1st International Workshop on
   COMBINATIONS of INTELLIGENT METHODS and APPLICATIONS
                                                 (CIMA 2008)
               (URL: http://mmlab.ceid.upatras.gr/aigroup/ecai08-cima/)

                                           in conjunction with
            18th European Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ECAI 2008)

                  21/22 July, 2008, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

*******************************************************************************************
                                      CALL FOR PAPERS

The combination of different intelligent methods is a very active research area in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The aim is to create integrated or hybrid methods that benefit from each of their components. It is generally
believed that complex problems can be easier solved with such integrated or hybrid methods. Some of the
existing efforts combine what are called soft computing methods (fuzzy logic, neural networks and genetic
algorithms) either among themselves or with more traditional AI technologies such as logic and rules. Another
stream of efforts integrates case-based reasoning and machine learning with soft-computing and traditional AI
methods. Yet another integrates agent-based approaches with logic and also non-symbolic approaches. Some
of the combinations have been quite important and more extensively used, like neuro-symbolic methods, neuro-
fuzzy methods and methods combining rule-based and case-based reasoning. However, there are other
combinations that are still under investigation. In some cases, combinations are based on first principles, but in
most cases they are created in the context of specific applications.

The Workshop is intended to become a forum for exchanging experience and ideas among researchers and
practitioners who are dealing with combining intelligent methods either based on first principles or in the context
of specific applications.

Important issues of the Workshop are (but not limited to):

  Case-Based Reasoning Integrations
  Genetic Algorithms Integrations
  Combinations and Web Intelligence
  Combinations and Web Mining
  Fuzzy-Evolutionary Systems
  Hybrid Knowledge Representation Approaches/Systems
  Hybrid and Distributed Ontologies
  Information Fusion Techniques for Hybrid Intelligent Systems
  Integrations of Neural Networks
  Intelligent Agents Integrations
  Machine Learning Combinations
  Neuro-Fuzzy Approaches/Systems

  Applications of Combinations of Intelligent Methods in
    -Biology & Bioinformatics
    -Education & Distance Learning
    -Medicine & Health Care


 PAPER SUBMISSION

We are interested in high quality research papers on the above or related topics. Interested authors should submit
electronic versions of their papers (in pdf, ps or word format) by email to the Contact Chair (see below). The papers
should not exceed 5 pages (following ECAI guidelines: http://www.ece.upatras.gr/ecai2008/documents/ecai2008.pdf)
and are due by May 1st, 2008. All papers will be refereed by at least two members of the program committee of the
Workshop.

PROCEEDINGS

Proceedings of all accepted papers in pdf format will be published in electronic form in the CEUR workshop
proceedings database (an ISSN number will be given). A hardcopy of the proceedings and a CD including the
proceedings of all ECAI 2008 Workshops will be distributed during the workshop. Selected authors will be
asked to submit extended versions of their papers to be considered (after a second review round) for publication
in a special issue of the International Journal of Hybrid Intelligent Systems (IJHIS).

WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE

One of the authors of each accepted paper is expected to register for the Workshop and present it. Workshop
registrants should register for the main conference too. Authors of accepted papers should provide proof for their
registration by the camera-ready deadline, otherwise their papers will not be included in the proceedings
and presented at the Workshop. Authors of Workshop accepted papers have a good chance to get an ECCAI
Travel Award (http://www.eccai.org/travelaw.shtml).

All contributions should be submitted (no later than May 1, 2008) to:

 Ioannis Hatzilygeroudis
 Department of Computer Engineering & Informatics
 University of Patras
 26500 Patras, HELLAS (GREECE)
 Tel: +30-2610-996937
 Email: ihatz@ceid.upatras.gr


 IMPORTANT DATES

  Paper submission: 1st May, 2008
  Acceptance notification: 22nd May, 2008
  Camera-ready: 6th June, 2008


 ORGANIZERS AND CO-CHAIRS

  Ioannis Hatzilygeroudis,  University of Patras, Greece
  Constantinos Koutsojannis, University of Patras, Greece
  Vasile Palade, Oxford University, UK

 PROGRAM COMMITTEE (To be completed)

  Ajith Abraham, IITA, South Korea
  Ao Sio Iong, Oxford University, UK
  Plamen Agelov,  Lancaster University, UK
  Emilio Corchado, University of Burgos, Spain
  George Dounias, University of the Aegean, Greece
  Artur S. d'Avila Garcez, City University, UK
  Melanie Hilario, CUI - University of Geneva, Switzerland
  Elpida Keravnou-Papailiou, University of Cyprus, Cyprus
  Rudolf Kruse, University of Magdeburg, Germany
  George Magoulas, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK
  Vasilis Megalooikonomou, University of Patras, Greece
  Toni Moreno, University Rovira i Virgili, Spain
  Amedeo Napoli, CNRS-INRIA-University of Nancy, France
  Ciprian-Daniel Neagu, University of Bradford, UK
  Jim Prentzas,Technological Educational Institute of Lamia, Greece
  Han Reichgelt, Southern Polytechnic State University, USA
  David Sanchez, University Rovira i Virgili, Spain
  Douglas Vieira, University of Minas Gerais, Brazil