Former CAS PI, Fabian Harang, to lead research centre at BI

“Smart Food Flow” project

Fabian will lead the "Smart Food Flow" project, an interdisciplinary research initiative focused on developing new mathematical and statistical methods, as well as optimal system design to analyse and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the grocery industry. The project aims to create new tools that address both environmental impact and food waste challenges.

"Smart Food Flow combines techniques from stochastic analysis, machine learning, operations management, and optimal transport theory to develop models that both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and food waste in the grocery industry," explains Fabian.

The mathematical approaches developed have strong connections to Fabian's previous work. "Much of the mathematics I wish to develop in this project is actually quite closely related to other projects I have been working on around signature methods. Additionally, it will be larger, with an interdisciplinary perspective from statistics and operations analysis," he notes.

The project brings together experts from various fields, led by Fabian Harang and including Professor Steffen Grønneberg (Statistics), Professor Kim van Oorscht (Operations Management) and Collaborations with international researchers. The center will soon expand its team by hiring two PhD students dedicated to the project.

Building on CAS experience, and bridging research and industry

Fabian gives credit to his experience as a Principal Investigator at CAS as instrumental in this new project. "The experience of leading a CAS project was crucial for taking this next step – both in establishing the research center and in securing external funding," he shares.

Camilla Serck-Hanssen, Director at CAS, expresses joy in Fabian's achievement: "We at CAS are very proud of Fabian, and it is incredibly exciting that we can contribute to laying the foundation for such centers. One often thinks that the distance between basic research and business interests is a chasm. Now, Fabian has disproven this."

Fabian shares this sentiment, noting: "It is fun to see that basic research and business can be connected." He also emphasizes the valuable skills gained through his CAS project experience: "The experience from the CAS project has been very valuable, both in terms of developing research ideas, creating new collaborations, and administrating such projects."

The establishment of AMOR is an important advancement in applying mathematical research to real-world sustainability challenges through industry partnerships.

We wish Fabian the best of luck with this new venture, and look forward to following the development of the project and centre.