Keynote speakers
Davide Rossi, Associate Professor, University of Bologna; Director of Research Line, Digital Design and Open Hardware, CHIPS-IT;
Title:: Past, Present and Future of RISC-V: The PULP Perspective
Abstract:Open-source hardware has evolved from early experimental efforts such as OpenRISC and OpenCores into a major driver of innovation in digital systems. The emergence of the RISC-V instruction set architecture accelerated this transformation, enabling a global ecosystem of open and extensible processor platforms. Within this context, the PULP (Parallel Ultra-Low Power) platform has played a key role in advancing open hardware for energy-efficient and heterogeneous computing. This keynote will present the PULP perspective on the evolution of RISC-V and how open hardware has reshaped research in computer architecture and digital design. Finally, it will discuss the next step of this journey: transforming open research platforms into engines for technology transfer through initiatives such as Digital Design and Open Hardware Division in CHIPS-IT, supporting the growth of the Italian and European semiconductor ecosystem.
Bio: Davide Rossi received the PhD degree from the University of Bologna, Italy, in 2012, where he currently holds the position of Associate Professor. He is the Director of the Digital Design and Open Hardware Department at CHIPS-IT. His research focuses on energy-efficient digital architectures for heterogeneous and reconfigurable multi- and many-core systems-on-chip. This includes architectures, design and implementation strategies, and runtime support aimed at addressing performance, energy efficiency, and reliability challenges in both high-end embedded systems and ultra-low-power computing platforms, including aspects related to heterogeneous integration. In these research areas, he has authored more than 100 papers published in international peer-reviewed conferences and journals.
Torvald Mårtensson, Distinguished Engineer in System Integration and Test at Saab AB, Adjunct Associate Professor Linköping University
Title: Testing and Test Environments for Large-Scale Cyber-Physical Systems
Abstract: Large-scale cyber-physical systems—such as self-driving vehicles, advanced telecom infrastructure, and modern video‑surveillance platforms—combine complex software with tightly integrated electronic and mechanical components. Their scale and deep coupling with hardware introduce additional challenges for testing and for designing effective test environments. This industrial keynote provides an overview of these challenges and presents insights drawn from research studies with eleven multinational companies across the telecom, defense, logistics, surveillance, and automotive sectors. We will explore strategies for overcoming continuous integration impediments, constructing continuous integration and delivery pipelines, and involving engineers with different knowledge, skills, and personalities to improve test efficiency and effectiveness. The keynote concludes with a forward-looking discussion on emerging testing challenges posed by autonomous systems and system‑of‑systems.
Bio: Torvald Mårtensson is Technical Fellow within System Integration Testing at Saab Aeronautics. He has a background of twenty years in the aeronautics industry and another eight years in the telecom industry. At Saab, Torvald works with test management for functions and systems in the Gripen E fighter aircraft, as well as design and implementation of test environments and simulators. Torvald is also Associate Professor of Software Engineering (Senior Lecturer) at Linköping University, and is a Senior Associate Editor of the Journal of Systems and Software. He is a full member of The Royal Aeronautical Society in London. His research has primarily revolved around systems integration and system testing of large-scale and complex software systems, based on studies with multinational companies in industry segments such as telecom, defense, logistics, surveillance and automotive.