Natural Computing Group: Research in AI and Optimization

Welcome to the Natural Computing Cluster

At the Natural Computing Cluster (NaCo), part of LIACS at Leiden University, we delve into the fascinating intersection of nature-inspired computation and real-world problem-solving. Our cluster integrates six special interest groups, each pushing the boundaries of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Optimization, and Data Science.

Research areas

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. Our cluster focuses on a wide array of topics, combining foundational research with practical applications. These include:

Nature-Inspired Algorithms: foundational work in evolutionary computing, metaheuristics and related methodologies.
Explainable AI (XAI): Advancing fair, interpretable, and transparent AI solutions tailored to diverse industries.
Algorithm Benchmarking and Configuration: Rigorous evaluation and fine-tuning for optimal algorithmic performance.
Generative AI and LLM-Aided Design: Exploring creative and automated approaches for designing algorithms.
Quantum Computing: Tackling optimization challenges using cutting-edge quantum methodologies.
Logistics and Sustainability: Machine learning-driven solutions for supply chain, vehicle routing, and green manufacturing.
Multi-Objective Optimization: Efficient techniques for robust, multimodal, and scalable optimization challenges.

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

May 06, 2025

Natural Computing at GECCO 2025: 10 Papers Accepted
Leiden, The Netherlands – The Natural Computing research cluster at LIACS, Leiden University is proud to share that ten of our papers — plus three Hot Off the Press and one Competition paper — have been accepted for presentation at the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO) 2025.
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January 14, 2025

Beyond the Prompt: Ep. 4
In our latest Beyond the Prompt episode, we dive into the fascinating paper, “Generative Agent Simulations of 1,000 People,” by Joon Sung Park et al. This research pushes the boundaries of AI-driven human behavioral simulation, offering an innovative generative agent architecture built on large language models (LLMs). These agents emulate the attitudes and behaviors of real individuals, drawn from in-depth interviews and validated against social science benchmarks.
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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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Older posts…

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.

Conceptual Vehicle Design

Conceptual vehicle design using optimization and generative AI

Time Series Anomaly

Unsupervised detection of anomalies in high-dimensional temporal data.

Causal Policy Models

Optimising causal interventions.

AI Compliance by Design

Technical challenges of the EU AI Act

ARISE-NMD

AI for precision diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases

LLaMEA

Large Language Evolutionary Algorithm

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.