Background

For many decades there has been a need for mathematical innovation in industry, especially in our largest R&D intensive companies. This case was made clear in the 2018 Bond Review which concluded that work needed to be done with “CEOs and boards of UK companies to help them understand  the relevance and application of mathematics in their business or organisation”. With the UK Government's Modern Industrial Strategy, there is an opportunity to do as the Bond Review suggests: link together the providers of mathematics with senior business leaders, and provide resources for long-term industry-driven collaboration in areas that can benefit from innovative mathematics.

In early 2019, a meeting at ICMS in Edinburgh scoped possible mathematical topics and identified some key areas that could both stimulate mathematical innovation and offer exciting possibilities of adding value to industry. Among these areas, the following have been selected as those that offer the greatest chance of providing demonstrable value to industry and suggesting new lines of mathematical thinking. 

• Physical modelling for formulation: mathematical innovation is expected in mathematical models for multi-faceted industrial processes, materials modelling, homogenisation, optimisation, inverse problems and numerical analysis. 
• Network theory and optimal control for the circular economy: mathematical innovation is expected at the intersection of network science, economics, dynamical systems, stochastic optimisation, and game theory as applied to a wide variety of business models. 

2 workshops took place to explore these issues and identify the big research challenges that could help mathematical sciences get better embedded in some interesting, long term industry programmes.​

• Physical modelling for formulation​ takes place between 3rd - 7th February 2020. 
• Network theory and optimal control for the circular economy​ takes place between 10th - 14th February 2020. 

Registration and Venue Details

The workshops took place at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences in Cambridge. Please see the Isaac Newton Institute website for further information about the venue.

The organisation and registration for these two workshops was via the Isaac Newton Institute.  Please visit the main workshop website for more information.