M2PI brings together industrial partners facing challenging mathematical problems and the mathematical talent needed to tackle them. In a focused 3-week workshop, teams of highly trained mathematicians will help you understand and attempt to solve them.

How it works

• Partners (you!) submit problems based on challenges facing your organization, which might have significant mathematical aspects.
• Graduate students and postdocs receive training from M2PI on applying their mathematical skills to real-world problems.
• Small teams of these M2PI trainees (led by a mentor from your organization) apply their mathematical expertise to produce viable solutions during an intensive two-week sprint.

The outcome is fresh insight into solving the challenges facing your organization. The project teams distill their work into written reports and presentations which you can use directly, or as the foundation to build new partnerships and innovations.

Partner Enquiry (Submit a problem/contact us)

More Details

• Easy to describe to non-experts
• Contain significant mathematical science content (broadly construed)
• Stand-alone and do not require extensive background research
• Likely to yield significant progress within 2–3 weeks of work
• Suitable to be tackled individually or by a small team
• Appropriate for public presentation (i.e., not restricted by IP or other privacy requirements)

If you think you have a problem which might fit this pattern, or if you want to find out more, please fill out the project application form and we’ll be in touch.

M2PI is a full-time training and work-integrated learning opportunity for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the mathematical sciences (undergraduate students are also eligible to apply). Successful applicants will commit to full-time participation for the duration of the workshop (3 weeks), during which they will receive specialized professional and technical training while collaborating in teams on industry-specific problems under the guidance of an industry mentor.

During the workshop, you will:

• Receive training and build professional skills in digital collaboration, communication, teamwork, and ethics
• Work full-time in a small team on a real-world problem proposed by an industry partner
• Apply mathematical and analytical skills to a business or organizational challenge
• Collaborate with and receive guidance from mentors outside academia
• Present your team’s work to peers and industry representatives

Register for M2PI2026

Registration for students is now open and will close on April 17th, 11:59 (PT). Please complete the application form if you are interested in participating.

Graduate students and postdocs at PIMS member universities are especially encouraged to apply, but applications from other universities and from undergraduates will also be considered (space permitting). Space is limited, so register early. Students who complete the program will receive a certificate of accomplishment as an M2PI Fellow.

For examples of previous successful projects and details of the training program, please see the pages for previous editions.

The Opportunity

Math^Industry (Math to power industry) is a professional development school positioned to benefit Canadian industry because:

1. Recent PhDs and Postdocs in the mathematical sciences are a national resource that is poised to be underutilized.
2. Ideas from the mathematical sciences are vital to Canada’s industry sectors and are especially important during and after the pandemic.
3. A cohort-based training and job placement program focused on key industry sectors will help advance Canada’s economy.

The drastic decrease in economic activity caused by the pandemic combined with cost explosions in other governmental programs will lead to significant cuts in higher education budgets. Reductions in the capacity of universities to hire new faculty and postdocs will essentially eliminate a career pathway for a generation of young researchers. This talent pool should be effectively redirected toward activities that drive Canada’s economic recovery.

The important role that mathematical scientists play in defining government policy responses to the pandemic is analogous to the role these experts should play across Canada’s industry sectors. Governmental decisions regarding when or how to optimally implement policies to flatten the curve rely upon predictive models, data analysis, and other mathematical insights. Effective business decision-making similarly requires expertise in modeling, computation, statistics, optimization (mathematical sciences). Studies by Deloitte have revealed the enormous impact the mathematical sciences have on the UK Economy and the Dutch Economy. Goals for the Math^Industry include economic stimulation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, placement of recent mathematical science PhDs into jobs in western Canada, and an ongoing improvement to Canada’s Business Enterprise Research and Development capacity.

The Plan

The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) and partners are offering a virtual rapid response program to train and place young mathematical scientists into jobs in important industry sectors in western Canada (agrifood, energy, forestry, health care, mining). This program will start with a training bootcamp (software best practices, business, communications, project management), group collaborations with industry partners, and create a funnel leading to job placements in industry.