I gave a talk at DIMACS on the importance of DIMACS Challenges. In short, we need the Challenges because it is important for the advancement of the field of computational optimization. You are welcome to see the slides here.
Mike Trick's Operations Research Blog
Thoughts on the world of operations research
I gave a talk at DIMACS on the importance of DIMACS Challenges. In short, we need the Challenges because it is important for the advancement of the field of computational optimization. You are welcome to see the slides here.
If prizes are a good idea (and I think they are) why not go one weirder and go for prediction markets? Both prizes and prediction markets have been championed by Robin Hanson.
What bets on OR would people gamble on? And thus make money on if they are right. The prediction market is a fascinating way to incentivise research
http://hanson.gmu.edu/ideafutures.html
I agree that we need more challenges. The international timetabling competition 2007 really helped the advancement of Drools Planner (AKA Drools Solver).
Might you happen to have a list of current and upcoming challenges?
The website http://www.dimacs.rutgers.edu/Challenges gives all the Challenges. I don’t believe any are underway at the moment (though perhaps my talk will inspire!).
What bets on OR would people gamble on? And thus make money on if they are right. The prediction market is a fascinating way to incentivise research