{"slug": "shenzhen-based-ai-mathematician-yurii-nesterov-wins-top-prize-in-applied-maths", "title": "Shenzhen-based AI mathematician Yurii Nesterov wins top prize in applied maths", "summary": "Russian-born Belgian mathematician Yurii Nesterov, 70, has won the Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize, the highest honour in applied mathematics, at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Philadelphia on July 23, shortly after joining the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and the Shenzhen Loop Area Institute as a professor. Nesterov, who rejected retirement to continue his work in AI algorithm design, cited China's fast and progressive development as a key factor in his move.", "body_md": "# Shenzhen-based AI mathematician Yurii Nesterov wins top prize in applied maths\n\n‘Crazy to stop right now’: researcher rejects retirement to build on his 40-year legacy during the golden age of artificial intelligence\n\nWhen Russian-born Belgian mathematician Yurii Nesterov reached retirement age in 2023, he found himself at the centre of a technological storm.\n\n[artificial intelligence](https://www.scmp.com/topics/artificial-intelligence?module=inline&pgtype=article)(AI).\n\n[algorithm design](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3355232/chinese-scientists-create-kill-them-all-algorithm-drone-warfare?module=inline&pgtype=article)” – wanted to continue his groundbreaking work, saying: “It is crazy to stop right now.”\n\nIn June, Nesterov, now 70, embarked on a new full-time career in southern China’s tech hubs, joining the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) and the Shenzhen Loop Area Institute (SLAI) as a professor at the Centre for AI Theoretical Foundation and Systems.\n\nAlmost immediately, the scholar won the highest honour in the global applied mathematics community – the Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize – which he received at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) ceremony in Philadelphia on July 23.\n\n“The main feature of China today is the fast and progressive development,” Nesterov said.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/shenzhen-based-ai-mathematician-yurii-nesterov-wins-top-prize-in-applied-maths", "canonical_source": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3362465/shenzhen-based-ai-mathematician-yurii-nesterov-wins-top-prize-applied-maths?utm_source=rss_feed", "published_at": "2026-08-04 09:00:07+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-04 09:06:28.478472+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-research"], "entities": ["Yurii Nesterov", "Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen", "Shenzhen Loop Area Institute", "Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize", "International Congress of Mathematicians"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/shenzhen-based-ai-mathematician-yurii-nesterov-wins-top-prize-in-applied-maths", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/shenzhen-based-ai-mathematician-yurii-nesterov-wins-top-prize-in-applied-maths.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/shenzhen-based-ai-mathematician-yurii-nesterov-wins-top-prize-in-applied-maths.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/shenzhen-based-ai-mathematician-yurii-nesterov-wins-top-prize-in-applied-maths.jsonld"}}