COMPutational economics and optimization- Agents, Machines and Artificial intelligence

How can emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and optimization methods, improve decision-making in complex fields like energy, finance, and economics? This was the core question addressed by COMPAMA, a project that explored innovative approaches to represent and analyze decisions in economic systems. By combining insights from economics, optimization, psychology, machine learning, and AI, the project aimed to advance both knowledge and practical applications while fostering international collaboration. COMPAMA (https://www.ntnu.edu/compama/) developed four novel Ph.D. courses at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), each worth 2.5 ECTS credits, which were taught twice by internationally renowned academics. These courses not only enhanced student learning but also brought valuable knowledge to NTNU faculty, improving other educational offerings in the process. The courses were supplemented with two workshops organized by COMPAMA. The first workshop, held in 2022, focused on the use of machine learning to enhance optimization techniques, combining theoretical insights with real-world applications. The second workshop, held in 2024, explored how AI models can be made more interpretable and aligned with human reasoning, emphasizing topics such as Explainable AI (XAI) and Probabilistic AI. Both workshops featured internationally recognized keynote speakers. The project also facilitated multiple research visits between 2022 and 2024, resulting in new and innovative research collaborations. Some of these visits built on existing relationships, while others served as starting points for entirely new research directions. These visits were highly productive, eventually leading to the publication of over ten papers during the project. They also provided valuable opportunities for students and faculty to engage in meaningful academic exchanges and fostered discussions that led to new research ideas and project proposals. COMPAMA successfully expanded NTNU’s international research network, bringing together academics from diverse fields and institutions. The project made substantial progress in addressing multidisciplinary topics. It advanced applications of AI and optimization in areas such as energy and finance, creating a strong foundation for future research. In conclusion, COMPAMA achieved its primary objectives of further internationalizing the research field of economics and management in Norway and advancing methodologies in emerging areas. The project’s global reach, innovative collaborations, and educational contributions ensure a lasting impact on both academia and industry.

COMPAMA’s main achievements include: • Expanding NTNU’s existing network and establishing a new international network focused on the topics addressed in the project. • Designing and delivering four innovative, compact Ph.D. courses in two cycles, each worth 2.5 ECTS. • Providing knowledge to the academic community on the emerging topics covered by the project. • Organizing three webinars, one seminar, and two workshops to share the project’s developments, explore new research areas, and facilitate the initiation of multidisciplinary research projects. • Leveraging the knowledge and collaborations fostered by the project to submit several project proposals. • Disseminating research findings through publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presentations at international conferences.

COMPAMA is developing an emerging interdisciplinary area in the borderland between economics, optimization, psychology, machine learning and AI with the main purpose to understand the economic impact of decisions, made by both machines and human agents. The point of departure for this project is the internationally recognized research group at NTNU «Computational Economics and Optimization» which was participating in the SAMEVAL evaluation in 2017. COMPAMA seeks to develop a phd course program and exchange activities. This will be done in close collaboration between key competences and professors from each field, initiated through previous and ongoing RCN and EU projects. The SAMEVAL call is an appreciated prerequisite to further methodological strengthening of the area and enables increased international outreach and collaboration. International contacts are core contributors to our new national (and international) phd courses.This will be a mix of ongoing cooperation and new relationships made possible by COMPAMA. These are critical in the collaboration needed for the methodological and conceptual enhancement of the research area that is the focal point of COMPAMA.