Objective
The Evonet Network of Excellence brings together European researchers and practitioners in the field of evolutionary computing. Like evolution in nature, evolutionary techniques "breed" progressively better solutions to complex problems, offering a powerful and practical alternative to traditional problem-solving techniques. Application areas include design, control, image and signal processing, modelling, pattern recognition, data mining, scheduling, and decision-making. EvoNet will provide coordination, support and a web-based infrastructure for research and training activities, helping to build a critical mass of European expertise and to stimulate greater commercial interest in the field.
The Evonet Network of Excellence brings together European researchers and practitioners in the field of evolutionary computing. Like evolution in nature, evolutionary techniques "breed" progressively better solutions to complex problems, offering a powerful and practical alternative to traditional problem-solving techniques. Application areas include design, control, image and signal processing, modelling, pattern recognition, data mining, scheduling, and decision-making. EvoNet will provide coordination, support and a web-based infrastructure for research and training activities, helping to build a critical mass of European expertise and to stimulate greater commercial interest in the field.
OBJECTIVES
Evolutionary algorithms offer a powerful and practical alternative to traditional engineering, mathematical and statistical problem-solving techniques. They are especially useful for optimisation in frequently changing and unpredictable environments and are used in a range of complex problems where optimisation helps provide the best solutions. Application areas include design, control, image and signal processing, modelling and prediction, pattern recognition, data mining, scheduling, decision-making. Key industrial targets include telecommunications, aerospace, engineering, petro-chemical transport industries and health and education. The EvoNet network provides support and a web-based infrastructure for research and training activities, helping to promote European expertise in the field.
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
The continuation of EvoNet on a new contract would allow several longer-term objectives, which rely on having a well-established, mature network, to be fulfilled. This project, like the underlying ethos of the 5th Framework Programme, aims to strike a balance between continuity and innovation. Having now established a community of researchers and practitioners, a number of important objectives has been identified, each supported by a series of tasks grouped in workpackages linked to specific deliverables.
Improved communication and information will be provided by an openly accessible website driven by databases and mirrored over Europe together with a regular distribution of newsletters and mail bulletins. European research in evolutionary computing will be disseminated via an online Repository of papers and via and EvoNet Roadmap together with competitions and regular conferences and seminars including EvoWorkshops. Senior researchers will help set benchmarking standards via competitions.
A shared resource database will be established together with a multi-purpose toolbox openly accessible to all via the Internet thus allowing a single "evolutionary engineer" to help solve an optimisation problem in almost any domain. Training opportunities will be improved with a range of workshops, seminars and summer schools together with the development of industrial training placements and distance learning courses. Emphasis will be given to providing high quality academic courses on evolutionary computing.
Skills and expertise will be promoted within industry to stimulate commercial interest as well as the technical relevance of evolutionary techniques, thereby promoting the financial benefits to companies and the commercial potential for future collaborative research. Presentation, onsite consultancy and the EvoNet Flying Circus all play a major role.
EvoNet will continue to provide coordination and support across the network to a range of individuals and organisations interested in the EA techniques, stimulating greater commercial involvement in collaborative projects. It will work with other Networks of Excellence to identify appropriate areas where "clustering" is possible, and where synergistic activities can be jointly organised or co-located. EvoNet will encourage participation with other CoIL partners in helping to develop innovative hybridised techniques and emergent computing research projects.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternet
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabases
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsignal processing
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata sciencedata mining
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencepattern recognition
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
THN - Thematic network contractsCoordinator
SE1 0AA LONDON
United Kingdom