MI_NET

1. How the Smith Institute Works in the UK
Dr Robert Leese
robert.leese@smithinst.co.uk / www.smithinst.co.uk
MI-NET, University of Bath
27 October 2015

2. Introduction
 The Smith Institute for Industrial Mathematics and System Engineering is an
independent company, working with business, government and universities
to address high-value challenges through the use of mathematics in a
systems context.
 The Institute was established in the late 1990s and has grown steadily since
its creation. We have no shareholders, which reinforces our independence,
and growth is driven by our ability to generate and reinvest a surplus on our
activities. The Smith Institute receives no core funding.
 We are 20 people, growing at 10-15% per annum and with offices in
Guildford (near London) and Harwell (near Oxford).

3. Features of the Way we Work
 Some of our work is self-funded, some is funded at cost, and some is funded
at market rates, and we seek to maintain an appropriate balance.
 Our academic relationships are vital: they help to keep us at the cutting edge
intellectually, and in return we create new industry-academic collaborations
and new research funding opportunities.
 We make use of government schemes where they suit our purpose, and help
to shape government funding where there are opportunities to do so.
 Our staff operate in various ways: carrying out high-quality technical work,
facilitating wider collaborations, and winning new business. We recruit with
these aims in mind.
 We do not generally seek to retain control over intellectual property rights, but
we do take care to preserve our future freedom of action.

4. What is System Engineering?
 Multidisciplinarity: At least one member of
the team would be an electronics circuitry
man; at least one would be a mathematician;
at least one would be a specialist in the field
pertinent to the problem.
 System design: The parts of the system
have some common purpose; in some sense
they all contribute to the production of …
optimum outputs.
Goode & Machol
(McGraw-Hill, 1957)

5. Mathematics is Central

6. US Incentive Auction (coming March 2016)
Reverse
Auction
applications
Forward
Auction
applications
Clearing
target &
impairment
Reverse
Auction
bidding
Forward
Auction
bidding
HD PEA
activity?
Extended
round
FS Rule
met?
Forward
Auction
bidding
Reverse
Auction
assignment
Forward
Auction
assignment
FS Rule
met?
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Data
Algorithms
Models
Implement

7. Using Placements to Build Relationships

8. Study Group 2016
www.esgi.org.uk

9. Knowledge Transfer Papers

10. Positioning in the Landscape
Basic
principles
Proof of
concept
Mathematical
model
Prototype
design
Successful
deployment
Demonstration / Development
Validation / Verification
Technology
Readiness
Level1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
System
engineering
Industrial
mathematics