The Role and Importance of Mathematics in Innovation

This book is a collection of papers presented at the Forum Math-for-Industry 2015 for which the unifying theme was The Role and Importance of Mathematics in Innovation, held at the Institute of Mathematics for Industry, Kyushu University, October 26-30, 2015. The theme highlights two key roles that mathematics plays in supporting innovation in science, technology, and daily life, namely, needs-based and idea-based. For the former, mathematics assists with sorting through the possibilities and putting matters on a more rigorous foundation, and for the latter, mathematical models of the possible implementations play a key role. The book gives excellent examples of how mathematics assists with stimulating innovation and, thereby, highlights the importance and relevance of the concept Mathematics_FOR_Industry. The contents of this volume address productive and successful interaction between industry and mathematicians, as well as the cross-fertilization and collaboration that result when mathematics is involved with the advancement of science and technology.