university of kasdi merbah ouargla hosts the first national technical conference under the theme: “Rail Transport and Industry 4.0”

On Sunday, April 19, 2026, the university of kasdi merbah ouargla hosted an exceptional national event that marks a significant milestone in the development of modern transport systems, through the organization of the first national technical conference bringing together key stakeholders in the railway sector under the theme: “Rail Transport and Industry 4.0.”

The event was organized by the Faculty of New Information and Communication Technologies and was attended by the Rector of the university, Professor HALILAT Mohammed Tahar, alongside vice-rectors, and Dr. Bilal Ben Arab, Dean of the Faculty of New Information and Communication Technologies. It also brought together directors and executives from several major railway companies, including the National Rail Transport Company (SNTF), SETRAM, ESTEL, and CITAL.

The conference opened with a keynote presentation by Dr. Jamal Touati, an international expert in railway signaling systems and a leading figure in the engineering and development of control and safety systems in rail transport.

With extensive experience in advanced technologies and strict safety requirements, Dr. Touati presented the latest global advancements in signaling, automation, and intelligent systems. Drawing on his professional experience across countries such as the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Algeria, he provided participants with valuable insight into leading international practices and demonstrated how Industry 4.0 concepts can be integrated into the realities and challenges of Algeria’s railway sector.

The conference addressed key themes related to digital transformation, including smart mobility and digitalization in rail transport, AI-driven predictive maintenance, control and automation systems, as well as safety and security in modern transport environments.

More than just a conference, this event represents a strategic step toward a future where technology and infrastructure converge, paving the way for Algeria to enter a new era of intelligent transport—where innovation is no longer an option, but a necessity that makes the difference.