On April 20, 2021, the opening ceremony of the Tianjin National Center for Applied Mathematics was held in the city of Tianjin. A selection of experts were present, including Cao Xiaohong, vice mayor of Tianjin, Li Jiajun, secretary of Party committee of Tianjin University, Jin Donghan, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Tianjin University, Academician Jiang Song, director of department of mathematical and physical sciences in National Natural Science Foundation of China. Representatives from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Nankai University, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin Polytechnic University, National Super Computer Center in Tianjin and 360 Technology Group Co., Ltd attended the ceremony as well.
Chen Yongchuan delivered a speech in the ceremony, he reviewed that the past Chinese-American mathematician and poet, Shiing-Shen Chern, who made fundamental contributions to differential geometry and topology and was widely regarded as a leader in geometry and one of the greatest mathematicians of the twentieth century, attached great importance to applied mathematics as well as his encouragement to develop applied mathematics in Tianjin. Chen also expressed gratitude to the guidance and support from Tianjin municipal government, Tianjin University, and colleagues in Mathematical Research Areas.
“Chern once pointed out that a good applied mathematician must be a good mathematician. The center should not only dig into basic research but also conform to the trend of time and target to national requirements, we can accomplish our goals and make achievements as long as we combine our knowledge with practice”. Chen indicated that the center should develop applied mathematics research to cater to the needs of the country, develop applied mathematics research, and solve technical development problems, so as to provide solid mathematical theory and application support for the original breakthrough of Tianjin's cutting-edge, disruptive, and key technologies.
In 2014, the Center for Applied Mathematic of Tianjin was launched at Tianjin University. Taking advantage of the research resources in applied mathematics in Tianjin, it concentrated on the core mathematical problems in various fields including data science, artificial intelligence, and financial engineering. A number of effective mathematical research has been carried out and outstanding achievements have been accomplished. The center also worked with key national industry companies, such as China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, China Automotive Technology & Research Center Co. Ltd, HUAWEI, and 360. It has facilitated scientific and technological progress and talent training in related fields, and laid a good foundation for Tianjin to build an industrial highland. Focusing on “Four Orientations”, the Tianjin National Center for Applied Mathematics will further integrate advantageous resources of mathematics in Tianjin, create functions of "One Base and Three Areas", make full use of its resources to conduct application exchange, and provide strong scientific and technological support for further collaboration and innovation of mathematics and other disciplines.
At the ceremony, Wang Fengyun, the chief engineer of Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, granted appointment letters to Academician Ge Molin, Academician Ma Zhiming, Academician Zhang Weiping, and Academician Chen Yongchuan. Cao Xiaohong and Li Jiajun inaugurated the Tianjin National Center for Applied Mathematics.
By: Zhu Jianglin
Editor: Qin Mian
