A landmark $55.1 million co-investment from two visionary donors partnering with the University of Sydney positions Australia to be at the global forefront of mathematics research. 

Two philanthropic gifts totalling $28.7 million from the Simon Marais Foundation and the Hooper Shaw Family Foundation to the  Sydney Mathematical Research Institute will combine with a $26.4 million commitment from the University to accelerate the impact of their philanthropy. 

“This is a wonderful announcement which will change the future of fundamental maths research in Australia, placing us in the ranks of a handful of institutions in the world,” Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott said. 

“With these gifts our donors recognise both the achievements of SMRI and its ability to make Australia globally competitive in world-class mathematical research at a time when the world is racing to secure top talent in AI, quantum computing and advanced modelling.  

“As demonstrated by our co-investment, the University shares their belief in the crucial importance of securing Australia’s position in maths research.”

Director of SMRI Professor Geordie Williamson said: 

“Internet banking, search engines, Wi-Fi and magnetic resonance imaging all incorporate fundamental mathematical ideas; these technologies are leaps forward for society which are dependent on deeply complex, curiosity-driven research by leading thinkers in mathematics.”

“The focus of SMRI is similarly on fundamental research, especially in applications of AI to some of the toughest problems in mathematics. Our aim is to become a place where the world’s leading mathematicians come to collaborate, developing the mathematical culture in Australia and inspiring future generations of researchers. 

“I’m deeply grateful to the donors who supported the Institute’s establishment and vision from the very start.” 

“Their continuing generosity will enable our growth – including Hooper Shaw supporting early-career researchers’ long-term engagement with mathematics, the expansion of global collaboration and an artist-in-residence program. The Simon Marais gift will ensure we become a global centre for mathematicians, including through international recruitment, strategic investment and institutional expansion.”

Donors Rhae Hooper and Chris Shaw commented:

"We believe Australia should aspire to be home to world-class mathematical research and that the Sydney Mathematical Research Institute is uniquely placed to do this. We want to help bring exceptional talent back home - people like Geordie - and to build a centre with the magnetic pull to draw the best minds from around the world.

"Great research institutions are not built overnight.  They are built over decades. Seeing the calibre of mathematicians it now attracts and its growth as a globally respected centre for research has strengthened our confidence in that long-term ambition."

Professor Stephan Tillmann, Executive Director of SMRI said “An immediate benefit of this unprecedented funding for Australian mathematics will be a recruitment of a world-class co-director for SMRI to broaden our leadership. 

“Human intuition will remain crucial to applying AI to pure mathematics, and alongside its deep commitment to pure mathematics, this funding also allows us to push the boundaries of what is possible in that area.” 

Professor Julie Cairney, Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research said,  

“The excellence of SMRI and of the School of Mathematics and Statistics is reflected in our performance in the QS World University rankings. We’ve moved from 70th to 35th globally in the last four years and are currently number one in Australia. This success is underpinned by strong performance in citations, academic reputation, employer reputation and strong international research collaboration.” 

The Sydney Mathematical Research Institute, founded in 2018, is the first of its kind in Australia, drawing leading mathematicians from all over the world to undertake residencies and pursue groundbreaking research with Australian collaborators.  It has given academics, University students and the general public, including school students, direct access to many of the leading mathematical thinkers in the world, granting invaluable insights into research, learning and teaching.  

To date SMRI has hosted more than 220 international visitors, including Fields Medallists June Huh and Caucher Birkar, Turing Award Winner Robert Tarjan, run more than 85 events and collaborated on over 100 papers since 2022. It has established a lasting relationship with prestigious institutions such as the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences and the University of Bonn and Max Planck Institute for Mathematics. 

It has 12 research staff and affiliates including eight postdoctoral research fellows. 

Main image: SMRI Director Professor Geordie Williamson.
Credit: Stefanie Zingsheim/University of Sydney