Nondifferentiable Optimization: Motivations and Applications

The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Laxenburg, Austria, has been involved in research on nondifferentiable optimization since 1976. IIASA-based East-West cooperation in this field has been very productive, leading to many important theoretical, algorithmic and applied results. Nondifferentiable optimi­ zation has now become a recognized and rapidly developing branch of mathematical programming. To continue this tradition, and to review recent developments in this field, IIASA held a Workshop on Nondifferentiable Optimization in Sopron (Hungary) in September 1964. The aims of the Workshop were: 1. To discuss the state-of-the-art of nondifferentiable optimization (NDO), its origins and motivation; 2. To compare-various algorithms; 3. To evaluate existing mathematical approaches, their applications and potential; 4. To extend and deepen industrial and other applications of NDO. The following topics were considered in separate sessions: General motivation for research in NDO: nondifferentiability in applied problems, nondifferentiable mathematical models. Numerical methods for solving nondifferentiable optimization problems, numerical experiments, comparisons and software. Nondifferentiable analysis: various generalizations of the concept of subdifferen­ tials. Industrial and other applications. This volume contains selected papers presented at the Workshop. It is divided into four sections, based on the above topics: I. Concepts in Nonsmooth Analysis II. Multicriteria Optimization and Control Theory III. Algorithms and Optimization Methods IV. Stochastic Programming and Applications We would like to thank the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, particularly Prof. V. Kaftanov and Prof. A.B. Kurzhanski, for their support in organiz­ ing this meeting.