News from 4C Industry Associates Programme

Free Admission to the Demo Stream of the Constraint Programming Conference for 4C IAP Members

The Ninth International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming is being held at the Acton Hotel in Kinsale, between the 29 September - 3 October 2003. The conference comprises a technical programme, a series of 8 workshops, an invited lecture programme and a demo stream.

4C are involved in running the event, which has sponsorship from the Science Foundation Ireland.

Of particular interest to our IAP members is the demo stream on the 2nd October between 6:30 and 7:30pm, sponsored by Colognet. At this event you will have the opportunity to meet with people building both software libraries for Constraint Programming and applications using the technology. You will be able to see in practice some of the latest developments in software tools and their deployment. This will take place in an informal setting with food and refreshment provided.

4C Receives Funding for Collaboration with Shuf Valve Technologies, SPS Hi-Life Tool, Tipperary Wood Products, and the University of Limerick

With SFI-funded research scientist Dr. Chris Beck playing a key role, 4C has obtained funding from the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology for a project entitled Automated Construction of Optimisation Models for the Manufacturing Enterprise (ACOMME). Constraint programming is a proven, key technology in the optimisation of the activities of manufacturing enterprises. Implementation of a constraint solution, however, requires expertise, time, effort, and experimentation. This three-year project examines the automation of the construction of optimisation models for manufacturing enterprises. Through the creation of the enterprise and optimisation models of the three industrial project partners (Shuf Valve Technologies, SPS Hi-Life Tool, Tipperary Wood Products), the academic partners, Prof. Eugene Freuder and Dr. J. Christopher Beck, 4C, and Dr. Con Sheahan, University of Limerick will investigate the optimisation modelling process. This investigation will then be used to construct a series of increasingly sophisticated prototypes that automate the optimisation modeling process. The goal of the project is an "electronic consultant clone" that is able to automatically create strong optimisation models allowing reductions in time, effort, and expense as well as a significant increase in the uptake of constraint programming by small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises.

4C Receives Software Grant from ILOG

Chris Beck and Toby Walsh of 4C have secured software license grants from ILOG, an international company with corporate headquarters in Gentilly, France, and Mountain View, California, and subsidiaries in England, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and Spain. The software will be used for research in constraint programming and its applications. ILOG's enterprise-class software components and services help companies maximize business agility and improve operating efficiency; over 1000 global corporations and 300 leading software vendors utilize ILOG technologies. Gene Freuder, the Director of 4C, serves on the ILOG Technical Advisory Board.

4C Receives Software Donation from Logic Programming Associates Ltd.

Logic Programming Associates Ltd. (LPA) donated their LPA Prolog (developers edition) including flex and Prolog ++ and other AI tools. Logic Programming Associates (LPA) is one of the world's longest established software houses specialising in the development and support of Prolog compilers and related software. Founded in 1980, their products expertise targets the desktop through the Windows, Mac and DOS platforms, as well as the Internet, providing smart software tools for intelligent industry solutions. LPA also undertakes bespoke projects or consultancy, and provides tailored courses in the areas of Expert Systems, Artificial Intelligence and general Prolog programming.

More information: LPA

Xerox Renews Funding of 4C

The Xerox University Affairs Committee has renewed its grant to 4C for another year. Barry O'Sullivan, Sarah O'Connell, and Gene Freuder are collaborating with Lisa Purvis of Xerox in the U.S. Xerox conducts research at centers around the world, driving invention and innovation throughout the corporation. Their research has a broad scope -- ranging from technology R&D to smart matter and sensemaking -- and it leverages skills from disciplines as disparate as sociology and ethnography.

More information: Xerox Corporation

Cadcoevolution Sponsorship

Barry O'Sullivan has received industry sponsorship from Cadcoevolution. The sponsorship is in the form of a suite of CAD software and a training course to be held at 4C.

More information: cadcoevolution

Xerox / 4C Collaboration

The Xerox University Affairs Committee is funding a collaboration with 4C. Lisa Purvis at Xerox is working with Barry O'Sullivan, Sarah O'Connell and Gene Freuder. Xerox has issued a press release on the work of Dr. Purvis.

More information: Xerox Press Release