Editors (in alphabetical order) : Haithem Afli Udo Bleimann Dirk Burkhard Robert Loew Stefanie Regier Ingo Stengel Haiying Wang Huiru (Jane) Zheng
Preface In today's world, which has recently seen fractures and isolation forming among states, international and interdisciplinary collaboration is an increasingly important source of progress. Collaboration is a rich source of innovation and growth. It is the goal of the Collaborative European Research Conference (CERC2020) to foster collaboration among friends and colleagues across disciplines and nations within Europe. CERC emerged from long-standing cooperation between the Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland and Hochschule Darmstadt - University of Applied Sciences, Germany. CERC has grown to include more well-established partners in Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, Spain, Italy, and many more.
CERC is truly interdisciplinary, bringing together new and experienced researchers from science, engineering, business, humanities, and the arts. At CERC researchers not only present their findings as published in their research papers. They are also challenged to collaboratively work out joint aspects of their research during conference sessions and informal social events and gatherings. Organizing such an event involves the hard work of many people. COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our daily life and research. It has been a significant change to CERC2020 and this is the first time the conference was held virtually online. The conference has received submissions from worldwide, not just European countries. Thanks go to the international program committee and my fellow program chairs, particularly to Prof Udo Bleimann for invaluable support throughout the conference. Prof Ingo Stengel, Dr. Haiying Wang, Dr. Ali Haithem, and Dr. Stefanie Regier for supporting me in the review process. Dirk Burkhardt and Dr. Robert Loew put a great effort into setting up the website and conference management system and preparing the conference programme and proceedings. Thank my colleagues from Ulster University, Hochschule Karlsruhe and Hochschule Darmstadt, and the Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland for providing invaluable support to the conference. CERC2020 has received supports from Ulster University, VIsit Belfast, and Belfast City Council.
Conference Chairs International Scientific Committee Helen O' Shea, Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland Melanie Siegel, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Germany Roy Sleator, Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland Lina Stankovic, Strathclyde University, United Kingdom Vladimir Stankovic, University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom Uta Störl, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Germany Jan Stöß, University of Applied Sciences Karlsruhe, Germany Bernhard Thull, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Germany Ulrich Trick, University of Applied Sciences Frankfurt, Germany Hui Wang, Ulster University, United Kingdom Christoph Wentzel, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Germany Andrea Wirth, University of Applied Sciences Karlsruhe, Germany Matthias Wölfel, University of Applied Sciences Karlsruhe, Germany Angela Wright, Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland Tuba Yilmaz Abdolsaheb, Istanbul Technical University, Turky