Hanoi became the global hub of applied mathematics in September 2025, as it hosted, for the first time, the Board Meeting of the International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM).
Held at the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (VIASM) from September 11 to 13, the event brought together delegates from across the world to discuss the future of applied and industrial mathematics.
The gathering combined the ICIAM Board Meeting with an International Workshop on Applied and Industrial Mathematics, jointly organized with the Vietnam Mathematical Society (VMS). Its goal was clear: to foster international scientific interaction and create collaboration opportunities between Vietnamese researchers and leading global institutions.
“Bringing ICIAM to Vietnam marks a milestone for applied mathematics in the region. It is a recognition of the country’s growing role in scientific and technological research,” said Wil Schilders, President of ICIAM, during the opening session.
Scientific Exchange and New Collaborations
The workshop featured 24 invited talks and several contributed presentations covering a wide range of topics — from computational modeling and numerical simulation to the application of mathematical methods in medicine, economics, energy, and environmental sciences.
Participants included delegates from more than 20 countries, among them Brazil, the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, Poland, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia.
According to the organizers, one of the main goals was to strengthen international scientific collaboration, particularly among young researchers. The meeting was seen as an opportunity for Vietnam to connect with global networks of industrial mathematics, such as the European Consortium for Mathematics in Industry (ECMI) and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM).
“By holding prestigious meetings in countries such as Vietnam — the ICIAM Board consists of world-renowned researchers — we acknowledge their role in global mathematics as well as increase their visibility.,” emphasized Tim Myers, representing ECMI, in a statement published by the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM) in Spain.
Regional Expansion and Global Visibility
Vietnam’s selection was no coincidence. The country has been investing heavily in centers of excellence in mathematics and data science, and since its foundation in 2011, VIASM has become a regional reference for training young researchers and promoting international scientific conferences.
During the meeting, local scientists presented research addressing challenges typical of developing countries — including the use of mathematical modeling in public health, agriculture, sustainable energy, and climate change.
Beyond the scientific sessions, the program included bilateral meetings among mathematical associations to discuss future collaborations, advanced schools, and joint initiatives in Asia.
Impact and Reception
The local press celebrated the event as a historic milestone for Vietnamese science. The magazine Giáo Dục & Thời Đại emphasized that this was the first time the country hosted an international conference of such scale in applied mathematics, and this “not only affirms the increasingly enhanced position of the Vietnamese mathematical community, but also opens up many opportunities for research cooperation and international connections.”