Number 1, November 1996.

Reports on Conferences and Workshops

F R I S C O Open Workshop on The Needs of Industry in Polynomial System Solving

Addlink, Barcelona (Spain), October 23-25, 1996

by Laureano Gonzalez-Vega, University of Cantabria, Santander (Spain) gvega@matsun1.matesco.unican.es

The aim of the F R I S C O project is to investigate and develop technologies which can be used to deliver highly efficient, versatile polynomial solvers to industrial users. Many industrial problems can be reduced to polynomial equations or polynomial systems. While methods exist which in principle provide complete solutions to these problems, in practice these methods are rarely used outside academic circles. This is because:

• Existing implementations of these algorithms are not efficient enough to tackle large systems.

• The environments in which these algorithms are implemented - typically interactive computer algebra systems - cannot be interfaced to existing scientific applications in an effective way.

Nevertheless there is demonstrable, widespread and persisting interest in applying these algorithms in areas ranging from telecommunications to automated manufacturing and robotics. Such interest provides a strong and encouraging indicator of the industrial relevance of this project.

The F R I S C O Open Workshop on ``The Needs of Industry in Polynomial System Solving" was organized by the EU FP IV F R I S C O Project (No. 21024) with the collaboration of Addlink (the main Spanish distributor of mathematical software). The purpose of the Open Workshop was to bring scientists and engineers in European industry and dealing with polynomial equations into contact with the F R I S C O project. The future development of the F R I S C O project will take into account the real needs on Polynomial System Solving of the industrial users of mathematical software as expressed in the Open Workshop. The program of the Workshop was a combination of F R I S C O presentations, presentations of industrial problems and/or solutions, and panel discussions:

Wednesday 23

• Welcome and Overview by Stephen Watt
• FRISCO Presentation by Carlo Traverso
• The CAN (Computer Algebra in the Netherlands) case: The SCAFI (Studies of Computer Algebra for Industry) experience by André Heck
• Utilité des techniques de calcul formel pour quelques problemes de recherche en milieu industriel by Didier Pinchon

Thursday 24

• Non Linear Solving Capabilities of the F R I S C O project by Marie-Françoise Roy
• The APIA XXI case (Traffic Engineering at Spain) by Francisco Cambronero
• The CCETT case (Filter Banks at France) by Fabrice Rouillier
• Nonlinear problems in Computer Vision by Javier Finat
• The TECNATOM case (Software development at Spain) by Mar´a del Carmen Pérez Melguizo
• Computer Algebra Approaches to Enzyme kinetics by James Davenport
• The LABEIN case (Mechanics and CAD/CAM at Spain)by Sara Casado
• The CANDEMAT case (CAD/CAM at Spain) by Jesús Espinola
• The PEGOP case (Electrical Power Plant at Portugal) by Lu´s de Matos
• The EDF case (Program Verification at France) by Herve Marchand
• Study of plants with uncertain parameters: Interval arithmetic approach by Joaqu´n Armengol

Friday 25

• Mathematics, Software and Industry: A survey by Laureano Gonzalez-Vega
• Panel discussion I: Needs of Industry on Non-linear Solving
• Panel discussion II: FRISCO Solutions to Industry Needs
• Creation of the spanish Industrial Liaison Group for FRISCO

A report summarizing the results of this workshop and overviewing the different problems/questions raised by the different companies/industries contacted by the F R I S C O project will be available in early spring 1997.

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