Zuse Institute Berlin and FICO Collaborate to Push the Boundaries of Mathematical Optimization

Rhea-AI Summary

FICO is hosting the 4th EURO Practitioners' Forum in Berlin from April 20-21, focusing on how algorithms and optimization models can enhance business resilience amid crises. The event will highlight various industry case studies, including Jeppesen's collaboration with Karolinska University Hospital during the pandemic, showcasing effective duty roster solutions using FICO® Xpress Optimization. FICO's ongoing partnership with Zuse Institute Berlin aims to leverage mathematical methods for optimizing data-driven processes across sectors like energy, health, and mobility. This initiative is part of a larger project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, involving nearly 40 partners. By aligning academic research with practical applications, FICO seeks to address significant global challenges such as climate change and healthcare.

Positive

• FICO's partnership with Zuse Institute Berlin enhances innovation in optimization technology.
• Successful case studies highlight FICO's algorithms solving real-world challenges, such as efficient healthcare staffing during the pandemic.
• The MODAL initiative demonstrates FICO's commitment to data-driven process optimization across various industries.

Negative

• None.

At the MODAL research campus, mathematicians from academia and FICO develop new algorithms to solve pressing business problems. Practical insights into the lively exchange between science and business are offered by the EURO Practitioners' Forum from 20 to 21 April in Berlin.

BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- How can algorithms and optimization models help companies deal more resiliently with unforeseen crises and adapt their processes to disruptive challenges? At the 4th EURO Practitioners' Forum from 20 to 21 April in Berlin, organized by analytics software provider FICO in cooperation with the Zuse Institute Berlin, data scientists will get to the bottom of this question.

The upcoming event, titled "Operations Research as a Resilient Technology: How OR Responds and Adapts to Disruptive Changes and Future Challenges," will feature presentations by prominent companies from diverse industries. These companies will showcase practical projects and describe how they utilized mathematical methods and optimization models to overcome complex challenges quickly and reliably.

More information: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/or-as-a-resilient-technology-adapting-to-disruptions-and-future-challenges-tickets-373836624407

Mathematical optimization eases pandemic chaos

During the event, one of the case studies being presented will focus on the early stages of the pandemic. Jeppesen, a subsidiary of Boeing, successfully tackled a classic optimization problem for Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden. Despite the tumultuous situation, Jeppesen's aviation software, Jeppesen Crew Rostering, which uses FICO® Xpress Optimization, was able to generate new duty rosters for over 300 nursing staff in just one week.

Data science research collaboration in Berlin

FICO, a prominent optimization software developer, is a strategic partner of Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB). Four FICO employees are part of a research team that works directly at ZIB. The partnership between science and industry is made possible through the MODAL research campus, which is a public-private partnership project hosted by ZIB and Freie Universität Berlin.

The MODAL initiative, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), includes almost 40 industrial and network partners from various sectors and sizes. The project's goal is to apply mathematical methods to optimize data-driven processes in the fields of energy, health, mobility, and communication in a more practical manner. Researchers are exploring topics such as gas network control, flight route planning, and using data from mobile apps to improve health. The close collaboration between science and industry fosters valuable synergies in research and development, promotes the development of young talent, and creates a valuable pool of talent for industry partners to train and recruit future experts in mathematical optimization and digital analytics processes.

Tackling climate change and more with optimization models

“In the innovation partnership between FICO and ZIB, academic research and practical development experience work hand in hand to drive innovation and successfully translate scientific findings into products and solutions,” said Dr. Timo Berthold, a software engineering director at FICO who specializes in optimization and has been affiliated with ZIB since 2005. Berthold is part of the FICO research team at ZIB and also teaches as a private lecturer at the Technical University of Berlin. “The lively exchange between science and business is important so that the enormous potential of mathematical optimization can be used even better. After all, whether it's climate change, the energy transition or healthcare - optimization models can help to tackle the major challenges of our time.”

“As an interdisciplinary research institute for applied mathematics and data-intensive high-performance computing, Zuse Institute Berlin focuses on real problems from science, technology, the environment and the society. These problems are so complex that they cannot be solved using conventional methods. We appreciate the commitment of FICO as an innovative industry partner that is working with us to push the boundaries of analytics,” said Prof. Dr. Ralf Borndörfer, chair of MODAL and head of department “Network Optimization” at ZIB.

Further information on the programme and registration for the free event "OR as a resilient technology: adapting to disruptions and future challenges" can be found here.

About FICO

FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in nearly 120 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions rental cars are in the right place at the right time.

Learn more at https://www.fico.com

FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230417005455/en/

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FAQ

What is the purpose of the FICO-hosted EURO Practitioners' Forum?

The forum aims to explore how algorithms and optimization models can help businesses adapt to crises and improve resilience.

When is the 4th EURO Practitioners' Forum taking place?

The forum is scheduled for April 20-21 in Berlin.

What key case study will be presented at the forum?

One case study will feature Jeppesen's work with Karolinska University Hospital, showcasing rapid staff scheduling solutions during the pandemic.

How does FICO collaborate with Zuse Institute Berlin?

FICO partners with Zuse Institute Berlin to apply mathematical methods for optimizing processes in various sectors through the MODAL initiative.

What challenges are being addressed through FICO's optimization models?

FICO's models aim to tackle major issues like climate change, healthcare efficiency, and energy transition.