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This factsheet offers more information about the objective, future valuation goals and basic information on the research project.

Machine learning and mathematical optimisation

Machine learning has often made headlines in recent years, with spectacular applications such as image recognition, self-driving cars, and programs that beat the best human players at games like chess and Go. A key component of this technology is mathematical optimisation, that is used, for example, to train the underlying neural networks.

Objective

Our objective in this project is to develop innovative optimisation models, analysis techniques, and solution methods for a mutual reinforcement of optimisation and machine learning. We bring together a team of experts in mathematical optimisation, and a larger consortium that includes data scientists, who will study specific, interrelated, applications in machine learning. The goal is to provide new analysis and tools for optimisation problems and algorithms arising in machine learning, but also the other way around: to use insights and techniques from machine learning to improve optimisation models and methods. This explains the project title Optimisation for and with machine learning. The results from this project have a lot of potential to enhance both machine learning and optimisation. We will test our insights on a variety of applications where the consortium members are already involved, including routing of shared, self-driving cars, classification problems in the medical sciences, and decision problems related to the UN World Food Programme.

Factsheet

Please find the facts and figures of the OPTIMAL Optimisation for and with Machine Learning research project:

  • Optimization for and with Machine Learning (OPTIMAL) is funded under the following project number: OCENW.GROOT.2019.015.
  • Grant agreement No:
  • Action full title: Optimization for and with Machine Learning (OPTIMAL)
  • Granting authority: NWO
  • Duration: 64 Months (01/05/2019 — 31/08/2025)
  • Main applicant: Prof. D. den Hertog
  • Project coordinator: University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Business School
  • Contact person: Prof. D. den Hertog

To the NWO press release (February 25, 2020).