Information on GOR in English

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The German Operations Research Society

Special History – From DGOR and GMÖOR to GOR  

The Gesellschaft für Operations Research (GOR), the German Operations Research Society, can look back on a remarkably long history, which began with the Arbeitskreis Operations Research (AKOR, founded in 1956, a working group for Operations Research), and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unternehmensforschung (DGU, founded in 1961, the German Society for Operations Research).  

Operations research methods were also developed and discussed at conferences in the former G.D.R. (German Democratic Republic). For ideological reasons, the terms Mathematische Operationsforschung, Mathematische Optimierung or just Optimierung (Optimization) took the role. Mathematical research in the G.D.R. has been organized in Hauptforschungsrichtungen (major branches of research) of which those in Optimization and Statistics together covered broad aspects of Operations Research, both theoretical and applied. Contributions include early applied work from 1956 of the optimization group from Leuna-Merseburg Technical College on solving gas mixing problems arising in the company Leuna-Werke using linear programming. On the theoretical side, results were achieved in literally all branches of optimization from non-linear to discrete, from multi-objective and stochastic to infinite-dimensional. Since 1970, the peer-reviewed international scientific journal Mathematische Operationsforschung und Statistik with its branches Optimization and Statistics, which is continued today with the journals Optimization and Statistics, has been a recognized means of disseminating the results. Regular international scientific conferences have been extremely useful in promoting scientific exchange. Popular examples include the annual meetings Jahrestagung Mathematische Optimierung organized by the optimization group from Humboldt-University Berlin and the International Conferences on Optimization held at Wartburg Castle by the optimization group from Ilmenau Technical College. The impact of these conferences lies in the harmonization of scientific quality and personal contacts, which enable scientific cooperation across political boundaries. 

In 1972, AKOR and DGU merged and became the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Operations Research (DGOR, the German Operations Research Society). From 1979, the year in which the Gesellschaft für Mathematik, Ökonomie und Operations Research (GMÖOR, the Society for Mathematics, Economics and Operations Research) was founded, two independent societies for the promotion of Operations Research existed simultaneously in Germany.  

The DGOR was more oriented towards practicality and management, while the GMÖOR represented the more theoretical and mathematically oriented branch of Operations Research. In 1998, the DGOR and GMÖOR finally merged to form the GOR. Today, the GOR has a total of around 1,100 members – individuals and institutions from science, industry, and administration. 

Organization – Unique Feature      

The GOR is a non-profit organization. Its central task, as laid down in the society’s statutes, is to promote the dissemination and use of Operations Research in science and practice.  

This is done primarily with the help of publications, conferences, working groups, and the promotion of young scientists and research activities. The following triangle is the basic organizational structure: 

The GOR has its own homepage provides its members with a monthly newsletter and runs its own member journal, the OR NEWS published 3 times per year. All the activities are described in detail on GOR´s own website www.gor-ev.de. 

Working Groups  

The working groups are a particularly important instrument of the GOR. Their main purpose is to establish and intensify contacts between industry, administration, and universities. There are currently 16 working groups:  

Analytics	Game Theory and Behavioral Management	Technical   Operations Research	Project Management and Scheduling
Decision Theory   and Practice	Health Care Management	Practice of Mathematical Optimization	Simulation and Optimization of Complex Systems
Financial Management and Investments	Logistics and Transportation	Pricing & Revenue Management	Supply Chain Management
Fuzzy Systems, Neural Networks and Artificial Intelligence	Environment and Energy	Forecasting – Methods, Systems   and Applications	Information   Systems

Annual Conference – Trinational Dimension 

Among the conferences and workshops regularly organized by the GOR, the series of annual Operations Research (OR) conferences undoubtedly plays the most important role. Some of them are organized trinationally with Austria and Switzerland. 

The OR is an international scientific conference (conference languages are German and English) that regularly attracts between 400 and 900 participants, not only from Germany, but from all over the world.                   

During this event, various awards are presented to recognize the achievements of scientists and companies contributing to the advancement of OR. Since 2019, the conference has included a special program for PhD students, known as “DOCT!OR,” which provides a dedicated stream for young researchers to present their work and network with peers. 

In addition to the scientific sessions, the conference serves as an important gathering for the society’s committees. Key bodies such as the GOR board, advisory board, and working group leaders convene to discuss strategic directions, initiatives, and ongoing projects, fostering collaboration and engagement within the OR community. 

Following the conference, an OR Proceedings book is published, containing brief articles on all research presentations delivered during the event. 

Long Tradition of Conference Proceedings 

The Scientific Journals 

Annual Tutorial: Exchange between Practitioners & Scientists 

At least once a year – usually on the day before the start of the annual conference –  the GOR organizes a one-day tutorial on a subject area that is considered strategically important for the future development of Operations Research in Germany. The main aim of the tutorial is therefore to provide an easy-to-understand introduction to the topic and a condensed presentation of the „state of the art“ to encourage scientists and practitioners to engage with issues in the relevant specialist area. At the same time, the tutorial is intended to establish and deepen contacts between interested practitioners and scientists. The event has been welcoming internationally renowned experts as speakers, most recently Kalyan Talluri (Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona) on „Revenue Management“, John Sterman (MIT, Cambridge, Mass.) on „System Dynamics“, and David Hand (Imperial College, London) on „Business Intelligence“. 

Awards 

The GOR recognizes excellence in the field of Operations Research through a variety of prestigious awards along the whole life cycle of scientists. The GOR Bachelor Award is presented to outstanding graduates of bachelor’s programs related to Operations Research, highlighting exceptional academic achievements and encouraging further engagement in the field. The GOR Diploma and Master Award honors exceptional theses and is awarded at the GOR annual conference, with winners receiving fee exemptions and reimbursement for travel costs. 

The GOR Dissertation Award recognizes outstanding doctoral dissertations in Operations Research, while the GOR Young Researchers Award is given to early-career scientists demonstrating excellence among others through publications in notable journals. Both awards come with monetary prizes and additional benefits typically sponsored by industry or the GOR itself. 

The GOR Science Award, established in 1989, is the most prestigious award given by GOR, recognizing a scientist for their outstanding contributions to the field with a prize of €8,000. The GOR Company Award, established in 2006, is presented biennially and alternately to the Science Award for companies that significantly contribute to the application and dissemination of Operations Research, rewarding innovative projects with proven OR contributions. 

Through these awards, GOR aims to promote excellence and innovation in Operations Research, benefiting both academic and practical advancements. 

Special Relations to EURO 

The relationship between the GOR and the Association of European Operational Research Societies is characterized by active cooperation and mutual support.  

Both organizations promote a lively exchange between their members through participation in committees and conferences. This cooperation also includes the promotion of each other’s journals and events and ensures that members are informed about and engaged in the latest developments in the field of operational research. 

Many GOR members are strongly involved in the organization of EURO summer schools and participate in various EURO working groups. This commitment does not only promote their professional development, but also strengthens the links between the two organizations. 

In addition, the GOR maintains a permanent EURO representative to ensure direct communication during votes, elections and surveys. This position plays a critical role in maintaining a smooth and effective relationship between GOR and EURO and fosters a collaborative environment that benefits the entire operational research community. 

These initiatives make GOR and EURO an example of a strong partnership that promotes the growth and impact of Operations Research across Europe.