Mathematics and Hope: Levers of Innovation

Mathematics and Hope: Levers of Innovation

Pi Day Event — 14 March — 2026

On the occasion of International Mathematics Day (Pi Day), the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon (ACL), the Centro Internacional de Matemática (CIM), and the Centre of Mathematics of the University of Porto (CMUP) jointly organise the event “Mathematics and Hope: Levers of Innovation”.

Mathematics plays a fundamental and often invisible role in the development of science, technology, and innovation. From theoretical advances to real-world applications, mathematical ideas underpin progress across a wide range of fields, including artificial intelligence, engineering, data science, and industrial optimisation. At the same time, mathematics fosters rigorous thinking, creativity, and long-term vision — essential ingredients for addressing complex challenges and shaping a sustainable future.

This event aims to raise public awareness of the central role of mathematics as a driving force behind innovation and scientific development. By bringing together researchers with diverse trajectories — spanning fundamental research, interdisciplinary work, industry, and scientific leadership — the programme highlights how mathematics serves as a powerful lever for knowledge creation, technological progress, and societal impact.

The session will consist of short invited talks followed by a round-table discussion, encouraging dialogue between different perspectives on how mathematics contributes to innovation, opportunity, and hope. This initiative has the support of the Institut Français du Portugal and the University of Porto.

Programme

14:30 – 14:40
Opening and presentation of the event
Presidents of the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon and of the Centro Internacional de Matemática

14:40 – 14:55 — Jean-Pierre Bourguignon

14:55 – 15:00 — João Ribeiro

15:20 – 15:35 — Nguyen Tien Zung

15:40 – 15:55 — Eugénio Rocha

16:00 – 16:15 —Pedro Camanho

16:15 – 17:00—Round table discussion with all speakers and 

Fernando Alexandre, Ministro da Educação, Ciência e Inovação.

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Jean-Pierre Bourguignon is a French mathematician whose work in differential geometry has had a lasting influence on the field. Trained at the École Polytechnique and Paris Diderot University, where he completed his PhD under Marcel Berger, he has combined deep scientific contributions with exceptional leadership in mathematics. He served as Director of the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHÉS) for nearly two decades and later as President of both the European Mathematical Society and the European Research Council. Widely recognised for his role in promoting mathematical excellence and long-term scientific vision, he has received several international distinctions and is an honorary or foreign member of multiple academies and learned societies.

João Ribeiro is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Instituto Superior Técnico (ULisboa) and a researcher at the Instituto de Telecomunicações. His academic path bridges mathematics and computer science, with training in applied mathematics, computer science, and a PhD from Imperial College London. His research focuses on coding theory, cryptography, information theory, and pseudorandomness, areas where deep mathematical ideas underpin modern digital security and communication. After postdoctoral work at Carnegie Mellon University and research stays at several leading international institutions, he was recently awarded an ERC Starting Grant, highlighting the innovative potential of mathematically driven research in theoretical computer science.

Nguyen Tien Zung is a mathematician internationally recognised for his contributions to symplectic topology, integrable Hamiltonian systems, and Poisson geometry. His work has clarified the geometric and topological structure of dynamical systems with singularities, emphasising the central role of symmetry and torus actions. After a successful academic career, including positions in France and Asia, he founded Torus AI in 2019, where he serves as CEO and scientific director. Through Torus AI, he applies mathematical thinking to artificial intelligence, signal processing, and generative models, while actively promoting an ethical and impact-driven vision of technology. His trajectory exemplifies how deep mathematical insight can drive innovation beyond academia.

Eugénio Rocha is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Aveiro and the current President of the Portuguese Mathematical Society. With academic training in artificial intelligence, mathematics, and nonlinear control theory, his work spans both theoretical and applied mathematics. He has published extensively in areas such as differential equations, optimisation, control theory, and mathematical modelling, with applications ranging from biology and epidemiology to engineering, economics, and education. Alongside his academic activity, he has played a central role in coordinating multidisciplinary teams in large-scale projects related to manufacturing, logistics, data science, and machine learning, illustrating how mathematics serves as a bridge between theory, computation, and real-world innovation.

Pedro Camanho is a Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Porto and an internationally recognised expert in the mechanics of advanced composite materials. He obtained his PhD from Imperial College London and has led influential research on deformation, fracture, and multiscale modelling of lightweight composite structures for aerospace and engineering applications. His work relies heavily on mathematical modelling and computational mechanics and has been successfully transferred to industry, with methods implemented in widely used engineering software. A former leader of major research institutions and programmes, he has received numerous international distinctions, including a recent ERC Advanced Grant, in the cutting-edge of technological innovation.

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