Training activities focused on high-performance computing and optimisation as well as surrogate-assisted multi-objective optimisation were dedicated to JSI researchers, Slovenian students and other researchers interested in the topics of the SYNERGY project. High-performance computing training included lectures and a practical lab exercise. They were dedicated to the didactical presentation of a unified view of metaheuristics for multi-objective optimisation, getting started with practical training on the Grid’5000 experimental testbed, and implementation of parallel algorithms for solving challenging problems on large GPU-powered clusters. Training activities with focus on surrogate-assisted multi-objective optimisation consisted of introduction to different modelling technique, with special attention to different interactions with surrogate-models and its applicability to real-world optimisation problems. A wider audience was addressed through several invited lectures.
Consortium members have performed many activities related to a variety of events aimed at sharing the existing knowledge and gaining new knowledge on smart multi-objective optimisation. These included from chairing international workshops, organising special sessions and conference tracks to organising several workshops, conferences, a summer school and also an industrial challenge and job market sessions.
The most prominent organised events were the International Conference on Bioinspired Optimisation Methods and their Applications, BIOMA 2018, that took place in Paris, France, during 16–18 May 2018 (
http://bioma2018.sciencesconf.org(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre)) and SYNERGY Summer School on Efficient Multi-Objective Optimisation that took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, during 27–31 August 2018 (
http://summerschool.synergy-twinning.eu(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre)). BIOMA conference proceedings were published by Springer in the renowned series Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS).
Dissemination and outreach were performed through two tutorials, five invited lectures, a journal special issue, three invited seminars, two keynote talks, chairing a track and serving in two steering committees. Audiences included participants of international scientific conferences as well as Slovenian events, which aimed to directly address national stakeholders.
Results of the improved excellence of JSI researchers are evident from several tutorials given by JSI researchers at GECCO and CEC conferences, and successful proposals for a workshop and a special session at CEC 2019 without the influence of researchers from the high-profile partners.
Smart specialisation stakeholders have been contacted on many occasions and the most prominent achievement was co-organisation of the event with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS) where successful applications of research achievements to real-world problems were presented to their interested members.
Promotion of women in science was performed by presenting research work to the general public during the JSI Open Day, co-organisation of the Women@GECCO workshop and a round table Women in Science and Technology at the Jožef Stefan Institute.
