Private investment conglomerate Lodha Group inaugurates India's inaugural privately underwritten Mathematics Research Institute in the city of Mumbai.
The Lodha Mathematical Sciences Institute (LMSI), a groundbreaking research centre, has been launched in Mumbai, marking a significant milestone in India's academic landscape. This privately-funded institute, backed by the Lodha Foundation, is the country's first of its kind, dedicated to mathematical research.
The Lodha Foundation received a substantial donation of approximately $2.5 billion in 2021, inspired by the Prime Minister's call for India to become a developed nation by 2047. The institute's inception is part of a broader mission to contribute meaningfully to India's growth.
LMSI aims to inspire the next generation of students by bringing world-class researchers of Indian origin back to India and paying them global salaries. The institute is focused on post-doctoral research, but its impact is expected to filter down to younger students across the country.
The Scientific Advisory Committee of LMSI includes renowned mathematicians such as Manjul Bhargava, Ingrid Daubechies, Shing-Tung Yau, Peter Sarnak, and Akshay Venkatesh. The institute will be led by Dr. V Kumar Murty, a renowned mathematician, along with a scientific advisory council featuring top mathematicians from Princeton, Stanford, and the University of Chicago.
Dr. Murty emphasized the importance of not only Indian talent but also skills available globally for the LMSI. The institute's focus on original thinking and promoting innovation is expected to set it apart from other institutions.
The LMSI is designed to address a gap in scientific recognition, as no Indian working in India has won a Nobel Prize or a Fields Medal since 1947. The institute is free and open only to post-doctoral researchers, who will be selected based on their academic credentials and research output.
Abhishek Lodha, CEO and MD of Lodha Developers, stated that the institute aims to foster world-class mathematical research and innovation in both fundamental and applied domains. LMSI will not function as a traditional teaching institute for undergraduate and postgraduate students, but there will be opportunities for workshops, collaborations, and exposure to global faculty.
LMSI's commitment to becoming one of the leading institutions in the world for mathematical research and innovation is evident in its ambitious goals. The institute believes that it will help India appear on the global map of top research institutes in the next few years. Dr. Murty further stated that the institute seeks to solve core issues that will enable India to become a developed country and a world leader by 2047.
The LMSI offers a unique opportunity for young researchers to contribute to India's development and become globally competitive as faculty at leading institutions worldwide. By attracting and nurturing top talent, the institute aims to further India's history of producing outstanding mathematicians who have influenced the modern world. LMSI's launch is a testament to India's growing commitment to academic excellence and research.
