Abstract. This volume encompasses the proceedings of SEMANTiCS 2024, the 20th International Conference on Semantic Systems, a pivotal event for professionals and researchers actively engaged in harnessing the power of semantic computing and Artificial Intelligence. At SEMANTiCS, attendees gain a profound understanding of its transformative potential, while also confronting the practical limitations it presents. Each year, the conference magnetises researchers, IT architects, information managers, software and data engineers from a broad spectrum of organisations, spanning research facilities, non-profit entities, public administrations, and the world’s largest corporations.

Keywords. Semantic Systems, Knowledge Graphs, Artificial Intelligence, Semantic Web, Linked Data, Machine Learning, Knowledge Discovery, Neuro-Symbolic AI, Large Language Models, Decentralized Web

SEMANTiCS serves as a vibrant platform facilitating the exchange of cutting-edge scientific findings in the realm of semantic systems and Artificial Intelligence. Furthermore, it extends its scope to encompass research challenges in areas such as data science, machine learning, logic programming, content engineering, social computing, natural language processing, digital humanities. and the Semantic Web. Having reached its 20th anniversary, the conference has evolved into a distinguished international event that seamlessly bridges the gap between academia and industry. Participants and contributors of SEMANTiCS gain invaluable insights from esteemed researchers and industry experts, enabling them to stay abreast of emerging trends and themes within the vast field of semantic computing and artificial intelligence. The SEMANTiCS community thrives on its diverse composition, attracting professionals with multifaceted roles encompassing artificial intelligence, data science, knowledge discovery and management, big data analytics, e-commerce, enterprise search, technical documentation, document management, business intelligence, and enterprise vocabulary management.

In 2024, the conference embraced the subtitle “Knowledge Graphs in the Time of Language Models and Neuro-Symbolic AI” and particularly welcomed submissions pertaining to the following topics:

∙ Web Semantics & Linked (Open) Data

∙ Enterprise Knowledge Graphs, Graph Data Management

∙ Machine Learning Techniques for/using Knowledge Graphs (e.g. reinforcement learning, deep learning, data mining and knowledge discovery)

∙ Interplay between generative AI and Knowledge Graphs (e.g., RAG approach)

∙ Knowledge Management (e.g. acquisition, capture, extraction, authoring, integration, publication)

∙ Terminology, Thesaurus & Ontology Management, Ontology engineering

∙ Reasoning, Rules, and Policies

∙ Natural Language Processing for/using Knowledge Graphs (e.g. entity linking and resolution using target knowledge such as Wikidata and DBpedia, foundation models)

∙ Crowdsourcing for/using Knowledge Graphs

∙ Data Quality Management and Assurance

∙ Mathematical Foundation of Knowledge-aware AI

∙ Multimodal Knowledge Graphs

∙ Semantics in Data Science

∙ Semantics in Blockchain environments

∙ Trust, Data Privacy, and Security with Semantic Technologies

∙ IoT, Stream Processing, dealing with temporal data

∙ Conversational AI and Dialogue Systems

∙ Provenance and Data Change Tracking

∙ Semantic Interoperability (via mapping, crosswalks, standards, etc.)

∙ Linked Data storage, triple stores, graph databases

∙ Robust and scalable management, querying and analysis of semantics and data

∙ User interfaces for the Semantic Web & its management

∙ Explainable and Interoperable AI

∙ Decentralised and Federated Knowledge Graphs (e.g., Federated querying, link traversal)

Application of Semantically-Enriched and AI-Based Approaches, such as, but not limited to:

∙ Knowledge Graphs in Bioinformatics, Medical AI and preventive healthcare

∙ Clinical Use Case of semantic-enabled AI-based Approaches

∙ AI for Environmental Challenges

∙ Semantics in Scholarly Communication and Scientific Knowledge Graphs

∙ AI and LOD within GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) institutions

∙ Knowledge Graphs & hybrid AI for predictive maintenance and Industry 4.0/5.0

∙ Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage

∙ LegalTech, AI Safety, EU AI Act

∙ Economics of Data, Data Services, and Data Ecosystems

The Research and Innovation track garnered significant attention with 95 submissions after a call for papers was publicly announced. To ensure high-quality evaluations, an esteemed program committee comprising 103 members collaborated to identify papers of utmost impact and scientific merit. Implementing a double-anonymous review process, wherein author identities and the reviewers were obscured to assure anonymity. A minimum of three independent reviews were conducted for each submission. Upon completion of all reviews, the program committee chairs meticulously compared and deliberated on the evaluations, addressing any disparities or differing viewpoints with the reviewers. This comprehensive approach facilitated a meta-review, enabling the committee to recommend acceptance or rejection of each paper. Ultimately, we were pleased to accept 26 papers, resulting in an acceptance rate of 27%.

In addition to the peer-reviewed work, the conference had two renowned keynotes from Alon Halevy (Senior Principal Scientist at Amazon) and Maria-Esther Vidal (TIB-Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology. Leibniz University of Hannover and L3S Research Centre). The keynote of the co-located DBpedia Day was given by Ruben Verborgh (Ghent University - imec).

Additionally, the program had posters and demos, a comprehensive set of workshops, as well as talks from industry leaders.

We thank all authors who submitted papers. We particularly thank the program committee which provided careful reviews in a quick turnaround time. Their service is essential for the quality of the conference.

Special thanks also go to our sponsors without whom this event would not be possible. At the time of submission of the proceedings the sponsors were:

Gold Sponsors: Metaphacts, Ordina, PoolParty, Taxonic

Silver Sponsors: Ontotext, Pantopix, RDFox, redpencil.io, Triply

Startup Sponsor: MeaningFy, ModelDesk, SP - Semantic Partners

Sincerely yours,

The Editors

Amsterdam, September 2024