The Interuniversity Attraction Poles programme is managed by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO). The programme was created in 1987 by Guy Verhofstadt, then Minister for Scientific Affairs. It is presently in its seventh phase. Full information about the programme can be found at the IAP website of BELSPO.
The aim of the programme is to fund basic research by promoting collaborative research, through networks of research teams in different Belgian universities. There are 47 networks in the phase 2012-2017 ; these networks cover all disciplines.
The year 2012 is the starting year for Phase VII of our IAP network "Dynamical systems, control and optimization" (DYSCO), which covers the period 2012 - 2017. Several of the teams of DYSCO have participated in previous IAP networks.
| Phase I (1987-1991) | IAP 13: Automation in design and production techniques |
| Phase II (1990-1996) | IAP 17: Modelling, simulation and control of complex systems |
| Phase III (1991-1996) | IAP 50: Robotics and industrial automation |
| Phase IV (1997-2001) | IAP 02: Modelling, Identification, Simulation and Control of Complex Systems |
| Phase V (2002-2006) | IAP 22: Dynamical systems and control : computation, identification and modelling |
| Phase VI (2007-2011) | IAP 04: DYSCO (Dynamical systems, control and optimization) |
| Phase VII (2012-2017) | IAP 19: DYSCO II (Dynamical systems, control and optimization) |
These successive IAP fundings have allowed us to build a strong network and scientific environment in Belgium.
A very special event was the visit of King Albert II of Belgium on October 1, 2009. This visit of our network, under the auspices of Belspo, was a unique opportunity to highlight the role of the IAP programme in promoting fundamental research. The programme of the day featured a presentation by Ms Sabine Laruelle, Minister of Scientific Research, and talks by Professors Michel Gevers (IAP coordinator), Rodolphe Sepulchre, Jan Van Impe, Moritz Diehl and Philippe Lefèvre.
Here follow a few pictures that were taken on that day :
