Natural Computing Group: Home

Welcome to the Natural Computing Cluster

At the Natural Computing Cluster, LIACS, University Leiden, we delve into the fascinating world where natural phenomena intersect with computational algorithms. Our team of dedicated senior researchers and PhD students is committed to advancing the frontiers of knowledge in areas like evolutionary algorithms, neural networks, and the principles of natural processes that inspire computational techniques.

Research

Our mission is to foster a deep understanding of natural computing and to develop innovative solutions that can address some of the world's most complex problems. By harnessing the power of nature-inspired computing, we aim to contribute to scientific advancement and create a positive impact on society. Research in natural computing is at the core of our activities, covering theoretical foundations, the development of new algorithms, and interdisciplinary applications of natural computing methods. Some of our current projects, in particular, focus on the following areas:

Robust optimization using evolutionary algorithms
Multiple criteria decision support
Mixed-integer evolutionary strategies (MIES)
Cellular automata for simulation applications
Particle swarm algorithms
Multiparameter physics applications (e.g., quantum control)
Medical image analysis applications
Drug design by interactive and automatic evolution
Protein folding and docking applications
Supply chain applications
Predictive Maintenance
eXplainable Artificial Intelligence

Beyond this, we are also executing projects in direct cooperation with industry (see collaborations for more information). The driving force behind our research is the mission to increase our understanding of natural systems as models of computation, with a focus on the development of new algorithms and applications to challenging problems.

News

April 09, 2024

Spotlight on WCCI 2024 Accepted Papers
Our group got two papers accepted at this year’s World Congress on Computational Intelligence (WCCI) 2024. Let’s briefly explore the two accepted works in the field of optimization and logistics.
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April 05, 2024

Nine Papers Accepted at GECCO 2024
Leiden, The Netherlands – The Natural Computing research cluster of LIACS, Leiden University is proud to announce that 9 of our papers and one hot-of-the-track paper have been accepted for presentation at the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO) 2024.
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January 08, 2024
Hello and Welcome! We are thrilled to announce the launch of our blog, a new platform where we will share insights, discoveries, and the latest developments in the fascinating world of natural computing. This blog is an extension of the Natural Computing Group at Leiden, a place where nature meets the cutting edge of computational research.

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Research

We engage in cutting-edge research that spans a variety of disciplines. Our research cluster collaborates with international researchers and industry partners, creating a vibrant community that shares a passion for exploring the untapped potential of natural computing. We are proud to be at the forefront of this dynamic field, contributing to groundbreaking discoveries and technologies.

HyTROS

Hydrogen Transport, Offshore and Storage

TEMPORAL

New speech encoding strategies for cochlear implants

AI for Oversight

AI for Oversight ICAI lab

XAIPre

eXplainable AI for Predictive Maintenance

Complex Lens Design

Optimization of Complex Lens Designs

AI for Logistics

Multi-objective logistics

Excellent Buildings

Realistic Geometries for optimal performance

Event partnerships

The Natural Computing Cluster is an academic partner of the International Conference on Evolutionary Computation Theory and Applications (ECTA). This conference intends to be a major forum for scientists, engineers and practitioners interested in the study, analysis, design, modeling and implementation of evolvable systems, both theoretically and in a broad range of application fields. ECTA welcomes both theoretical research and practical applications. The conference also aims to foster hybrid approaches within evolutionary computation and also involving fuzzy computation and neural computation.