GRK 2201:  Advanced Optimization in a Networked Economy (AdONE)

• Subject Area: Economics
• Term: since 2017
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 277991500

Efficient resource allocation is key to the profitability of all businesses and a central topic in the management sciences, especially in operations management, logistics, and information systems. Although there have been substantial advances in optimization technology, problems arising in a networked economy remain challenging. They call for innovative research at the intersection of management science, informatics, and mathematics. They require new approaches, methods, and subjects taught in graduate education in operations research and management science. Based on our results and insights from the first phase of the research training group, we have further refined our research agenda. In the second phase, we plan to focus on dynamic logistics and transportation networks and mobility systems and develop new mathematical models and computational methods for efficient coordination and resource allocation among multiple agents. Problems in mobility, transportation, and logistics networks are typically characterized by (1) large optimization models that often need to be solved dynamically over time, (2) the presence of multiple decision-makers (e.g., carriers, shippers, drivers), and (3) a high degree of uncertainty. This makes the domain particularly challenging and, at the same time, ensures that our research and doctoral projects are well-grounded in the real world. It is also a domain where collaboration between computer science, mathematics, and the management sciences is needed to produce better methods and make significant advances in modeling and solving problems occurring in practice. Accordingly, we plan to focus on three challenges in this application domain: (C1) large-scale problems, (C2) multiple decision-makers, (C3) uncertainty. All dissertation projects will contribute to one or more of these areas with an emphasis on logistics, transportation, and mobility systems. Students with a background in one of the involved disciplines will be selected according to an international recruitment strategy. They will undergo a comprehensive study, training, and research program. Specifically designed interdisciplinary dissertation projects between management science, informatics, 3 and mathematics will help them develop their ability to model, analyze, solve, and implement solutions for challenging management problems relevant in practice. Big-picture and state-of-the-art lectures, block courses and seminars, workshops, summer schools, and an international research phase constitute the primary qualification and training methods. Our goal is to develop and publish innovative models and methods required in dynamic logistics and transportation networks and mobility systems and to educate future leaders in this field.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Susanne Albers; Professor Dr. Martin Grunow; Professorin Dr. Gudrun P. Kiesmüller; Professor Dr. Rainer Kolisch; Professor Dr. Stefan Minner; Professorin Dr. Stefanie Rinderle-Ma; Professor Dr. Maximilian Schiffer, since 2/2019; Professor Dr. Andreas S. Schulz; Professor Dr. Stefan Weltge, since 2/2019
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Martin Bichler, since 1/2024