Ishwar Bhiradi holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum, a master's in automated manufacturing systems from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, and Ph.D. in micromanufacturing from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India. Since 2013, he has been actively engaged in teaching and research, contributing over 13 publications in esteemed peer-reviewed journals, including those by Elsevier, Springer, and Taylor & Francis. An active reviewer for several reputed journals and conferences, Dr. Bhiradi currently serves as Assistant Director of the Office of Industry Liaison and is also affiliated with the Department of Mechatronics as an Assistant Professor at Manipal Institute of Technology, Karnataka, India. His research interests encompass micromachining, nanoscience, digital manufacturing, and blockchain technologies. He has also contributed to intellectual property development, with one granted patent, two published, and four more filed under the Indian Patent Act.

José Machado concluded Habilitation Title in February 2019 at University of Minho, Portugal. He received his Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering-Automation, from University of Minho, Portugal, and, in simultaneous, from Ecole Normale Superieure de Cachan, France, in 2006. He is Deputy Director of MEtRICs Research Center. He has authored, or co-authored, more than 250 refereed journal and conference proceedings papers. He coordinates and has coordinated-and participated as collaborator-in several Research and Technology Transfer Projects on mechatronics and automation domains. His main interests are related with Industry 4.0, more specifically, on the design and development of Cyber-Physical Systems; design and analysis of dependable controllers for obtaining dependable mechatronic systems; and mechatronic systems design with special focus on manufacturing industry and medical or biomedical applications, wellbeing, and/or rehabilitation. He is Member of Scientific Communities IEEE, IFAC, and IFToMM.