In early 1984, the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM) opened its doors, established by the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (IEC) at the initiative of Manuel Castellet, a professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). To commemorate its 40th anniversary, the CRM held a celebration at the IEC on Thursday, May 9. The event featured a lecture by Madhu Sudan, a mathematician from Harvard University, and included appearances by Joaquim Nin, Secretary General of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Teresa Cabré, President of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans, and the three directors who have led the center since its creation: Manuel Castellet, Joaquim Bruna, and the current director, Lluís Alsedà.
Since its establishment, the CRM’s mission has been to enhance the resources and quality of mathematical research in Catalonia, promote its dissemination, and act as a catalyst for collaboration with renowned international mathematicians. Currently, the CRM is a consortium between the Generalitat de Catalunya, the IEC, and the UAB, and is the oldest research institute in the CERCA network of research centers supported by the Catalan government.
Throughout its history, the CRM has received several recognitions, including the Narcís de Monturiol Medal for Scientific and Technological Merit, and the María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence award, which distinguishes Spanish research institutions with highly competitive strategic programs. The CRM has received this award twice.
A Commitment to the Mathematical Community
Before the creation of the CRM, mathematical research in Catalonia was primarily conducted within the academic framework, led by university professors. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, significant improvements were made in the environment and research conditions within university mathematics departments. This period saw an increase in researchers’ desire to publish in international journals, a higher frequency of visits by prominent figures, and a rise in the production of high-quality doctoral theses.
In response to this growth, the need was recognized to establish a research institute that would enhance this dynamic and facilitate a connection between the efforts of various Catalan university departments. Thus, the CRM became the first mathematical research institute created in Spain. Over the past four decades, mathematical research in our region has not only been strengthened but has also continued to expand, a process in which the CRM has played and continues to play a key role.
The CRM offers its facilities to the mathematical community to encourage cooperation. Mathematics is undoubtedly one of the scientific disciplines where the human factor is most relevant, relying heavily on interaction and collaboration among researchers from around the world. In this sense, the CRM’s spaces are specially designed to foster knowledge exchange.
Located in the Faculty of Sciences and Biosciences at the UAB, the CRM is equipped to host top-level events such as conferences, seminars, and congresses. Each year, more than a hundred mathematicians from around the world visit the center, invited as speakers or to participate in organized scientific activities, or through funding programs like the Lluís Santaló scholarship or the ‘Research in Pairs’ program, which allow for long-term stays. In addition to being a meeting place and international collaboration hub, the CRM is firmly committed to focusing on young researchers, ensuring equal opportunities in access to advanced mathematical training.
Since 2008, the center has also had its own research structure, currently comprising eight groups that cover fields from fundamental mathematics to various applications. In addition to researchers directly contracted by the CRM, the research structure has been strengthened in recent years by the addition of researchers from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the Universitat de Barcelona, and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Additionally, both UB and UPC are in the process of joining the CRM’s board of trustees.
Currently, the center has 126 affiliated researchers, including established researchers, postdoctoral researchers, and doctoral students. Since the center’s research lines were opened, CRM researchers have produced more than 800 articles and supervised around fifty doctoral theses.
Much Achieved, Much Still to Do
The CRM’s current mission is to be a reference for excellence in mathematical research and training on an international scale. Its objectives include conducting high-quality research with a special focus on real applications and in a collaborative or interdisciplinary context. This also involves the transfer of knowledge based on mathematical research, with special attention to the concrete implementations of models that address emerging problems with social impact. Additionally, advanced training in mathematics is promoted through collaborations and synergies with other research institutions.
After four decades of existence, the CRM has established itself as a central hub in mathematical research, notable for its ability to attract international talent and its significant contribution to both the scientific community and Catalan society. Through its continued excellence in research and promotion of collaboration, the CRM not only celebrates a rich and diverse legacy but also looks to the future with the goal of continuing to influence the world of mathematics on a global scale.