Introduction

International Federation for Information Processing

Established in 1960, the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) is a global organisation for researchers and professionals working in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) to conduct research, develop standards and promote information sharing.

IFIP is recognised by the United Nations and links some 50 national and international societies and academies of science with a total membership of over half a million professionals. IFIP is an international, non-governmental organisation that operates on a non-profit basis.

IFIP activities are coordinated by 13 Technical Committees (TCs) which are organised into more than 100 Working Groups (WGs). Each TC covers a particular aspect of computing and related disciplines.

System Modeling and Optimization

The aims are:

• to provide an international clearing house for computational (as well as related theoretical) aspects of optimization problems in diverse areas and to share computing experience gained on specific applications;
• to promote the development of necessary high-level theory to meet the needs of complex optimization problems and establish appropriate cooperation with the International Mathematics Union and similar organisations;
• to foster interdisciplinary activity on optimization problems spanning the various areas such as Economics (including Business Administration and Management), Biomedicine, Meteorology, etc., in cooperation with associated international bodies.

Reliability and Optimization of Structural Systems

The aims are:

• to promote and assist research, development of theory and application;
• to further dissemination and exchange of information;
• to encourage education

in structural system reliability and optimization.