EXC 2046: Berlin Mathematics Research Center (MATH+)

Berlin is known as a leading hub for application-oriented mathematics, marked notably by the achievements of MATH+ and its predecessor, the Research Center MATHEON. Their focus has consistently been on data-driven modeling, simulation, and optimization (MSO) while evaluating and integrating new mathematical methods and developments. MATH+ will leverage its existing strengths to propel mathematics and its interdisciplinary potential. The objective for the forthcoming funding period is to drive progress on urgent societal issues – arising from climate change, public health threats, and technological transformations through innovative developments in applied mathematics. In light of recent global crises, MATH+ intends to expand the MSO approach beyond its current technology-centered scope. This endeavor will be based on incorporating mathematical descriptions of human behavior and social decision-making into complex system models. By also enhancing MSO with AI-driven methods where applicable and reliable, MATH+ will improve the understanding of the interplay between technological innovation and societal transformation, facilitating more effective policy design and future planning. To elevate application-oriented mathematics to this enhanced level, MATH+ is committed to a comprehensive research program that includes the development of new theories, refined methodologies, and advanced algorithms, alongside their efficient implementation on HPC infrastructures. This mathematical innovation will lead to significant advances in established MATH+ application fields such as mobility, health, energy, and technology by solving relevant practical problems in collaboration with partners from various scientific disciplines, industry, and society. For this purpose, MATH+ will intensify stakeholder engagement and foster public–private partnerships to incorporate diverse perspectives and practical insights, strengthening the impact and implementation of research outcomes on real-world challenges. With this agenda, MATH+ will significantly contribute to one of mathematics’ great potentials: uncovering hidden principles in complex systems to enable deeper insights, improved predictions, and informed decision-making. Central to this agenda is the training of talented young researchers, based on a proven framework that emphasizes mentoring, gender equity, and diversity, supports careers both within and beyond academia, and facilitates the transfer of knowledge to industry and society. The structures of MATH+ ensure the long-term continuation of the unique success story of Berlin mathematics, supporting the dynamic evolution of the interdisciplinary MATH+ research agenda and its graduate program, the Berlin Mathematical School, in the framework of the successful collaboration between Berlin’s three major universities as well as WIAS and ZIB.