Our support for the 10th AIROYoung Workshop and Ph.D. School in Padua.
There is a precise moment when a mathematical model stops being a theoretical exercise and starts to shape real decisions. It is the moment Optit cares about most, and the one we look for every year among the work of the young researchers at the AIROYoung Workshop.
The 2026 edition offered an example that begins in a university lecture hall and ends up inside a hospital.
Research proves its worth when it meets real data
It is with this conviction that Optit supported the 10th AIROYoung Workshop and Ph.D. School, hosted by the University of Padua from 9 to 13 February 2026.
The event is organised by AIROYoung, the young researchers’ section of the Italian Operations Research Society (AIRO), which brings together PhD students and researchers under 35 to develop their skills, careers and scientific networks in Operations Research.
It is the ideal setting to encounter research that is born with an eye already on real-world application.
An award for research that becomes application
For several years, as part of the AIROYoung Workshop and Ph.D. School, we have presented the Optit Best Presentation Award, the recognition given to research that goes beyond theory.
The award reflects the way we work: we value research developed in applied contexts, grounded in real problems and validated on real data. It is the point where Operations Research stops being an abstract exercise and starts to have a real impact on the world, helping people make better decisions.
The 2026 edition: optimising operating theatres without forgetting the people
This year the award went to Alice Daldossi, author of the study “Building a fair and efficient surgical unit: insights from academic vascular surgery”, which addresses the planning of operating theatres in hospitals.
What struck us was not only the optimisation of hospital resources, but the research’s attention to a crucial human factor: ensuring a fair allocation of surgical procedures among resident doctors, so that training opportunities are balanced over time.
It is a clear example of how a good model must hold together efficiency and the quality of decisions, numbers and people.
Five prize-winning works, one shared direction
Alongside the main award, we also gave four Honourable Mentions, ranging from healthcare scheduling and organ transplant logistics to routing and advanced theoretical contributions.
Different topics, but one shared direction: models, algorithms and data that are starting to support decisions in the real world. That is where research shows its full value, and that is where Optit works every day.
Our thanks to all the young researchers who shared their work at AIROYoung.
