############################################
# NN5 Competition Extension #
# #
# Time Series Forecatsing Competition #
# for Computational Intelligence #
# www.neural-forecasting-competition.com #
############################################

We have extended the submission deadlines for the 2008 time series forecasting competition for Neural Networks and Computational Intelligence!

Extended Deadlines
-------------------
The deadline for submitting a 300 word abstract (no paper & no predictions yet) to the International Symposium on Forecasting (ISF'08) in Nice, France, has been extended to March 6, 2008.

The deadline for submitting a draft paper (no predictions yet) to the International Conference on Data Mining (DMIN'08), Las Vegas, USA, has been extended to March 15, 2008.


NN5 Background
-------------------
Please visit the NN5 website at http://www.neural-forecasting-competition.com/ for further instructions (the deadlines have not been updated on the website due to webserver problems).

Objectives
-------------------
Forecast a set of either 11 or 111 empirical time series of daily cash withdrawals at cash machines as accurately as possible, using methods from computational intelligence and a consistent methodology. We hope to evaluate progress in modelling neural networks for forecasting & to disseminate knowledge on “best practices”. The competition is for academic purposes and extends the previous NN3 competition supported by SAS & the International Institute of Forecasters (IIF).

Methods
-------------------
The prediction competition is open to all methods of computational intelligence, incl. feed-forward and recurrent neural networks, fuzzy predictors, evolutionary computation, decision & regression tress, support vector regression, hybrid approaches etc. used in forecasting, statistical prediction and time series analysis.

Publication of Results
----------------------
The results will be presented in special NN5 sessions at various conferences in 2008. All those submitting predictions will be invited to participate in one or more events at the International Symposium on Forecasting (ISF'08), Nice, France, the IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence (WCCI'08) including IJCNN'08, CEC'08 and FUZZ-IEEE'08, Hong Kong, China, and the International Conference on Data Mining (DMIN'08), Las Vegas, USA. All conferences offer a stimulating environment for forecasting researchers: the ISF'08 also offers a special track on forecasting with neural networks and a full-day tutorial on neural networks for forecasting by Hans-Georg Zimmerman (Siemens Research). DMIN'08 offers a special session on time series forecasting using data mining techniques, various tutorials and a full conference proceedings publication (indexed by Thomson Scientific, IEE INSPEC, DBLP and many more). Please consult the NN5 conference websites for additional information.

Important Dates
-------------------
18 February 2008 Publication of the reduced & complete dataset
18 May 2008 Predictions submissions due
June & July 2008 Publication of preliminary results at various conferences in Europe, China & USA
August 2008 Submissions to full publications

If you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact us via email: [log in to unmask]

GOOD LUCK!
Sven F. Crone
_____________________________________________________
Sven F. Crone
Deputy Director, Lancaster Centre for Forecasting
Lecturer (Ass. Prof.), Department of Management Science
Lancaster University Management School
Lancaster LA1 4YX
United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)1524 592991direct
Tel +44 (0)1524 593867 department
Fax +44 (0)1524 844885
Internet http://www.lums.lancs.ac.uk
eMail [log in to unmask]
_______________________________________________