International Center for Pure and Applied Mathematics

The International Centre for Pure and Applied Mathematics (CIMPA) exists to promote international collaboration in the field of mathematics for the benefit of developing countries, in the areas of mathematics higher education and research and interactions between these, and in related disciplines. To fulfil this mission, CIMPA organises courses, supports seminars and coordinates researcher networks. Its work is focused on places where there is a genuine desire to promote and develop mathematics and where there is potential for research projects.

CIMPA is a non profit organisation and a UNESCO centre, based in Nice, and is currently funded by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis. Several other French universities, including Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice and Strasbourg, have expressed the wish to host a centre of this kind.

A call for research schools proposals is issued every year, with a view to organising research courses in developing countries, each lasting approximately two weeks. Their aim is to contribute to training the next generation of mathematicians of both sexes through research. CIMPA has achieved a high degree of recognition both at national and international level, and regular evaluations of its work report healthy operations.

Since 2007, CIMPA’s Board of Trustees has been looking at the possibility of transforming CIMPA into a European centre, so that other countries will be able to provide financial support and participate in its scientific work. By developing in this way, CIMPA would be able to build up greater resources with which to fulfil its mission. It would be in a position to respond to the many requests from developing countries that it is unable to satisfy with its current resources.

CIMPA’s management team is made up of Regional Scientific Directors ("RSRs") and the public relations manager.

The work of CIMPA is overseen by an independent Scientific Council, which assures the quality of all CIMPA’s work.

At present, CIMPA receives grants from the French National Education Ministry - €190K from the Office of Research and Innovation (DGRI) and €50K from the Department for European and International Relations and for Cooperation (DREIC) and approximately €8K from UNESCO. Spain is planning to contribute a substantial grant to CIMPA in 2010, via the intermediary of the Ministerio de Ciencia y de Innovacion MICINN, which will be intended for research courses in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. The University of Nice provides CIMPA with two academic members of staff (one full professor and one lecturer).

Download the Brochure (pdf format, 3Mo)