The Groupe pour l’avancement des méthodes numériques de l’ingénieur (Gamni) was founded in 1974 as an association before merging with the Société de mathématiques appliquées et industrielles (SMAI) in 1985. Its aim was to foster links between research and industry in the field of numerical methods. This commitment led in particular to the creation of the Blaise-Pascal Prize, in tribute to the Clermont-born scientist. This award, worth €3,000, is presented each year to a researcher who defended their thesis fewer than fifteen years earlier, in recognition of work carried out in France on applications of mathematics to engineering and industry, notably through numerical methods, whether deterministic or stochastic. Several recipients, selected by the Academy of Sciences in consultation with the SMAI and Gamni, are leading specialists in the numerical analysis of partial differential equations. The fifteen-year limit between the thesis defence and the award is adjusted according to the number of children candidates have, in order to promote gender parity among the prizewinners.
