On Friday 23 January 2026, a number of industry stakeholders from both public and private sectors were invited to attend the on-going 2026 Applied Mathematics Research School (AMRS) at the University of Malawi (UNIMA) in a bid to bridge the gap between abstract theory and practical application in the use of advanced modelling, artificial intelligence, and big data analysis to provide innovative, research-based solutions that many organisations may not have the in-house expertise to develop.

The industry representatives came from various institutions including NBS Bank, National Statistical Office (NSO), Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR), MwAPATA Research Institute, Centre for Social Research (CSR), and NICO Life Insurance. The representatives presented current and unresolved technical challenges as well as institutional insights to academic experts for consideration within their respective working groups.

Beyond this, the engagement with industry stakeholders led to the identification of new and challenging research areas with direct relevance to real-world problems and sustainability, providing raw data for academic publications and the development of new mathematical theories.

During the engagement, participants also presented on various research topics they had been working on at the workshop over the previous days within their groups which covered a range of areas such as daily insurance, food security, social networking, and agricultural processes, among others.

The 2026 AMRS workshop, which began on Monday 19th January and will run up to Friday 30th January 2026, has brought together scholars from a number of universities, aiming at advancing knowledge and creating impact through research, collaboration, and innovation.