Biographical sketch
I received a Master's degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy, in 1997, and a doctoral degree in Information Technologies from the faculty of Engineering of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium, in 2004. Since 1997, I work as an academic researcher in the field of computational intelligence. I am currently with IRIDIA, CoDE, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium, as a directeur de recherches (research director) of the fund for scientific research F.R.S.–FNRS of Belgium's Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
I have been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant for the project "DEMIURGE: automatic design of robot swarms" — ERC-2015-CoG: 2016–2022.
I have co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications in the field of computational intelligence. My papers have been cited more than 11000 times in publications monitored by Scoups and, according to Google Scholar, more than 33000 times in the scientific literature. My h-index is 57.
I authored the book Tuning Metaheuristics: A machine learning perspective, published in 2009 by Springer. My scientific video Swarmanoid, the movie won a number of awards including the Best Video Award at the AAAI Video Competition 2011. My article A racing algorithm for configuring metaheuristics received the SIGEVO Impact Award 2012.
I am an associate editor for Frontiers in Robotics and AI: Multi-Robot Systems, and an academic editor for PeerJ Computer Science. I served as an associate editor for Swarm Intelligence from 2006 to 2019 and I am currently a member of the editorial board. I also served as a member of the organizing committee for 17 international conferences, and as a member of the program committee for more than 50 international conferences in the last five years. From 2002 to 2018, I served as member of the organizing committee of the series of conferences ANTS. Between 2012 and 2015, I chaired for four times the AAAI Video Competition.
Academic and professional societies
I am a senior member of ACM and of IEEE. I am a member of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society and of the IEEE Robotic and Automation Society and of the IEEE AADCS: Task Force on Automated Algorithm Design, Configuration and Selection.
Honors
- Best Paper Award at BNAIC 2019, the 31st Belgium-Netherlands Conference on Artificial Intelligence Brussels, Belgium Nov 2019
- ERC Consolidator Grant for the project "DEMIURGE: Automatic design of robot swarms" started in October 2016 European Research Council Dec 2015
- Prix Wernaers 2012 pour la recherche et la diffusion des connaissances for the video "Swarmanoid, the movie" with Rehan O'Grady and Marco Dorigo F.R.S.–FNRS Aug 2012
- Innovative Technology Award at the Robot Film Festival for the video "Swarmanoid, the movie" with Rehan O'Grady and Marco Dorigo New York Jul 2012
- SIGEVO Impact Award 2012 for the GECCO 2002 paper: "A racing algorithm for configuring metaheuristics" Jul 2012
- Best Video Award at the AAAI-11 AI Video Competition for the video "Swarmanoid, the movie" written and directed by Mauro Birattari and Rehan O'Grady San Francisco, CA Aug 2011
- 2009 Outstanding Reviewer Award "for work on International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics, 2008" Emerald Literati Network Jun 2009
- Best Performing Algorithm at the International Timetabling Competition Metaheuristics Network and PATAT, the international series of conferences on the practice and theory of automated timetabling Manno, Switzerland Mar 2003
- Best Paper Award at BNAIC'99, the 11th Belgium-Netherlands Conference on Artificial Intelligence Maastricht, The Netherlands Nov 1999
Curriculum vitae
Here you can download my
CV:
Extraprofessional activities
I hold a black belt 3rd degree in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Grand Master Flavio Behring. I am the president, co-founder, and co-head instructor of Kaizen BJJ Brussels, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy that currently counts more than one hundred members. My hobbies include street photography, music, and cooking.
In the media
Mashable
Watch a swarm of robots lay artificial pheromones like ants
Short article and original video on our research published on Mashable, the popular news website and digital media platform.
MashableMar 7, 2024
IEEE-Spectrum
Stigmergy, robots and automatic design
Our video was included in the weekly video review of the magazine IEEE Spectrum.
IEEE-Spectrum, Video FridayFeb 23, 2024
FNRS news
Fascinante, l’IA va bouleverser la recherche et la société !
Article on the future of artificial intelligence published in FNRS news, the quarterly magazine of the fund for scientific research F.R.S.–FNRS of the French-speaking Community of Belgium.
FNRS newsJun 2023
Robohub
Simulations, real robots, and bloopers from the DOTS competition: Powering emergency food distribution using swarms
David Garzon Ramos, Jonas Kuckling, and Miquel Kegeleirs—three researchers of the ERC DEMIURGE project, and PhD students under my supervision—won the DOTS swarm robotics competition jointly organized by Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Toshiba Bristol Research and Innovation Laboratory and the South Gloucestershire Council’s UMBRELLA project. Congratulations, gentlemen!
RobohubJune 24, 2021
FNRS news
Les essaims de robots font évoluer la cartographie
Article on our research in Swarm SLAM published in FNRS news, the quarterly magazine of the fund for scientific research F.R.S.–FNRS of the French-speaking Community of Belgium.
FNRS newsJun 2021
Robohub
Towards mapping unknown environments with a robot swarm
Article on our research in Swarm SLAM published by Robohub, the popular online communication platform that covers robotics research, business, and education.
RobohubApr 1, 2021
G Square
Robotique en essaim: Une avancée méthodologique
Article on our perspective paper Disentangling automatic and semi-automatic approaches to the optimization-based design of control software for robot swarms published in G Square, the magazine of the Faculty of Engineering of the Université libre de Bruxelles.
G SquareSep 2020
FNRS news
La conception basée sur l’optimisation pour générer les comportements des essaims de robots
Article on our perspective paper Disentangling automatic and semi-automatic approaches to the optimization-based design of control software for robot swarms. Published in FNRS news, the quarterly magazine of the fund for scientific research F.R.S.–FNRS of the French-speaking Community of Belgium.
FNRS newsOct 2020
RTBF – Matière Grise
Quand la science s'inspire de la fiction
Presentation of my research and illustration of its relationship with science-fiction. Matière Grise is a popular science TV magazine produced by RTBF, the public service broadcaster of the French-speaking Community of Belgium.
RTBFSep 2, 2020
myScience
Conception par optimisation d’essaims de robots: deux approches distinctes
Short article on one of the pubblications I produced in the framework of the DEMIURGE Project: Disentangling automatic and semi-automatic approaches to the optimization-based design of control software for robot swarms.
myScienceAug 11, 2020
FNRS news
Quand l'union des robots fait la force: avec Mauro Birattari
Interview on my research in swarm robotics. Published in FNRS news, the quarterly magazine of the fund for scientific research F.R.S.–FNRS of the French-speaking Community of Belgium.
FNRS newsFeb 2020
RTL-TVI – Tout s'explique
Les Robots !
Interview and presentation of my research. Tout s'explique is a science and technology TV show broadcast by RTL-TVI, the most popular channel in the French-speaking area of Belgium.
RTL-TVIDec 12, 2019
FNRS: Donation campaign
Les actrices et acteurs de la recherche scientifique – Technologies
I was chosen by the fund for scientific research F.R.S.–FNRS to be one of the testimonials for the donation campaign 2019.
FNRS, donation campaignDec 2019
FNRS news
Un manifeste de la génération automatique d’essaims de robots
Article on our Manifesto of the automatic off-line design of robot swarms. Published in FNRS news, the quarterly magazine of the fund for scientific research F.R.S.–FNRS of the French-speaking Community of Belgium.
FNRS newsOct 2019
myScience
Une programmation automatique des robots pour faciliter le quotidien
Short article on one of the pubblications I produced in the framework of the DEMIURGE Project: a Manifesto of the automatic off-line design of robot swarms.
myScienceAug 22, 2019
新发现Science&Vie
机器人，团结就是力量
Article on swarm robotics that mentions my research. Published in the Chinese edition of the popular French-language science magazione Science&Vie.
新发现Science&VieFeb 2019
ERC=Science²
What can robots learn from ants?
Article on the DEMIURGE project. Published in ERC=Science², the Europe-wide communications campaign that spotlights breakthrough science funded by the European Research Council (ERC).
ERC=Science²Jan 2019
FNRS news
Les robots capables de déterminer l’ordre des tâches
Article on my resaerch published in FNRS news, the quarterly magazine of the fund for scientific research F.R.S.–FNRS of the French-speaking Community of Belgium.
FNRS newsOct 2018
Science&Vie
Robots : l'union fait leur nouvelle force
Article on swarm robotics that mentions my research. Published in the popular French-language science magazione Science&Vie.
Science&VieOct 2018
Knack
Robots moeten beter leren samenwerken
Short article on my research published in Knack, a Dutch-language Belgian weekly news magazine covering local news, politics, sports, business, jobs, and community events.
KnackSep 12, 2018
L'Avenir
Des robots collectivement intelligents
Article on my research published in L'Avenir, a major Belgian newspaper that covers regional and national news.
L'AvenirAug 18, 2018
La Dernière Heure
Des robots "Made in Belgium" vont épauler les secouristes pour sauver des vies
Article on my research published in La Dernière Heure, a French-language daily newspaper published in Brussels, Belgium.
La Dernière HeureAug 4, 2018
Science
Simple robots form a chain gang to solve complex problems
Short article on my research published in Science, the journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and one of the world's top academic journals.
ScienceJul 31, 2018
Daily Science
Des robots de plus en plus intelligents
Article on my research published in Daily Science, a Belgian digital newspaper of scientific popularization and dissemination of knowledge.
Daily ScienceJul 31, 2018
RTBF – La Une / VitaCité
Excerpt from the morning news of RTBF – La Une / VivaCité: Belgium's national television and radio station.
RTBF – La Une / VivaCitéJul 19, 2018
RTBF – La Première
Excerpt from Le journal de 8H, morning news at the Belgium's national radio station RTBF – La Première.
RTBF – La PremièreJul 19, 2018
La Libre
Les robots peuvent travailler ensemble et être plus intelligents que seuls...
Article on my research published in the Belgian national newspaper La Libre Belgique.
La LibreJul 18, 2018
G Square
Alessandro Parente et Mauro Birattari: Chercheurs, au plus haut niveau
Joint interview with my colleague Alessandro Parente, recepient of an ERC Starting Grant: G Square, the magazine of the Faculty of Engineering of the Université libre de Bruxelles.
G SquareMar 2017
G Square
Un ERC Consolidator Grant pour Mauro Birattari
Short article on the DEMIURGE project published in G Square, the magazine of the Faculty of Engineering of the Université libre de Bruxelles.
G SquareJun 2016
ULB Connect
ERC to Mauro Birattari
Short article on the DEMIURGE project published in ULB Connect, the English language newsletter of the Université libre de Bruxelles.
ULB ConnectApr 2016
Esprit Libre
L'Intelligence Artificielle comme Leitmotiv
One-page article on my research and on the DEMIURGE project published in Esprit Libre, the magazine of the Université libre de Bruxelles.
Esprit LibreApr-May 2016
Il Sole 24 Ore
In arrivo sciami di robot
L'Europa del merito / Mauro Birattari
Article on the DEMIURGE project published by the Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.
Il Sole 24 Ore: Domenica24Mar 27, 2016
la Repubblica
La meglio gioventù...
La meglio gioventù...On the first page of the Italian newspaper la Repubblica
Photo collage: I appear together with some of the other Italian "young" researchers that obtained an ERC Consolidator Grant in 2015.
la RepubblicaFeb 16, 2016
Daily Science
Bourses ERC
Moins de 1% de chercheurs de la FWB parmi les Lauréats
Article on the results of the ERC Consolidator Grant competition 2015.
Daily ScienceFeb 16, 2016
La Lettre de l'ULB
ERC à Mauro Birattari
Short article on the DEMIURGE project published in La Lettre de l'ULB, the newsletter of the Université libre de Bruxelles.
La Lettre de l'ULBFeb 4, 2016
Esprit Libre
« Robotique en essaim » : un ERC Grant pour Mauro Birattari
Short article on the DEMIURGE project published in Esprit Libre, the magazine of the Université libre de Bruxelles.
Esprit LibreJan Feb Mar, 2016
Télé Bruxelles – Genius
Excerpt from episode 3 of Genius, Télé Bruxelles.
Télé BruxellesMar 23, 2008
Télé Bruxelles – Genius
Excerpt from episode 7 of Genius, Télé Bruxelles.
Télé BruxellesSep 27, 2008
La Lettre du FNRS
Mauro Birattari
Apprentissage machine pour la conception automatique de métaheuristiques
Article on my research published in La Lettre du FNRS, the quarterly magazine of the fund for scientific research F.R.S.–FNRS of Belgium's Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
La Lettre du FNRSSep 2007
IRIDIA – CP 194/6
Université libre de Bruxelles
Av. F.D. Roosevelt 50
1050 Bruxelles - Belgium
mbiro ulb.ac.be |
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Highlights
Communications Engineering
My article "Automatic design of stigmergy-based behaviours for robot swarms" has been published in Nature's Communications Engineering.
Feb 2024
Scientific Data
My article "On using simulation to predict the performance of robot swarms" has been published in Nature's Scientific Data.
Dec 2022
Nature Communications
My article "Empirical assessment and comparison of neuro-evolutionary methods for the automatic off-line design of robot swarms" has been published in Nature Communications.
Jul 2021
Nature Machine Intelligence
My article "Disentangling automatic and semi-automatic approaches to the optimization-based design of control software for robot swarms" has been published in Nature Machine Intelligence.
Aug 2020
Directeur de recherches
I have been promoted to directeur de recherches (research director) of the F.R.S.–FNRS
effective since October 1, 2019
Jun 21, 2019
In the ERC Spotlight
Article on the DEMIURGE project published in
ERC=Science²,
the Europe-wide communications campaign
that spotlights breakthrough science funded by the European
Research Council (ERC):
What can robots learn from ants?
Jul 2018
Science Robotics
My article "Autonomous task sequencing in a robot swarm" has been published in Science Robotics
Jul 2018
ERC Consolidator Grant
I have been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant
for the project "DEMIURGE: automatic design of robot swarms"
project start date: Oct 1, 2016
Dec 2015
Highly cited papers
-
M. Dorigo, M. Birattari, and T. Stützle (2006).
Ant colony optimization:
Artificial ants as a computational intelligence technique.
IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine, 1(4):28-39
-
M. Brambilla, E. Ferrante, M. Birattari, and M. Dorigo (2013).
Swarm robotics: A review from the swarm engineering perspective.
Swarm Intelligence, 7(1):1-41
as of Feb 2015
SIGEVO Impact Award
The article A racing algorithm for configuring metaheuristics won the 2012 SIGEVO Impact Award.
Established in 2010, the SIGEVO Impact award recognizes up to three papers a year that were published in the GECCO conference 10 years earlier and which are both highly cited and deemed to be seminal by the SIGEVO Executive Committee
Jul 2012
Best Video Award
The video Swarmanoid, the movie, written and directed by Mauro Birattari and Rehan O'Grady, won the Best Video Award at the AAAI-11 AI Video Competition!
Aug 2011
Books
Tweets
Quote of the month
There is no secret ingredient: it's just you.
Po, Kung Fu Panda. 2008