ECIR 2013

Abstract

The European Conference on Information Retrieval (ECIR) is the main European forum for the presentation of new research results in the field of information retrieval and cognate areas. Initiated as a BCS Information Retrieval Specialist Group (IRSG) Colloquium for Information Retrieval in 1979, the event developed in a renowned international scientific meeting. To reflect its European scale, since 1998 the conference was held alternately in the UK and continental Europe. From 2012, this rule has been removed. The most recent ECIR editions were held in Glasgow, UK (2008), Toulouse, France (2009), Milton Keynes, UK (2010), Dublin, Ireland (2011), and Barcelona, Spain (2012). The 35th European Conference on Information Retrieval took place March 24-27, 2013 in Moscow (Russia). The conference was jointly organized by Yandex and Higher School of Economics (HSE). The conference became the easternmost ECIR ever. ECIR 2013 in Moscow marks an important step in the development of the conference series: geographic expansion, a high number of participants, and the largest number of accepted papers (which resulted in an impressive 900-page proceedings volume). In addition, the Moscow edition of the conference introduced some new features: a two-tier program committee, a redesigned mentoring program, a boaster session for poster presentations, and attracted many new participants. ECIR 2013 received a total of 287 submissions in three categories: 191 full papers, 78 posters, and 18 demonstrations. The geographical distribution of the submissions is as follows: 70% were from Europe (including 9% from Russia), 17% from Asia, 12% from North and South America, and 3% from the rest of the world. All submissions were reviewed by at least three members of an international two-tier Program Committee. Of the papers submitted to the main research track, 30 were selected for oral presentation and 25 for poster/short presentation (16% and 13% respectively, hence a 29% acceptance rate). In addition, 38 posters (49%) and 10 demonstrations (56%) were accepted. Out of accepted contributions 66% have a student as the primary author. Additionally, ECIR 2013 hosted four tutorials and two workshops covering various IR-related topics.