A mathematics research center was launched at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) at a ceremony Friday.

The international research center for mathematics headed by Professor Efim Zelmanov will focus on researches in basic mathematics, applied mathematics and computation mathematics, and interdisciplinary researches of mathematics in the life science, information, engineering and finance fields.

Zelmanov, born in 1955, is a Russian-American mathematician who was awarded the Fields Medal in 1994 for his work in group theory.

“The research center is just like my child. I will come to the city several months a year and participate in the construction and research of the mathematics center and also recommend talented Chinese students to study at top world universities,” said Zelmanov in an interview with the Shenzhen Economic Daily on Friday.

Zelmanov believes that the mathematics center will be one of the most advanced mathematics centers in China and contribute to China’s mathematics development.

“China has mathematics talents, while Shenzhen’s innovation environment is good for the growth of talents. I hope the mathematics center will tap and develop the mathematic potential of students,” said Zelmanov.

The advancement of technologies and artificial intelligence brings opportunities for mathematics and computer sciences, according to Zelmanov. Mathematics is the basic science for technology, so for those who want to win future technology competitions, mathematics is indispensable.