The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode) is set to host the 1st Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) India Workshop on March 20-21, 2025. This pioneering event will introduce participants to the powerful technique of ABM, widely used for simulating complex real-world systems, including organizations, transportation networks, supply chains, financial markets, war-zones, and ecological environments. These models are populated with artificial agents designed to replicate the behavior of real-world actors such as customers, traders, vehicles, aircrafts, militias, and Agentic AIs.
Organized in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (Cloud Partner) and scholarship partners TreeForest & Nucore, the two-day workshop will provide a hands-on learning experience in building, calibrating, and deploying large-scale agent-based models. Participants from both industry and academia are encouraged to apply, with a prerequisite of proficiency in Python, C++, Java, or other general-purpose programming languages.
A Unique Learning Opportunity
ABM is a cutting-edge computational approach where artificial agents replicate the behavior of real-world actors, such as customers, traders, vehicles, and decision-makers. This workshop will equip attendees with skills to design and implement these models for tackling real-world challenges in various domains.
The workshop structure includes:
- Day 1: Foundations of agent-based modeling and development of models from scratch.
- Day 2: Advanced techniques, including high-performance computing, cloud deployment, and model optimization.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) experts will also conduct a hands-on training session on cloud deployment of ABM models, enhancing participants’ ability to scale their simulations efficiently.
Speakers and Thought Leaders
The workshop will be led by renowned Professor Robert Axtell from George Mason University, a global pioneer in large-scale agent-based modeling. His groundbreaking work has been applied to diverse fields, from worker allocation at Disneyland to market design in NASDAQ.
Other distinguished speakers include:
- Anil Nelakanti (Amazon) – Expert in AI-driven simulations for online marketplaces.
- Tarun Rambha (IISc) – Specialist in traffic flow modeling.
- Parth Shah (Indian School of Public Policy) – Thought leader in scientific policy-making.
- Vipin Veetil (IIM Kozhikode) – Researcher in macroeconomic agent-based simulations.
- Rakesh Warier (NIT Calicut) – Expert in multi-agent robotic simulations.
Scholarships and Registration
To encourage participation, 15 near-full scholarships are available, supported by TreeForest and Nucore. Rolling applications are now open, and selections will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. The workshop fee structure is:
- INR 10,000 (with accommodation at IIM Kozhikode’s Management Development Centre)
- INR 2,000 (without accommodation)
Interested participants can apply through the official workshop portal: https://iimk.ac.in/apps/ABMWorkshop25/
