Driving Dependability in a Digital Future: The VERDI Workshop

In a world where digital transformation impacts every aspect of society, it’s crucial to ensure that the underlying technologies, particularly cyber-physical systems (CPS), are not only advanced but also reliable and secure. CPS embed computer-based algorithms in physical processes to automate tasks and enhance efficiency. Examples of CPS include autonomous vehicle systems, smart grid technologies, and robotic surgical systems, all of which interact closely with human activities and thus require the highest standards of dependability. Ensuring the reliability and security of these systems is paramount because failures or security breaches could lead to significant disruptions in essential services, economic damages, or even risks to human life. For instance, a compromised smart grid could lead to widespread power outages, while security vulnerabilities in autonomous vehicles could endanger passenger safety. Therefore, robust verification and validation practices are vital in developing CPS to mitigate risks, prevent failures, and protect against cyber threats, ensuring these systems can be trusted to perform as intended under all conditions.

The International Workshop on Verification & Validation of Dependable Cyber-Physical Systems (VERDI) represents a concerted effort in this direction. Hosted under the annual IEEE/IFIP International Conference on Dependable Systems and Networks (DSN), a leading conference in the dependability domain, VERDI targets the critical intersection of digital and physical realms. RISE actively contributes to this global dialogue through events like VERDI, collaborating with international experts to advance the reliability of these vital systems. This engagement supports RISE's mission to foster the adoption of dependable cyber-physical systems across various sectors, delivering innovative solutions that enhance competitiveness, security, and sustainability. Through these efforts, RISE ensures that its partners and clients are well-equipped to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

A Forum for Critical Dialogue and Discovery

VERDI was initiated in 2023 as the final event of the VALU3S EU project which was coordinated by RISE and funded by the ECSEL Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 initiative. With the co-organization by Behrooz Sangchoolie of RISE’s Dependable Transport Systems unit in collaboration with the Polytechnic Institute of Porto and University of Porto in Portugal, VERDI was established as a platform for research dissemination and peer discussions on automated systems' safety and security. 
Apart from the presentation of scientific papers, keynotes from leading experts like Professor Karthik Pattabiraman (Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia, Canada) and Professor José Bacelar Almeida (Professor of Computer Science at the University of Minho, Portugal), who share insights into specialized domains such as high-assurance cryptography and fault injection methodologies. Such interactions enrich the workshop’s agenda, fostering a deeper understanding and broadening the scope of applications in digital resilience.

The proceedings of the first VERDI workshop are available online.

The Intersection of Safety, Security, and Innovation

The second edition of the VERDI workshop was just held in Brisbane, Australia. It continued our commitment to enhancing the dependability of cyber-physical systems, this time under the new thematic umbrella of the AGRARSENSE project. Funded by the Chips Joint Undertaking as part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe initiative, AGRARSENSE focuses on pivotal technology categories including safety, security, reliability, and robotics platforms. This alignment underscores the workshop's role in addressing critical issues within the scope of cutting-edge technologies.

This edition of VERDI provided an invaluable forum for discussing advancements and challenges associated with safety-critical applications, reflecting the core objectives of AGRARSENSE. The involvement of global experts facilitated a deeper exploration of how emerging technologies can be harnessed to improve the robustness and reliability of CPS. Among the highlights was a keynote by Professor Juan Carlos Ruiz (Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain), who focused on enhancing the robustness of convolutional neural networks.

The proceedings of the second edition of VERDI workshop are available online.

Future-Proofing Digitalisation

As digitalisation continues to evolve, the role of workshops like VERDI becomes increasingly significant. RISE, through initiatives like these, contributes to Sweden's vision of leading in digitalisation for a sustainable and secure future. The engagement and outcomes from VERDI not only stimulate innovation but also align with RISE’s mission to promote socially useful AI and data-driven innovation, making it a critical component in the landscape of global digital transformation.

Given the success of the first two editions of VERDI, we strive to continue the organisation of this workshop on an annual basis. We will update the workshop page with information about the next edition of the workshop in the beginning of 2025.

Explore how you can be part of advancing secure and reliable digitalization; contact us at RISE today to learn more about our initiatives and how you can make a meaningful impact in shaping a safer digital future. 
You can also have a look at our related course offering:
Resilient Safety-Critical Computer Systems.

Want to learn more about our expertise?
Learn more about the interplay of safety and cybersecurity.