NAG is a partner in the POEMA (Polynomial Optimization, Efficiency through Moments and Algebra) EU-funded Innovative Training Network. This project funds fifteen PhD positions across Europe and NAG's role is to provide internships to some of the students to complement their academic training with a period working in industry. Jan Fiala, NAG Senior Technical Consultant and Head of the Mathematical Optimization Team is the project technical lead. 

POEMA's objectives are: 

• New advances in the analysis and understanding of the algebra and geometry involved in polynomial optimization problems, which lead to significant progress in the development of new efficient algorithms and implementations for solving global optimization problems. 
• New, alternative methods for solving global optimization problems, exploiting the structure of the problems for efficiency and accuracy. An industrial breakthrough should be a new class of optimization software that can solve real-life global optimization problems.
• Developing the scope of applications of this new paradigm by addressing challenging applications and optimization bottlenecks in physics, information processing, communication, economy, energy management, etc. Opening innovation perspectives and providing young talented scientists with the keys to build a strong professional future in these demanding research and industrial areas. 

The POEMA project receives funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska–Curie grant agreement 813211.