Epstein Family Chair Jong-Shi Pang and Andrew and Erna Viterbi Early Career Chair Meisam Razaviyayn chaired the 2025 International Conference on Continuous Optimization at USC.
The Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering served as host for the 2025 International Conference on Continuous Optimization (ICCOPT), which brought together 905 researchers and practitioners from across the globe to USC’s University Park campus from July 20-24, 2025.
The conference, chaired by Jong-Shi Pang, Epstein Family Chair and Distinguished Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Meisam Razaviyayn, Andrew and Erna Viterbi Early Career Chair at USC Viterbi, represented one of the largest gatherings in the field of continuous optimization. Participants represented 322 universities and companies from 30 countries spanning six continents, including Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and many others.
ICCOPT 2025 showcased the Epstein Department’s leadership in optimization research and commitment to advancing this critical field. The conference provided a platform for sharing cutting-edge research, fostering international collaborations, and addressing real-world challenges through optimization techniques.
The week-long event kicked off with a two-day summer school on July 19-20, drawing 100 PhD students eager to deepen their knowledge in continuous optimization.
Conference highlights included an opening mixer at the iconic California Science Center, where attendees networked against the backdrop of scientific exhibits. The academic program featured distinguished plenary and semi-plenary talks from leading experts, while 800 speakers presented their research across 12 parallel sessions over 30 spaces across the USC campus.
Recognition of excellence was woven throughout the conference, with dedicated sessions for the best paper prize and poster prize winners. These competitions celebrated innovative research pushing the boundaries of continuous optimization theory and applications. Daily themed meals provided additional opportunities for informal discussions and relationship-building among the international community of scholars.
The breadth and depth of topics covered reflected the diverse applications of continuous optimization, from machine learning and artificial intelligence to operations research, engineering design, and beyond. The convergence of theoretical advances and practical applications demonstrated the field’s vital role in addressing complex challenges facing society today.
For more information about the conference, including the full program and proceedings, visit the ICCOPT 2025 website.
Published on September 9th, 2025Last updated on December 1st, 2025