OPTIMIZATION SUPPORT APPARATUS AND METHOD

There is provided an optimization support apparatus enabling it to reduce the number of runs of experiments or analysis and the cost therefor. The optimization support apparatus supports creating an experimental design to run experiments or numerical analysis for a project for optimizing design variables and includes a design solution preference storing unit that stores design solution preference data relevant to a target project for which design variables are optimized, the data representing a user decision about preference between design solutions; an experimental analysis results storing unit that stores experimental analysis results data regarding the target project; a preference model creating unit that creates a preference model, based on design solution preference data; a metamodel creating unit that creates a metamodel using a preference model and experimental analysis results data; and an experimental design creating unit that creates an experimental design using a metamodel created by the metamodel creating unit.