Everything in our contemporary society relies on a system of complex networks, such as transport, logistics, communication, health and humanitarian response systems. These systems are complex because they have multiple stakeholders and they are linked by often conflicting relationships and objectives. Moreover, in order to respond effectively , and because the activities and resources they bring to bear in order to respond effectively to demand. At the same time, these systems are under great pressure to produce and deliver high quality services and goods, and to deliver them quickly and at the lowest possible cost, while reducing energy consumption and negative environmental impacts.
These systems become increasingly intelligent, because they continually increase their capacity to store and treat large volumes of real-time data. An ever-changing reality poses the challenge of properly anticipating informational needs and to adapt the systems accordingly. To do so, informational intelligence must be accompanied by analytical and decisional intelligence. Our tools for analysis, planning and management must therefore deal with both the complexity of systems and the complexity of their decision-making processes and become increasingly “intelligent“. This intelligence can be created by confronting, integrating and collaborating between different research fields and diverse competences. In this way, we can respond to the above mentioned scientific and societal challenges.
This is the vision of the Research centre on intelligence2 in complex systems (CRI2GS). Our interdisciplinary approach combines operations research, operations management, data science and information technology in order to create the methodologies and models for this intelligence. We then apply these innovative, sophisticated and intelligent methodologies to applications that are of great interest for the sustainable development of society, such as transport, logistics, healthcare and humanitarian aid.
The Centre is thriving and it is up to all of us to keep it going. There are great challenges, but also exciting opportunities. Professor Marilène Cherkesly is taking over as director and will lead our collective efforts to meet these challenges and turn opportunities into science, trained students, transfer technologies and social and economic impacts.
Teodor Gabriel Crainic – CRI2GS director 2016 – 2020