Project description
Choice model estimation, application made easy
In the past two decades, a push has been made into developing more powerful mathematical models for representing human decision making. These are used in policymaking and advising industrial companies. Thanks to improvements in computing technology, more powerful models have become available to a greater pool of users. But because most users lack knowledge about programming, a multitude of restrictions have had to take place. The EU-funded Apollo project will research and change the already existing Apollo package, to allow even users uninitiated in programming to develop new code and test new models.
Objective
Mathematical models of human decision making are a widely used tool for advising policy makers and industry by making predictions of future demand for products and services. The reliability of the predictions depends on the robustness of the underlying mathematical models. A very active field of academic research is concerned with the refinement of existing model structures and the development of new approaches. Over the last two decades, fuelled by the availability of ever more powerful computing resources, there has been a major step change in the mathematical complexity of these models. However, the vast majority of real world users of choice models, and also many academic users, lack a programming background. This means that most users are restricted to those models which are covered in existing software, and models developed by analysts who lack programming skills fail to be used in practice.
A core output from the ERC-CoG grant DECISIONS (615596) has been the development of the Apollo package. Apollo is a powerful open source solution for the estimation and application of choice models. The current PoC proposal seeks to fully explore the innovative research that led to the development of Apollo and to take the first steps in establishing Apollo as a next generation tool for choice modelling, with full customisation possibilities including for inexperienced users. We propose to make changes to the existing implementation of Apollo to provide users with an easy to use template for developing code and to create a system for testing user-developed functions for new models, standardise the code used in them, and incorporate them in releases of new versions of Apollo to make them available to other users. In addition, we propose to introduce a pay-to-program service where users can pay to have new features developed. These features will be released to all users after an embargo period during which they are limited to the user who paid for their development.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics mathematical model
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-PoC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
LS2 9JT Leeds
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.