Mennan Selimi

Professor at SEEU Senior Researcher at MVDSI

Mennan Selimi is a Full Professor at South East European University (SEEU) and Senior Researcher at the Max van der Stoel Institute, where he leads the Distributed Systems and Data Science Research Group. His research focuses on decentralized cloud infrastructures and the integration of machine learning and AI into intelligent systems, with applications in areas such as environmental monitoring and healthcare. He earned his PhD with Distinction and Honours at UPC BarcelonaTech and the University of Lisbon (IST), and has held research positions at the University of Cambridge (postdoctoral studies), the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems, and Saarland University. His work spans federated machine learning, scalable ML algorithms, and solutions for resource-constrained platforms, with a strong emphasis on translating academic innovations into real-world impact. Web: https://mvdsi.seeu.edu.mk/mselimi/

14:30 - 15:00

25 OCT - SAT TALKS

Mesh, Chain, and Brain: Open Networks, Blockchain Economies and Edge AI

Open source and open hardware have enabled communities to build their own networks, sensors, and platforms—creating alternatives to centralized infrastructures. In this talk, I will show how community networks and clouds can empower citizens to take control of both connectivity and data, while addressing challenges of privacy and vendor lock-in. I will present our work on Ethereum-based payment systems in wireless mesh networks, which foster fair resource sharing and local digital economies. Finally, I will share how, in the city of Tetova, we combine open hardware air pollution sensors with wireless mesh connectivity and edge machine learning, turning real-time environmental monitoring into a community-driven, open innovation ecosystem.