From the foreword: "This volume contains most of the 113 papers presented during the Eighth International Conference on Analysis and Optimization of Systems organized by the Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique. Papers were presented by speakers coming from 21 different countries. These papers deal with both theoretical and practical aspects of Analysis and Optimization of Systems. Most of the topics of System Theory have been covered and five invited speakers of international reputation have presented the new trends of the field."