The first international nurse rostering competition 2010

Nurse rostering is a complex task of practical relevance. Over the last years, researchers have been able to solve increasingly larger and more complex problems. In this paper, we describe the full procedure of running the First International Nurse Rostering Competition. The aim of the competition was to develop further interest in the area and to stimulate new solution approaches by bringing together researchers from different areas. We describe the competition’s spirit and its rules, the problem description and evaluation of solutions. We also explain the selection process and the final results. In addition, we give a brief description of the algorithmic approaches undertaken by the participants. Finally, we discuss the lessons learned from the competition and future activities to undertake.