Section: Partnerships and Cooperations
European Initiatives
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Title: Sparse Representations and Compressed Sensing Training Network
Instrument: Initial Training Network
Duration: October 2014 to October 2018
Coordinator: Mark Plumbley (University of Surrey)
Abstract: The SpaRTaN Initial Training Network will train a new generation of interdisciplinary researchers in sparse representations and compressed sensing, contributing to Europe’s leading role in scientific innovation. By bringing together leading academic and industry groups with expertise in sparse representations, compressed sensing, machine learning and optimisation, and with an interest in applications such as hyperspectral imaging, audio signal processing and video analytics, this project will create an interdisciplinary, trans-national and inter-sectorial training network to enhance mobility and training of researchers in this area. SpaRTaN is funded under the FP7-PEOPLE-2013- ITN call and is part of the Marie Curie Actions — Initial Training Networks (ITN) funding scheme: Project number - 607290
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Title: Machine Sensing Training Network
Instrument: Initial Training Network
Duration: January 2015 - January 2019
Coordinator: Mark Plumbley (University of Surrey)
Abstract: The aim of this Innovative Training Network is to train a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative early stage researchers (ESRs) in the research area of measurement and estimation of signals using knowledge or data about the underlying structure. We will develop new robust and efficient Machine Sensing theory and algorithms, together methods for a wide range of signals, including: advanced brain imaging; inverse imaging problems; audio and music signals; and non-traditional signals such as signals on graphs. We will apply these methods to real-world problems, through work with non-Academic partners, and disseminate the results of this research to a wide range of academic and non-academic audiences, including through publications, data, software and public engagement events. MacSeNet is funded under the H2020-MSCA-ITN-2014 call and is part of the Marie Sklodowska- Curie Actions — Innovative Training Networks (ITN) funding scheme.
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ERC Sequoia Title: Robust algorithms for learning from modern data
Abstract: Machine learning is needed and used everywhere, from science to industry, with a growing impact on many disciplines. While first successes were due at least in part to simple supervised learning algorithms used primarily as black boxes on medium-scale problems, modern data pose new challenges. Scalability is an important issue of course: with large amounts of data, many current problems far exceed the capabilities of existing algorithms despite sophisticated computing architectures. But beyond this, the core classical model of supervised machine learning, with the usual assumptions of independent and identically distributed data, or well-defined features, outputs and loss functions, has reached its theoretical and practical limits. Given this new setting, existing optimization-based algorithms are not adapted. The main objective of this project is to push the frontiers of supervised machine learning, in terms of (a) scalability to data with massive numbers of observations, features, and tasks, (b) adaptability to modern computing environments, in particular for parallel and distributed processing, (c) provable adaptivity and robustness to problem and hardware specifications, and (d) robustness to non-convexities inherent in machine learning problems. To achieve the expected breakthroughs, we will design a novel generation of learning algorithms amenable to a tight convergence analysis with realistic assumptions and efficient implementations. They will help transition machine learning algorithms towards the same wide- spread robust use as numerical linear algebra libraries. Outcomes of the research described in this proposal will include algorithms that come with strong convergence guarantees and are well-tested on real-life benchmarks coming from computer vision, bioin- formatics, audio processing and natural language processing. For both distributed and non-distributed settings, we will release open-source software, adapted to widely available computing platforms.