Periodic Reporting for period 3 - SanDAL (ERA Chair in Mathematical Statistics and Data Science for the University of Luxembourg)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-01-01 al 2024-12-31
SanDAL aimed to establish a high-level research group in Mathematical Statistics and Data Science (MS&DS) at the University of Luxembourg (UL), addressing a critical gap between existing mathematical research at UL and its application in key academic and economic sectors in Luxembourg. The project successfully contributed to Luxembourg’s strategic goals by reinforcing research excellence in High-Dimensional Data Analysis and New Mathematical Tools for Contemporary Statistics.
The appointment of an ERA Chair Holder as a full professor at UL, played a key role in ensuring a sustainable structural change in Luxembourg’s Research and Innovation landscape. The postdoctoral researchers hired under SanDAL were instrumental in the establishment of the research group, publishing in high-impact journals, engaging in interdisciplinary collaborations, and contributing to teaching activities. The project also enabled the development of new MSc programs, ensuring a steady flow of MS&DS graduates with the skills needed for both academic and non-academic sectors. The establishment of a strong collaboration network, including an external Scientific Steering Committee and a National Advisory Board, ensured the project’s scientific and societal relevance.
Over the course of SanDAL, the research team produced high-impact publications, organized international conferences, and developed collaborations with stakeholders from both academia and industry. The Master of Data Science program, has grown significantly, attracting a diverse and highly qualified student cohort. In addition, the project facilitated interdisciplinary workshops and training programs that fostered knowledge exchange and skill development. As the project concludes, its key outcomes include a strengthened research capacity in Luxembourg, increased international visibility of UL in statistical and data science research, and the successful integration of MS&DS into various disciplines and industry aspects. The project's impact is expected to continue through its established academic program, ongoing research collaborations, and contributions to Luxembourg’s digital and innovation-driven economy.
The appointment of an ERA Chair Holder as a full professor at UL, played a key role in ensuring a sustainable structural change in Luxembourg’s Research and Innovation landscape. The postdoctoral researchers hired under SanDAL were instrumental in the establishment of the research group, publishing in high-impact journals, engaging in interdisciplinary collaborations, and contributing to teaching activities. The project also enabled the development of new MSc programs, ensuring a steady flow of MS&DS graduates with the skills needed for both academic and non-academic sectors. The establishment of a strong collaboration network, including an external Scientific Steering Committee and a National Advisory Board, ensured the project’s scientific and societal relevance.
Over the course of SanDAL, the research team produced high-impact publications, organized international conferences, and developed collaborations with stakeholders from both academia and industry. The Master of Data Science program, has grown significantly, attracting a diverse and highly qualified student cohort. In addition, the project facilitated interdisciplinary workshops and training programs that fostered knowledge exchange and skill development. As the project concludes, its key outcomes include a strengthened research capacity in Luxembourg, increased international visibility of UL in statistical and data science research, and the successful integration of MS&DS into various disciplines and industry aspects. The project's impact is expected to continue through its established academic program, ongoing research collaborations, and contributions to Luxembourg’s digital and innovation-driven economy.
Until the end of the final reporting period, the SanDAL ERA Chair has successfully achieved its objectives, establishing a strong research presence in Mathematical Statistics and Data Science (MS&DS) at the University of Luxembourg (UL). Despite initial challenges, including COVID-19-related disruptions, the project has made significant progress:
1. The ERA Chair Holder, Prof. Yannick Baraud, was recruited in August 2019, followed by the establishment of a research team comprising postdoctoral researchers, PhD candidates, and interns.
2. The initial, midterm and final versions of the ERA Chair Strategic Research Programme have been produced and more importantly, three Master programmes have been developed: i) The Master in Data Science (MADS) was launched in September 2021 and has grown significantly, attracting increasing numbers of applicants each year.; ii)The Master in Actuarial Science has been fully developed and awaits final recruitment steps of an actuarial specialist (the endeavor will be under the scope of the new endowed chair, to optimize the full deployment as soon as possible), and iii) the Master in Applied Data Science has been developed but was was ultimately not approved on the highest level. The development of a PhD programme in Data Science continues to be worked on in close collaboration with the stakeholders.
3. SanDAL has explored potential funding opportunities to expand its work in MS&DS research topics. The ERA Chair has organised and participated in several workshops with Luxembourgish stakeholders and H2020 funding schemes to become familiar with national socio-economic challenges and to build a collaborative network for future projects and to support their academic programmes. Several proposals have been retained for funding: FNR RESCOM International Conference funding (awarded in 2020); FNR PRIDE Doctoral Training Unit (awarded in 2022); INTER-AUDACE project with Luxembourg Institute of Health and Quebec partners (awarded in 2022.); AFR-NASA Ames bilateral postdoctoral fellowship (awarded in 2023); FNR-Industrial fellowship PhD project in collaboration with Luxembourgish industry partner ITTM (awarded in 2023); UL internal funding scheme IAS-Distinguished TIMEDATA workshop project (awarded in 2023) and IAS-Audacity PERFORM research project (awarded in 2024).
4. The ERA Chair Team has organised several events during the project, including regular probability and statistics seminars and the SanDAL Inaugural Lecture, which introduced the ERA Chair Holder, the aim of project and the scientific focus. Four summer and winter schools took place throughout the project duration. The organisation of an International Conference planned in Year 3 has been postponted to Year 4 in order to take advantage of more relaxed sanitary restrictions, which in Year 3 were still having a very negative impact. SanDAL organized 3 international conferences (1 nationally funded (RESCOM), and 2 SanDAL-funded).
5. Finally, SanDAL has also been active with dissemination and outreach activities. These include presentations at scientific events, participation at international conferences, press coverage, as well open days at the university and non-academic sessions for the general public.
1. The ERA Chair Holder, Prof. Yannick Baraud, was recruited in August 2019, followed by the establishment of a research team comprising postdoctoral researchers, PhD candidates, and interns.
2. The initial, midterm and final versions of the ERA Chair Strategic Research Programme have been produced and more importantly, three Master programmes have been developed: i) The Master in Data Science (MADS) was launched in September 2021 and has grown significantly, attracting increasing numbers of applicants each year.; ii)The Master in Actuarial Science has been fully developed and awaits final recruitment steps of an actuarial specialist (the endeavor will be under the scope of the new endowed chair, to optimize the full deployment as soon as possible), and iii) the Master in Applied Data Science has been developed but was was ultimately not approved on the highest level. The development of a PhD programme in Data Science continues to be worked on in close collaboration with the stakeholders.
3. SanDAL has explored potential funding opportunities to expand its work in MS&DS research topics. The ERA Chair has organised and participated in several workshops with Luxembourgish stakeholders and H2020 funding schemes to become familiar with national socio-economic challenges and to build a collaborative network for future projects and to support their academic programmes. Several proposals have been retained for funding: FNR RESCOM International Conference funding (awarded in 2020); FNR PRIDE Doctoral Training Unit (awarded in 2022); INTER-AUDACE project with Luxembourg Institute of Health and Quebec partners (awarded in 2022.); AFR-NASA Ames bilateral postdoctoral fellowship (awarded in 2023); FNR-Industrial fellowship PhD project in collaboration with Luxembourgish industry partner ITTM (awarded in 2023); UL internal funding scheme IAS-Distinguished TIMEDATA workshop project (awarded in 2023) and IAS-Audacity PERFORM research project (awarded in 2024).
4. The ERA Chair Team has organised several events during the project, including regular probability and statistics seminars and the SanDAL Inaugural Lecture, which introduced the ERA Chair Holder, the aim of project and the scientific focus. Four summer and winter schools took place throughout the project duration. The organisation of an International Conference planned in Year 3 has been postponted to Year 4 in order to take advantage of more relaxed sanitary restrictions, which in Year 3 were still having a very negative impact. SanDAL organized 3 international conferences (1 nationally funded (RESCOM), and 2 SanDAL-funded).
5. Finally, SanDAL has also been active with dissemination and outreach activities. These include presentations at scientific events, participation at international conferences, press coverage, as well open days at the university and non-academic sessions for the general public.
The expected potential impacts targeted by the SanDAL project are the following:
Impact #1. Increased attractiveness of the institution, host region and country for internationally excellent and mobile researchers
Impact #2. Increased research excellence of the institution in the specific fields covered by the ERA Chair holder.
Impact #3. Improved capability to compete successfully for internationally competitive research funding.
Impact #4. Institutional changes within the ERA Chair host institution to implement the European Research Area priorities
The immediate impacts for the Mathematics Department are as follows:
• The project has been very beneficial towards establishing a Strategic Research Programme in MS&DS. This has led to the development of three Master’s programmes (one already inaugurated) and PhD training courses. The Master in Data Science (MADS) has grown significantly since its launch in 2021, attracting strong international applicants and addressing Luxembourg’s demand for skilled data scientists. Graduates are in high demand across sectors like finance, healthcare, ICT, and research.
• Building close interactions with major data science players in Luxembourg have facilitated new contacts with industry partners, stakeholders, and other related academic domains. This has resulted in higher applicability of UL’s research and to tailor their topics in areas where they could be utilised, as well as introducing opportunities to collaborate with the Faculty (including in the developed Master programmes).
• Increasing the relevance of their scientific work in a multidisciplinary capacity and to raise their expertise in MS&DS nationally and beyond. The ERA Chair has been active in exploring funding opportunities in Luxembourg and in the EU which are aligned with their research interests, as well as planning potential partnerships. SanDAL team secured competitive funding, including multiple grants from the Luxembourg National Research Fund, ensuring continued research activities beyond the project’s timeline.
Impact #1. Increased attractiveness of the institution, host region and country for internationally excellent and mobile researchers
Impact #2. Increased research excellence of the institution in the specific fields covered by the ERA Chair holder.
Impact #3. Improved capability to compete successfully for internationally competitive research funding.
Impact #4. Institutional changes within the ERA Chair host institution to implement the European Research Area priorities
The immediate impacts for the Mathematics Department are as follows:
• The project has been very beneficial towards establishing a Strategic Research Programme in MS&DS. This has led to the development of three Master’s programmes (one already inaugurated) and PhD training courses. The Master in Data Science (MADS) has grown significantly since its launch in 2021, attracting strong international applicants and addressing Luxembourg’s demand for skilled data scientists. Graduates are in high demand across sectors like finance, healthcare, ICT, and research.
• Building close interactions with major data science players in Luxembourg have facilitated new contacts with industry partners, stakeholders, and other related academic domains. This has resulted in higher applicability of UL’s research and to tailor their topics in areas where they could be utilised, as well as introducing opportunities to collaborate with the Faculty (including in the developed Master programmes).
• Increasing the relevance of their scientific work in a multidisciplinary capacity and to raise their expertise in MS&DS nationally and beyond. The ERA Chair has been active in exploring funding opportunities in Luxembourg and in the EU which are aligned with their research interests, as well as planning potential partnerships. SanDAL team secured competitive funding, including multiple grants from the Luxembourg National Research Fund, ensuring continued research activities beyond the project’s timeline.