Hyper-heuristcs : An Emerging Search Technology We introduce an emerging methodology in search and optimisation. The aim of this approach, which has been termed hyper-heuristics, is to raise the level of generality at which optimisation systems can operate. The hope is that hyper-heuristics will lead to more general systems that are able to handle a wider range of problem domains than current (meta-)heuristic approaches, which tend to be customised to a particular class of problems or even specific problem instances. Hyper-heuristics are broadly concerned with intelligently choosing the right heuristic (or algorithm) at each decision point to produce solutions which are good enough, soon enough, cheap enough. In this talk we will give a brief history of this emerging area and discuss the progress made to date.