Abstract
With the advent of Information and Communication Technologies in recent decades, organizations face several challenges today. Adopting Digital Transformation (DT) offers numerous opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to improve their efficiency and operations, reaching new markets, shareholders, and customers. However, there are potential risks associated with this process. With Digital Transformation (DT), the radius of connectivity and interconnection between devices and systems increases in Mozambique and worldwide, creating more significant space cyberattacks. As Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) connect to the digital world and move forward with adopting innovative digital technologies, they become more vulnerable to digital security risks. Hence, managing digital security risks effectively is crucial to realizing the benefits of Digital Transformation (DT). This position paper proposes to present the research work that will culminate in the proposal to develop a framework that fits Mozambican Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through a Design Science Research (DSR) methodology, which can help to assist Mozambican Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Digital Transformation (DT) process.

Abstract
Forecasting the covariance matrix of asset returns is central to portfolio construction, risk management, and asset pricing. However, most existing models struggle at medium-term horizons, several weeks to months, where shifting market regimes and slower dynamics prevail. We propose a novel deep learning framework that integrates three-dimensional convolutional neural networks, bidirectional long short-term memory, and multihead attention to capture complex spatiotemporal patterns in asset return dynamics. Using daily data on 14 exchange-traded funds from 2017 to 2023, we demonstrate that our model improves out-of-sample covariance forecasts by reducing Euclidean and Frobenius distance metrics by up to 20% compared with classical benchmarks such as shrinkage estimators and GARCH-type models. These gains persist across distinct market regimes, including bull and bear periods, and remain robust across various forecast horizons and under both raw and excess return specifications. Portfolio simulations based on global minimum variance strategies reveal that the proposed model consistently delivers lower volatility and moderate turnover, even under no-short-selling constraints. This balance between risk reduction and trading efficiency underscores the economic relevance of the forecasts, particularly for institutional investors managing portfolios at medium-term horizons.

Abstract
Debugging and repairing faults when programs fail to formally verify can be complex and time-consuming. Automated Program Repair (APR) can ease this burden by automatically identifying and fixing faults. However, traditional APR techniques often rely on test suites for validation, but these may not capture all possible scenarios. In contrast, formal specifications provide strong correctness criteria, enabling more effective automated repair. In this paper, we present an APR tool for Dafny, a verification-aware programming language that uses formal specifications - including preconditions, post-conditions, and invariants - as oracles for fault localization and repair. Assuming the correctness of the specifications and focusing on arithmetic bugs, we localize faults through a series of steps, which include using Hoare logic to determine the state of each statement within the program, and applying Large Language Models (LLMs) to synthesize candidate fixes. The models considered are GPT-4o mini, Llama 3, Mistral 7B, and Llemma 7B. We evaluate our approach using DafnyBench, a benchmark of realworld Dafny programs. Our tool achieves 89.7% fault localization success rate and GPT-4o mini yields the highest repair success rate of 74.18%. These results highlight the potential of combining formal reasoning with LLM-based program synthesis for automated program repair.

Abstract
Seaport cranes operate continuously and consume large amounts of energy while aiming to minimise containerships' berthing time. Although previous studies have contributed to addressing the crane scheduling problem, most have focused exclusively on loading time, often overlooking the aspect of energy consumption. Furthermore, crane activity is typically modelled in a simplified manner-commonly assuming a fixed cycle duration or constant energy usage when handling a container-without accounting for the impact of variable container masses. In this study, an energy-aware quay crane scheduling formulation for container terminals is proposed, highlighting the importance of integrating an energy model into the scheduling problem. The optimisation problem is formulated as a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model. The objective is to minimise total energy costs by reordering the sequence in which containers are handled, while respecting precedence constraints defined by the ship's stowage plan. Two solution methods-a MILP approach solved using CPLEX and a genetic algorithm (GA)-are compared. The results indicate that, for larger containerships, the genetic algorithm provides a more efficient solution method. Moreover, incorporating detailed energy consumption models for electric cranes may significantly reduce energy costs during containership handling operations.

Abstract

Abstract
This project was developed to improve the cost estimation process of new products within the Product Development Department of a furniture manufacturer. This work involved developing a methodology using Machine Learning (ML) models trained on products' existing data to predict the cost of new innovative ones based on similarities and given data. The ML models used were Linear Regression (LR), Light Gradient-Boosting Machine (LGBM), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). The proposed methodology considers the estimation of the total cost of producing a product, which encompasses both material and operational costs. Throughout this project, several analyses were developed to identify and evaluate different independent variables that could explain the behaviour of these two cost components. The suitability of the different variables was studied by applying several ML models, and a set of functions that return an estimate of the cost as a function of these predictor variables was obtained. The proposed approach, which incorporates ML models into more complex variables to predict, resulted in a 19.29% reduction in estimation error.