Dr. Georges Aoude is the CEO and co-founder of Derq Inc., an award-winning MIT-spinoff revolutionizing roadway safety and smart mobility. Dr. Aoude holds a PhD and MS in Aerospace Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he worked with the United States Navy, Ford Motor Company, and NASA—where his space satellite research was tested by astronauts on the International Space Station. He is renowned for his work in autonomous and connected technologies and AI-powered intelligent transportation systems. Dr. Aoude's groundbreaking work has contributed to 15 patents and has been published in leading academic journals and featured in global press outlets. With a deep passion for safe and intelligent transportation, he established Derq and commercialized it from an idea to a revolutionary solution that is live in 40+ cities across the U.S. and GCC. He is a frequent speaker at AI, mobility, and smart city conferences, including CES and the World Economic Forum.