Michel Gokan Khan
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Michel Gokan Khan

CTO, Technologist, Chairman, Founder, Entrepreneur
Stockholm, Sweden


Biography

I am a Stockholm-based technologist and entrepreneur. I currently serve as CTO of Co-Cart AB and co-founder of Softwarify (2025–Present), and previously worked as CTO of Spotin AB (2022–2024) as well as other hands-on tech leadership roles before that. My research spans ML-based optimization of cloud-native systems, digital twinning, and computer vision; industrially I focus on software design, architecture, and microservice-oriented development. I conducted research on digital twinning and optimization as a PostDoc at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in collaboration with AstraZeneca, and I hold a PhD in Machine Learning Driven Optimization of Cloud Native Systems from Karlstad University in Sweden. My publications include work on microservice performance simulation, modelling, and optimization (e.g., PerfSim), building on earlier research at Ericsson and other engineering leadership roles.

Education

  • Postdoc Fellow in ML-Based Optimization - KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Mar 2024 - Jul 2025)
    • Focus: Computer Vision, 3D Reconstruction, Digital Twinning, Object Detection, and Machine Learning Driven Optimization of Production in Industry 5.0
    • Project: Smart Predictive Maintenance for the Pharmaceutical Industry. [Project Homepage]
  • PhD in Computer Science - Karlstad University (Oct 2017 - Nov 2023, Defended Jan 2024)
    • Thesis: Unchaining Microservice Chains: Machine Learning Driven Optimization in Cloud Native Systems. [Download] [Video]
  • MSc in Software Engineering - Iran University of Science and Technology (2013 - 2015)
    • Focus: High Performance Distributed Systems
    • Thesis: SLA-Aware Virtual Machines CPU Scheduling in Cloud Environments
  • BSc in Applied Mathematics - Azad University, Tehran (2007 - 2013)
    • Focus: Applications of Mathematical Optimization in Computer Science

Industrial Work Experience

  • Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Co-Cart AB (Jul 2025 - Present)
    • Co-Cart AB is a Swedish company that originates from the development and team behind Spotin (www.spotin.com). Together with an international customer with a global presence and renowned brands we’re building a new platform in the commerce space. Due to NDA, more information will be revealed by the end of 2025.
  • Co-Founder and CTO/CEO - Softwarify (Jul 2025 - Present)
    • An AI-first platform for software development teams. Stealth mode - more information will be published later.
  • Industrial Postdoctoral Fellow in ML-Based Optimization - KTH in collaboration with AstraZeneca (Mar 2024 - Jul 2025)
    • My research focuses on various aspects of industrial semi-automated digital twinning, ML-driven optimization, computer vision and predictive maintenance [Project Homepage]
  • Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Spotin AB (Feb 2022 - Jan 2024)
    • Hands-on CTO role, oversaw the entire tech stack, and led teams towards re-architecting the entire solution and transformation towards scalable and robust microservice architecture and more efficient DevOps.
  • Doctoral Researcher - Ericsson (May 2018 - Jan 2020)
    • Researched and patented methods for performance modeling and optimization in 5G Core systems. This was part of a research internship.
  • Tech Lead/Agile Lead/Solution Architect - RM Innovation (Feb 2016 - Jan 2017)
    • Designed B2B2C solutions and transitioned the organization to agile methodologies.
  • Co-Founder and CEO - Olam Technologies Group (Jun 2011 - Dec 2015)
    • Developed SaaS/PaaS solutions and home automation technologies.
  • Senior Fullstack Developer - Vaimo AB (Oct 2013 - Oct 2014)
    • Contributed to high-profile online retail projects using Magento.
  • Principal Full Stack Developer - Nutriga Technology (Dec 2009 - Jan 2011)
    • Delivered diverse online solutions across industries.
  • Software Developer - Setareh Sepehr Afzar (Jan 2008 - Dec 2009)
    • Created a Windows-based fixed asset management application.

Publications and Patents

For a complete list of publications, please refer to my Google Scholar profile.

  • Journal Articles:
    • "Kani: a QoS-aware hypervisor-level scheduler for cloud computing environments" - Cluster Computing, 2016. Authors: Esmail Asyabi, Azadeh Azhdari, Mostafa Dehsangi, Michel Gokan Khan, Mohsen Sharifi, Sayed Vahid Azhari. [Link]
    • "Service Function Chain Placement for Joint Cost and Latency Optimization" - Mobile Networks and Applications, vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 2191-2205, 2020. Authors: Mohammad Ali Khoshkholghi, Michel Gokan Khan, Kyoomars Alizadeh Noghani, Javid Taheri, et al. [Link]
    • "PerfSim: A Performance Simulator for Cloud Native Microservice Chains" - IEEE Transactions on Cloud Computing, 2021. Authors: Michel Gokan Khan, Javid Taheri, Auday Al-Dulaimy, Andreas Kassler. [Link] [Homepage] [Dataset]
    • "PerfCam: Digital Twinning for Production Lines Using 3D Gaussian Splatting and Vision Models" - IEEE Access, vol. 13, pp. 85390-85406, May 2025, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3567702. Authors: Michel Gokan Khan, Renan Guarese, Fabian Johnson, Xi Vincent Wang, Anders Bergman, Benjamin Edvinsson, Mario Romero, Jeremy Vachier, and Jan Kronqvist. [Link] [Dataset in Github] [Dataset in IEEE DataPort] [Code] [Video Presentation]
    • "Fusing Model-based and Data-driven Prognostic Methods for Real-time Model Updating" - Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, Aug. 2025. Authors: Tianzhi Li, Morteza Moradi, Michel Gokan Khan, Renan Guarese, Jan Kronqvist, Mario Romero, Ming Xiao, and Xi Vincent Wang. [Link].
    • "SocioBalance: A Network-Based Simulation Game to Rank Links' Impact Strength in a Complex Social System" - TBA, 2025. Authors: Arsineh Boodaghian Asl, Jayanth Raghothama, Michel Gokan Khan, Adam S. Darwich, Sebastiaan Meijer. [UNDER REVIEW]
  • Conference Papers:
    • "NFV-Inspector: A systematic approach to profile and analyze virtual network functions" - In Proc. IEEE International Conference on Cloud Networking (CloudNet), 2018. Authors: Michel Gokan Khan, Saeed Bastani, Javid Taheri, Andreas Kassler, Shuiguang Deng. [Link] [Code in Github]
    • "Automated Analysis and Profiling of Virtual Network Functions: the NFV-Inspector Approach" - In Proc. IEEE Conference on Network Function Virtualization and Software Defined Networks (NFV-SDN), 2018. Authors: Michel Gokan Khan, Javid Taheri, Andreas Kassler, Marian Darula. [Link]
    • "A Performance Modelling Approach for SLA-Aware Resource Recommendation in Cloud Native Network Functions" - In Proc. IEEE Conference on Network Softwarization (NetSoft), 2020. Authors: Michel Gokan Khan, Javid Taheri, Mohammad Ali Khoshkholghi, Andreas Kassler, et al. [Link]
    • "Performance Benchmarking of Virtualized Network Functions to Correlate Key Performance Metrics with System Activity" - In Proc. International Conference on Network of the Future (NoF), 2020. Authors: Yogesh Sharma, Michel Gokan Khan, Javid Taheri, Andreas Kassler. [Link]
    • "Graph Attention Networks and Deep Q-Learning for Service Mesh Optimization: A Digital Twinning Approach" - In Proc. IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC), 2024. Authors: Michel Gokan Khan, Javid Taheri, Andreas Kassler, Arsineh Boodaghian Asl. [Link]
    • "Model-Based Interview Method Selection Approach in Participatory Design" - In Interactivity and the Future of the Human-Computer Interface, 2020. Authors: Arsineh Boodaghian Asl, Michel Gokan Khan. [Link]
    • "An Empirical Study on GUI-ii Interview Methods in Participatory Design" - In Proc. International Conference on Interfaces and Human Computer Interaction, 2019. Authors: Arsineh Boodaghian Asl, Michel Gokan Khan. [Link]
    • "Studying the Effect of Online Medical Applications on Patients Healing Time and Doctors Utilization Using Discrete Event Simulation" - In Proc. IEEE International Conference on E-Health and Bioengineering (EHB), 2019. Authors: Arsineh Boodaghian Asl, Michel Gokan Khan. [Link]
    • "A Scoping Review and Project Proposal for Immersive Solutions towards Predictive Maintenance" - Accepted in Proc. The 4th International Workshop on eXtended Reality for Industrial and Occupational Supports, 2025. Authors: Renan Guarese, Michel Gokan Khan, David Lassiter, Jeremy Vachier, Fabian Johnson, Benjamin Edvinson, Anders Bergman, Xi Vincent Wang, and Mario Romero. [Link to IEEE Xplore comes here soon]
  • Books and Book Chapters:
    • "Introduction to Edge Computing" - In Edge Computing: Models, Technologies and Applications, Institution of Engineering and Technology, 2020. Authors: Auday Al-Dulaimy, Yogesh Sharma, Michel Gokan Khan, Javid Taheri. [Link]
    • "Edge Computing: Models, Technologies and Applications" - Institution of Engineering and Technology, 2020. Editors: Javid Taheri, Shuiguang Deng. Authors: Javid Taheri, et. al. [Link]
    • "Resource allocation models in/for edge computing" - In Edge Computing: Models, Technologies and Applications, 2020. Authors: Mohammad Ali Khoshkholghi, Yogesh Sharma, Michel Gokan Khan, Auday Al-Dulaimy, Javid Taheri. [Link]
    • "Networking models and protocols for/on edge computing" - In Edge Computing: Models, Technologies and Applications, 2020. Authors: Yogesh Sharma, Michel Gokan Khan, Auday Al-Dulaimy, Mohammad Ali Khoshkholghi, Javid Taheri. [Link]
    • "Open-source projects for edge computing" - In Edge Computing: Models, Technologies and Applications, 2020. Authors: Michel Gokan Khan, Auday Al-Dulaimy, Mohammad Ali Khoshkholghi, Javid Taheri. [Link]
  • Patents:
    • "Performance Modeling for Cloud Applications" - US Patent 11,962,474, 2024. Inventors: Michel Gokan Khan, Wenfeng Hu, Carolyn Cartwright, Huiyuan Wang. [Google Patents]
  • Theses:
    • "Unchaining Microservice Chains: Machine Learning Driven Optimization in Cloud Native Systems" - PhD Thesis, Karlstad University, 2023. Author: Michel Gokan Khan. [DiVA Portal] [Video]
    • "Performance Modelling and Simulation of Service Chains for Telecom Clouds" - Licentiate Thesis, Karlstad University, 2021. Author: Michel Gokan Khan. [DiVA Portal]
    • "SLA-Aware Virtual Machines CPU Scheduling in Cloud Environments" - Master's Thesis, Iran University of Science and Technology, 2015. Author: Michel Gokan Khan. [Link]

Honors and Awards

  • Nominated for SPEC Kaivalya Dixit Distinguished Dissertation Award (2024)
  • IEEE Best Paper Award at NetSoft ’20 (Jul 2020). [Link]
  • IEEE Young Professional of the Month (May 2019). [Link]
  • IEEE Best Paper Award at NFV-SDN ’18 (Nov 2018). [Link]
  • Nominated for Best Mobile Execution in Swedish Game Awards (2019). [Link]
  • IEEE ComSoc Travel Grant at CloudNet ’18 (Oct 2018). [Link]
  • 5th place in IranOpen International RoboCup 2D Soccer Simulation League (2006)

Talks and Podcasts

  1. "The Latest AI Trends in Software Development with Michel Gokan Khan" - Amplifyre Podcast, February 2023. [YouTube]
  2. "AI: Reshaping the Software Landscape" - Skript Tech Podcast, July 2023. [Apple Podcasts]
  3. "From NFV-Inspector to EasyEPC: Towards NFV Optimization and Capacity Planning of vEPC and 5G Core" - Private talk at Ericsson, January 2020 (NDA restricted).
  4. "A Tech Talk with Michel Gokan Khan" - Fullstack Radio (In Persian), April 2019. [Link]
  5. "5G and Future Directions" - Public event at Vaimo AB, Stockholm, December 2018.
  6. "PhD Defence Presentation: Unchaining Microservice Chains: Machine Learning Driven Optimization in Cloud Native Systems" - January 2024. [YouTube]
  7. "ML for Digital Twinning and Predictive Maintenance" - Scientific Machine Learning for Simulation and Inverse Modelling Mid-term Workshop, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, June 2024. [Workshop Link]
  8. "AI-Driven Digital Twins in Action: From Cloud Native Systems to Advanced Industrial Applications" - Digital Future's Seminar Series, December 2024. [Link to the Seminar] [Digital Futures YouTube Channel] [Link to the Video]

Press Releases

  • "Forskningspodden #112: Unchaining microservice chains - An interview with Michel Gokan Khan" - Karlstad University Research Podcast, February 2024. [Link]
  • "Michel Gokan Khan går in som ny CTO på Spotin" - IT Media Group (IMG), February 2022. [Link]
  • "Michel Gokan Khan teknikchef på Spotin" - Affärer i Norr News, March 2022. [Link]
  • "Michel Gokan Khan Won The Best Student Paper Award At IEEE NetSoft 2020" - Karlstad University Press, August 2020. [Link]
  • "New Platform Facilitates The Work Of NFV Researchers" - Karlstad University Press, February 2019. [Link]
  • "Interview with Michel Gokan Khan - IEEE Young Professional of the Month Award" - IEEE Sweden YP Group, May 2019. [Link]
  • "Meet our CTO: Michel Gokan Khan" - Spotin AB Press Release, November 2022. [LinkedIn]

Course Lectures and Teaching Courses

Teachings/Course Lectures

  • Distributed Systems and Applications (DVGC15) - Co-lecturing in February 2019 and October 2019, Karlstad University. [Course Homepage]
  • Databases (DVGA21) - Running labs in 2018, 2019, and 2020, Karlstad University. [Course Homepage]
  • Computer Networking II (DVGC02) - Designing and running labs during 2020-2021 and lecturing during lab sessions, Karlstad University. [Course Homepage]
  • Programming Techniques (DVGA01) - Running labs during 2019-2020, Karlstad University. [Course Homepage]
  • A Crash Course on Object Oriented Programming in C# - Lecturing a Short Course at Karlstad Innovation Park in 2018 via The Great Journey.
  • Advanced Courses on C and C++ - Robocup Soccer Simulation Competition Coach for Multiple High School-level Teams and Groups in Tehran, Iran During 2009 - 2012.

Teaching Related Courses

  • Teaching at University: Knowledge, Learning and Practical Teaching (KLL) - 80 Hours, Certificate Acquired May 2021, Karlstad University. [Course Homepage]
  • Doctoral Supervision (LH207V) - 80 Hours, Certificate Acquired December 2024, KTH Royal Institute of Technology. [Course Homepage]

Thesis Supervisions

  • "A Framework for Seamless Server-Driven UI Component Integration into Existing Mobile Applications" - BSc Thesis by Oliver Högberg, December 2022, Luleå University of Technology. [DiVA Portal]
  • "Improvement of Power Consumption in IoT Networks - Using Heterogeneous Clustering in Energy" - Co-supervised Master's Thesis by Hamed Moases, Azad University, December 2020.

Contact Information

Email:

Office: School of Engineering Sciences, KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Address: Lindstedtvägen 25, Stockholm, Sweden

Links:


Last updated: August 2025