"The complex issues associated with digitalization require an exchange across the disciplines and between researchers and practitioners. The OR2017 conference offers one of the world's largest forums for this," says Professor Dr. Natalia Kliewer. An economist at the School of Business and Economics, Freie Universität Berlin, Kliewer is in charge of the conference, which she organized jointly with Prof. Dr. Ralf Borndörfer from the Institute of Mathematics, Freie Universität, and Prof. Dr. Jan Ehmke from European University Viadrina.

With around 600 presentations in 26 methodological or application-oriented subject areas, including two plenary and 12 semi-plenary lectures, the conference organizers want to provide an opportunity for an intensive exchange of ideas. On the day before the presentations there will be various workshops where participants will have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with leading planning tools and software libraries. Two hackathons are being held for the younger generation of researchers on cloud optimization, smart mobility, and machine learning. (The word hackathon is a combination of hack and marathon and describes an event in which collaborative software and hardware are developed.)