Department of Mathematics and Statistics hosts successful European Study Group with Industry
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics hosted 111 academics and industrial scientists from across the UK and beyond for the 195th European Study Group with Industry (ESGI), July 20-24, 2026.
Participants worked on problems utilising, for instance, complex theories from pure mathematics, as well as statistical and numerical modelling, AI, machine learning and data analytics, to solve challenges ranging from developing a donkey welfare index to the sonification of data to enhance accessibility for those who are blind or partially sighted, and optimising flight routes in response to weather events.
Feedback from the industry partners has been overwhelmingly positive.
Their strong commitment to continuing and growing their collaborative partnership with the University of Exeter is testament to the real-world value and impact of fundamental mathematical research.
“For me, one of the biggest outcomes was not just the ideas we developed during the week, but the strong starting point we now have for future work. The problem we brought is still challenging, but the team identified several promising directions that are worth exploring further,” said Aditya Gaur, a researcher at NATS (National Air Traffic Services).
“Overall, I think the event was a great success. It gave us fresh ideas, useful discussions, and new opportunities to work together in the future. ESGI continues to be a fantastic way of bringing industry and academia together, and I believe both sides benefit greatly from it.”
Further feedback received:
- “It has been inspiring to see how advanced mathematical modelling can be applied to a complex welfare challenge, transforming data into practical decision-making tools” – Stuart Norris, The Donkey Sanctuary.
- “ESGI provided a unique environment where academia and industry could work together on real-world challenges, generating valuable insights, making new connections and creating opportunities for future collaboration” – Karl Hogg, IEG Group.
- “ESGI enabled DNV to explore blue sky thinking that otherwise would have been difficult to access” – Gabriel Griffin-Booth, DNV.
- “It is a unique event where academic excellence meets practical innovation. The intensity of the week, combined with the diversity of expertise, creates an environment where genuinely new ideas emerge and lasting collaborations begin. With problems ranging from donkey welfare to power grids, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look forward to seeing the teams’ results” – Professor Chris Breward, Scientific Director, UK Knowledge Exchange Hub for Mathematical Sciences.
Event website: European Study Group with Industry (ESGI) | Mathematics and Statistics | University of Exeter
