The INCT ICoNIoT was created to bring together leading researchers around highly current challenges in the field of communication networks. These challenges relate to the high demand generated by the Internet of Things (IoT): thousands of interconnected devices require handling large volumes of data and demand solutions involving scalability, wide geographic distribution, and mobility. These devices are very different from each other, and this heterogeneity adds yet another factor that challenges networking research. In addition, there are the ever-growing and increasingly diverse demands related to data security and privacy.

To address these challenges, researchers from various related areas work together within ICoNIoT, affiliated with 20 universities in Brazil. They focus on the following thematic areas: Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence (AI), edge computing, 5G/6G networks, optical access networks, network virtualization, vehicular networks, security, smart cities, digital health, industry, and environmental preservation.

The integration between IoT and AI enables the development of a wide range of intelligent systems. With this in mind, ICoNIoT adopts AI as a key resource to tackle the scientific, technological, and innovation challenges faced by the networking area. The creation of smart rural areas has the potential to transform Brazil’s strategic actions in the environmental, bioeconomy, and agriculture domains. Studies on Smart Cities seek effective solutions to improve citizens’ quality of life in areas such as health, transportation, energy, and water supply. In healthcare, in turn, the challenges and opportunities are numerous. Personalized medicine involves frequent monitoring of each individual’s health, benefiting from data analysis and AI techniques. On the other hand, it also brings important examples of ethical issues that require care, such as those related to privacy and data handling.

Watch the ICoNIoT inauguration video