav Paulen, PhD, Prof. Ing. Miroslav Fikar, DrSc., and Dr. Mehmet Arici.
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FrontSeat at the 23rd European Control Conference (ECC 2025)
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At the 23rd European Control Conference (ECC 2025) in Thessaloniki (June 24–27), FrontSeat was represented by Marek Wadinger and Radoslav Paulen. Marek Wadinger presented the paper “Carbon Neutral Greenhouse: Economic Model Predictive Control Framework for Education” (M. Wadinger, R. Fáber, E. Pavlovičová, R. Paulen) in the Control Education and Emerging Applications session, where he also served as co-chair.
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VISITS AND RESEARCH COOPERATION
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RESEARCH SEMINAR ON SMART CYBERNETICS
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The Research Seminar on Smart Cybernetics is held as a discussion seminar among the students and researchers from the research groups of the FrontSeat project partners, their networks, and the general public.
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The following are some of the presenters and the seminars they held since April 2024:
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Our Open Doors events give visitors the chance to connect with our faculty, researchers, and students, offering insight into STUBA's commitment to excellence and inspiring future scientists and engineers.
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Intelligent Process Control at the European Researchers’ Night 2025
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On September 26, 2025, the team from the Institute of Information Engineering, Automation, and Mathematics (UIAM), Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), participated in the European Researchers’ Night at the Old Market Hall in Bratislava. The nationwide event once again attracted thousands of visitors eager to learn about the latest advances in science, technology, and innovation.
At the UIAM booth, researchers demonstrated how artificial intelligence and modern control technologies can enhance process automation and decision-making. The exhibits showcased microprocessor-based control systems capable of collecting and processing sensor data, performing model-based predictions, and executing autonomous control actions in real time.
UIAM’s participation in European Researchers’ Night 2025 also highlighted the institute’s involvement in the FrontSeat project and showcased how European research initiatives contribute to innovation and public engagement in Slovakia.
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CHEMSHOW at the Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology (FCHPT)
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On June 25, 2025, the Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology (FCHPT) hosted CHEMSHOW 2025, and the Institute of Information Engineering, Automation, and Mathematics (UIAM) was excited to participate.
Assoc. Prof. Juraj Oravec, PhD, engaged high school students with his lecture “How Does Artificial Intelligence Think?”, shedding light on AI’s influence in industry and everyday life.
Meanwhile, elementary school pupils enjoyed hands-on activities introducing the basics of automation and optimization in a fun, interactive way.
We thank all visitors for their curiosity and enthusiasm—events like CHEMSHOW 2025 inspire us to continue sharing our passion for science, technology, and innovation with the next generation of scientists and engineers.
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FRONTSEAT PUBLICATION DIGEST 2025
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One of the core activities of the project is to promote excellence in research through scientific publications regarding automatic control methods and applications oriented to smart industries. In compliance with the EU open-access/open-research policies, all publications arising from the project are available on the Zenodo repository.
During the entire duration of the project 70 publications, related to the main FrontSeat goals were released, as detailed:
- 17 journal papers (8 during the second half)
- 53 conference papers (26 during the second half)
In addition, 11 posters were presented at various conferences.
Publication venues encompass both theory- and application-focused leading journals, as well as the foremost conferences in automatic control. Notable examples include the IFAC World Congress 2023, IFAC ADCHEM 2024, IFAC NMPC 2024, IFAC DYCOPS 2025, ESCAPE 35, among others.
Major topics covered in these publications are:
- Real-time optimization: theory and applications
- Performance monitoring of industrial control systems
- Model predictive control (MPC): theory and efficient/embedded implementation
- Research- and education-oriented hardware and software for control engineering
- Machine learning methods for optimization-based control and monitoring
- Data-driven modeling and control systems design
- Experimental validation of control systems
- Inferential/Soft-sensors and their industrial application
- Cyber-secure process control systems
- Cognitive performance and human-in-the-loop systems
Six publications are here selected to showcase the importance of the investigated topics and testify to the fruitful cooperation among the various FrontSeat partners:
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Follow FrontSeat on LinkedIn for regular updates on our progress, publications, and discussions. We appreciate your support and look forward to connecting with you.
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FrontSeat publications are accessible to everyone.
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You can access all of our research resources and scientific publications on Zenodo.
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