The respective papers cover topics such as software agents, multi-agent systems, agent modeling, mobile and cloud computing, big data analysis, business intelligence, artificial intelligence, social systems, computer embedded systems and nature inspired manufacturing, all of which contribute to the modern digital economy.

Gordan Jezic is a Professor at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. His research interest includes telecommunication networks and services focusing particularly on parallel and distributed systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) systems, communication networks and protocols, mobile software agents and multi-agent systems. He actively participates in numerous international conferences as a paper author, speaker, member of organizing and program committees or reviewer. He co-authored over 100 scientific and professional papers, book chapters and articles in journals and conference proceedings. 

Yun-Heh Jessica Chen-Burger is an Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Heriot-Watt University. She was Research Fellow, Informatics, University of Edinburgh. Her research interests include enterprise modelling, process modelling, execution and mining technologies and how they may interact with agent technologies to solve complex real-world problems. She iscommittee member of several international conferences, journals and chair of conference and conference sessions. She is PI to several research and commercial projects.

Mario Kusek is Professor at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. He holds Ph.D. (2005) in electrical engineering, from the University of Zagreb. He is currently a lecturer of 9 courses and has supervised over 130 students at B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies. He participated in numerous projects local and internationals. He has co-authored over 80 papers in journals, conferences and books in the area of distributed systems, multi-agent systems, self-organized systems and machine-to-machine (M2M) Communications. Prof. Kušek is a member of IEEE, KES International and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). He serves as a program co-chair on two international conferences. 

Roman Šperka is an Associate Professor and Head of Department of Business Economics and Management at Silesian University in Opava, School of Business Administration in Karvina, Czech Republic. He holds PhD title in “Business economics and management” and Dr title in “Applied informatics” since 2013. He has been participating as a head researcher or research team member in several projects funded by Silesian University Grant System or EU funds. His field of expertise is business process management, process mining, implementation and deployment of information systems and software frameworks; the use of agent-based technology in social sciences; modeling and simulation in economic systems and financial markets. 

Robert J. Howlett is the Executive Chair of KES International, a non-profit organization that facilitates knowledge transfer and the dissemination of research results in areas including Intelligent Systems, Sustainability, and Knowledge Transfer.  He is a Visiting Professor at Bournemouth University in the UK. His technical expertise is in the use of intelligent systems tosolve industrial problems. He has been successful in applying artificial intelligence, machine learning and related technologies to sustainability and renewable energy systems; condition monitoring, diagnostic tools and systems; and automotive electronics and engine management systems.  His current research work is focussed on the use of smart microgrids to achieve reduced energy costs and lower carbon emissions in areas such as housing and protected horticulture.  

Lakhmi C. Jain, PhD, Dr H.C., ME, BE(Hons), Fellow (Engineers Australia), is with the Liverpool Hope University and the University of Arad. He was formerly with the University of Technology Sydney, the University of Canberra and Bournemouth University. Professor Jain founded the KES International for providing a professional community the opportunities for publications, knowledge exchange, cooperation and teaming. Involving around 5,000 researchers drawn from universities and companies world-wide, KESfacilitates international cooperation and generate synergy in teaching and research. KES regularly provides networking opportunities for professional community through one of the largest conferences of its kind in the area of KES.