Mathematics for innovation and sustainable development: a public lecture by Wil Schilders
Supported by Spoke 9 as part of the SIMAI conference, it highlighted the crucial impact of technologies such as AI, digital twins, and high-performance computing
Trieste, 3rd September 2025
“Mathematics is like oxygen: you take no notice of it when it is here—if it was not, you would realize you cannot do without it.” With these words, Wil Schilders, president of ICIAM (International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics) and Emeritus Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands), opened his public lecture Mathematics: A Catalyst for National Prosperity and Sustainable Innovation. The lecture took place today in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Government Palace in Trieste; it was one of the key events of SIMAI 2025, the seventeenth edition of the biennial conference of the Italian Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIMAI), organized by SISSA with the support of Spoke 9 of iNEST.
Schilders’ lecture highlighted the key role of mathematics in addressing real-world problems, illustrating its crucial impact in fields ranging from finance to logistics, telecommunications to environmental sustainability. By underlining the benefits that Italy and Europe can gain by placing mathematics at the heart of their development, the professor contributed to bringing citizens closer to scientific research and to promoting the spread of a shared culture of innovation and knowledge among citizens, institutions, and academics—fully in line with the goals of Cross-Cutting Activity 3.
A ubiquitous and indispensable discipline
Mathematics, Schilders explained, has a profound impact on the economy: mathematically intensive activities account for up to 16% of GDP and GVA in countries such as the United States, France, and the United Kingdom—and they also have a substantial impact on employment. In the environmental field as well, mathematical tools are indispensable: they allow us to predict extreme events, optimize and monitor wind farms and power grids, build scenarios, and hence improve our preparedness for the challenges of climate change.
Mathematics is also at the heart of artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and data science: it ensures that AI algorithms are reliable and interpretable; it enables fast and efficient simulations of complex phenomena; it facilitates predictive modeling and decision-making. Its role is also essential in the development of digital twins, which are revolutionizing the manufacturing sector through real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and performance optimization—leading to significant reductions in costs and resource use.
Mathematics, Schilders concluded, “is no longer a silent enabler; it is a strategic asset. To fully realize its potential in Italy, Europe, and globally, we must bridge academia and industry, foster mathematical talent, and strengthen the role of mathematics in public policy, education, and national innovation strategies.”
