MSRI / Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath)

What MSRI / Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath) does

Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath), formerly the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit mathematical sciences research institute founded in 1982 and headquartered at 17 Gauss Way, Berkeley, CA. SLMath convenes mathematicians, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates from universities worldwide through semester-long programs, the newer AxIOM month-long program, workshops, seminars, and summer programs (Summer Graduate Schools, PROOF, LATTICE, MSRI-UP). The institute also operates the Mathical Books prize, documentary productions, scholar interviews, and Congressional Briefings as outreach and advocacy channels.

Underlying infrastructure includes a research library, a Computing Handbook, on-site housing for visiting researchers, family services, healthcare resources, and named positions including Distinguished Professorships, Postdoctoral Fellowships, and Graduate Fellowships. The institute does not sell products; all programs are offered at no cost to participants. Operating funding comes from the U.S. National Science Foundation (since founding), the U.S. National Security Agency, more than 110 academic sponsor departments worldwide, private foundations, and individual donors via the Museion Society recognition program.

SLMath is governed by a Board of Trustees and a Scientific Advisory Committee whose members include leading mathematicians from Princeton, MIT, UC Berkeley, Columbia, and the Institute for Advanced Study, alongside industry trustees from BlackRock and Meta/FAIR North America. The institute employs 46 staff and functions as a neutral convening venue for fundamental mathematical research rather than a commercial software or services company.

Name

MSRI / Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath)

Legal name

MSRI / Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath)

Website

https://slmath.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SLMath (formerly MSRI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit mathematical sciences research institute in Berkeley, CA that convenes mathematicians and students worldwide through free semester programs, workshops, and summer schools, funded by the NSF, NSA, 110+ academic sponsors, and private donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mathematics Research Institute

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI), Research & Lab-Based Short-Term Programs (Undergraduate/Graduate) (EDAIAIAF), Math Research, Projects & Modeling Programs (EDAMAEAL)

Keywords

• Mathematical research institute
• Academic research programs
• Mathematics education
• Postdoctoral fellowships
• Graduate math programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SLMath operates as a nonprofit mathematical sciences research institute that hosts semester-long research programs, workshops, seminars, and summer schools for mathematicians and graduate students. The institute offers postdoctoral and graduate fellowships, computing and library resources, and serves as a neutral convening venue for collaborative mathematical research worldwide.

Product overview

SLMath (Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute) is a unified platform offering a comprehensive suite of research programs, educational initiatives, and member services for the mathematical sciences community. The core offerings include Semester Programs (semester-long and AxIOM month-long formats), Workshops, and Seminars for professional researchers, complemented by Summer Programs (PROOF, LATTICE, Summer Graduate Schools, MSRI-UP) for students. Supporting infrastructure includes the Library, Computing Handbook, Health Care services, and Family Services. Outreach and publications include Mathical Books, Documentaries & Public Films, Scholar Interviews, and the Public Understanding of Math initiative. Named Positions (Distinguished Professorships, Postdoctoral Fellowships, Graduate Fellowships) provide funding mechanisms. The institute serves as a convening body for mathematical research rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Semester Programs Semester-long research programs for mathematicians covering specific topics in mathematical sciences, available in semester-long and AxIOM month-long formats.
• Workshops Workshop events that bring together researchers to work on specific mathematical topics and problems.
• Seminars Regular seminar series providing ongoing scholarly presentations and discussions on mathematical research topics.
• PROOF (Program for Research for Undergraduates) Summer research program designed for undergraduate students to engage in mathematical research.
• LATTICE Summer mathematics program focused on specific research areas.
• Summer Graduate Schools Intensive summer courses for graduate students to advance their mathematical training.
• MSRI-UP for Undergraduates Undergraduate research program focused on underrepresented groups in mathematics.
• Postdoctoral Fellowships Fellowship opportunities for recent PhD recipients in mathematical sciences.
• Graduate Fellowships Fellowship support for graduate students participating in SLMath programs.
• Distinguished Professorships Prestigious endowed professorship positions for leading mathematicians.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• University of MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Hyman Bass).
• Brandeis UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Ruth Charney).
• UC BerkeleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Jennifer Chayes).
• University of California, BerkeleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (David Eisenbud).
• Princeton UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Charles Fefferman).
• Institute for Advanced StudyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Phillip Griffiths).
• University of VirginiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Craig Huneke).
• Columbia UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (John Morgan).
• University of UtahminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Hugo Rossi).
• University of NebraskaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Judy Walker).
• Tulane UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Morris Kalka).
• Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Tom Leighton).
• Barnard CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Dusa McDuff).
• Math for AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMathematics education organization represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Maria Klawe).
• Meta / Facebook AI Research (FAIR) North AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Kristin Lauter).
• BlackRockminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestment management firm represented on SLMath's Emeriti Trustees board (Ronald Kahn).

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Banff International Research Station (BIRS): BIRS is a Canadian-based international math research station hosting 5-day workshops on frontier topics, comparable in mission and program structure to SLMath's workshops.
• Fields Institute: Fields Institute at the University of Toronto hosts thematic programs, workshops, and postdoctoral fellowships in the mathematical sciences — closely mirroring SLMath's semester program and summer school format.
• ICERM (Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics): ICERM at Brown University hosts semester programs and workshops in computational and experimental mathematics — a U.S. peer running a nearly identical semester/workshop structure to SLMath.
• American Institute of Mathematics (AIM): AIM is a nonprofit that organizes focused workshops and SQuaREs (Small Group Research) in mathematics, sharing SLMath's workshop-driven, mission-aligned nonprofit research model.
• Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHES): IHES is a French-based international research institute in mathematics and theoretical physics with a similar resident-scholar and workshop model, serving as the European counterpart to SLMath.
• Institute for Advanced Study (IAS): IAS in Princeton is the most direct peer: a nonprofit, independent research institute hosting resident scholars and focused on fundamental research including mathematics, with comparable convening model and elite faculty affiliations (e.g., Phillip Griffiths on SLMath's board has IAS ties).
• Clay Mathematics Institute (CMI): CMI is a privately funded nonprofit that supports mathematical research, hosts workshops, and funds long-term research positions in pure mathematics — overlapping directly with SLMath's mission and program model.

Broad incumbents

• American Mathematical Society (AMS): AMS is the largest U.S. professional society for mathematicians, offering publications, fellowships, and meetings; a broader incumbent in the same ecosystem where SLMath operates.
• Mathematical Association of America (MAA): MAA is a broader U.S. mathematics professional society covering mathematics education, publications, and community programming at scale — overlapping SLMath's outreach and education focus but spanning the entire math community rather than a research-intensive niche.

Regional players

• Max Planck Institute for Mathematics: Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn is a leading European math research institute offering permanent research positions and visitor programs — comparable mission but serving primarily the European research community.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/slmath-msri

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about MSRI / Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath)