The International Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) is a multi-day mathematical modelling competition held annually in USA, during the first or second weekend in February, since 1985 by COMAP and sponsored by SIAM and INFORMS. It is distinguished from other major mathematical competitions such as the famous Putnam Competition by its strong focus on research, modeling skills, mathematics, originality, teamwork, communication and justification of results. It runs concurrently with the Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM).

The International Mathematical Contest in Modeling is one of the most prestigious mathematical competitions in the world. The financial support initially provided by Science Foundations like National Science Foundation (NSF), Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), since 2004 additional funding comes from the National Security Agency of USA (NSA) and Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Problems 
At the beginning of the contest, teams have a choice between three problems. Problem A involves a system that requires the use of continuous mathematics, and thus often involves concepts from geometry, physics, or engineering.  Problem B involves a system that requires the use of discrete mathematics. In 2016, a "data insights" problem was added, where teams are given access to database files and tasked with using them to answer a question. This problem was designated as Problem C, though previously, Problem C referred to an ICM problem. These problems tend to be open-ended, and are drawn from all fields of science, business, and public policy. Past problems include
 Estimate the global effects of a large asteroid impacting Antarctica (1999 A)
 Study the hunting strategies of velociraptor dinosaurs based on fossil data (1997 A)
 Develop a more efficient method of boarding passengers onto large commercial jets (2007 B)
Teams have 96 hours to research and submit their solutions in the form of a research paper. During this time, they may consult any available references, but may not discuss their problem with anyone outside their teams. Several guides containing advice and recommendations for teams and/or advisors have been published online or in print.

Participation and awards 
Thousands of international teams of three undergraduates compete to produce original mathematical papers in response to one of two modelling problems. Initially, participation was largely from the United States, however, in recent years international participation has grown significantly, particularly from the People's Republic of China, so that in 2007 teams from the United States comprised only 24% of total participation. In 2014, the percentage of teams from the People's Republic of China reached a record high of 92.9%.

After the competition, all papers are judged and placed into the following categories:
 Unsuccessful Participant
 Successful Participant (approximately 65% of teams)
 Honorable Mention (approximately 21% of teams)
 Meritorious Winner (approximately 8% of teams)
 Outstanding Winner and Finalist (approximately 1.5% of teams)

Until 2009, Outstanding Winner papers were published in The UMAP Journal.

Results 
2023

This year, during the 39th annual MCM, 11,296 teams representing institutions from 21 countries/regions participated in the contest. Twenty-two teams from the following institutions were designated as outstanding winners: 

 Beijing Institute of Technology, China (2 Teams) (SIAM Award 2303950) (Ben Fusaro Award 2309229)
 Columbia University, NY, USA (2 Teams) (INFORMS Award & MAA Award 2322645) (MAA Award 2322687)
 Duke University, NC, USA (COMAP Scholarship Award, MAA Award & SIAM Award)
 East China Normal University, China (SIAM Award)
 Fudan University, China
 Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, China
 Northeastern University of China, China (COMAP Scholarship Award & ASA Award)
 Renmin University of China, China (2 Teams)
 Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China (INFORMS Award)
 Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, China
 The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
 Tiangong University, China (Frank Giordano Award)
 Tianjin University, China
 Tsinghua University, China (INFORMS Award)
 University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China (2 Teams) (AMS Award 2300336)
 Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
 Xidian University, China
 Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, China (AMS Award)
 Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China (Finalist - AMS Award)
The 2023 MCM problems represented a variety of challenging problems spanning the familiar to the new. Each problem required teams to apply mathematical modeling skills in a creative way. All three problems were created by the MCM Problem Committee, a unique blend of academicians and industry professionals with many years of mathematical modeling experience. 

2022 MCM Problem A Results

The SEVEN Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (A) Problem are:

Harbin Institute of Technology, China — AMS Award

Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China — INFORMS Award

Zhejiang University, China — SIAM Award

Beihang University, China

Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China

Southeast University, China

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China

(Finalist) California Polytechnic State University, CA, USA — MAA Award

Zhejiang University, China — Ben Fusaro Award

The Complete 2022 Problem A Results

2022 MCM Problem B Results

The SIX Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (B) Problem are:

Dalian Maritime University, China — INFORMS Award

Chongqing University, China — Frank Giordano Award

Xi'an Jiaotong University, China — AMS Award & COMAP Scholarship Award

Hohai University, China — SIAM Award

Shanghai University, China

Qingdao University of Technology, China

(Finalist) New York University, NY, USA	— MAA Award

The Complete 2022 MCM Problem B Results

2022 MCM Problem C Results

The TEN Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (C) Problem are:

ShanghaiTech University, China — SIAM Award

South China University of Technology, China — INFORMS Award

Ningbo University of Finance & Economics, China — AMS Award

Columbia University, NY, USA — MAA Award & COMAP Scholarship Award

Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, China

Beijing Institute of Technology, China

Tianjin University, China

Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, China

University of International Business and Economics, China

Northwest University, China

(Finalist) Nanjing University, China — ASA Award

The Complete 2022 MCM Problem C Results

2021 MCM Problem A Results

The SIX Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (A) Problem are:

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China — SIAM Award & COMAP Scholarship Award

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China — SIAM Award & COMAP Scholarship Award

Central South University, China — INFORMS Award

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China — AMS Award

Jiangnan University, China

Chongqing University, China

(Finalist) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY, USA — MAA Award

The Complete 2021 MCM Problem A Results2021 MCM Problem B ResultsThe FIVE Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (B) Problem are:Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, China — Frank Giordano Award & SIAM Award

Xi'an Jiaotong University, China — AMS Award

Xidian University, China

National University of Defense Technology, China

Hohai University, China

(Finalist) University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA — MAA Award

(Finalist) Beihang University, China — INFORMS Award

The Complete 2021 MCM Problem B Results2021 MCM Problem C ReultsThe SIX Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (C) Problem are:Beijing Jiaotong University, China — ASA Award

University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA — MAA Award & SIAM Award & COMAP Scholarship Award

University of Oxford, United Kingdom — INFORMS Award & AMS Award

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China

Soochow University, China

The Complete 2021 Problem C Results

2020 MCM Problem A Results

The EIGHT Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (A) Problem are:

Harbin Institute of Technology, China — AMS Award

Tiangong University, China — Ben Fusaro Award

University of International Business and Economics, China — INFORMS Award

NC School of Science and Mathematics, NC, USA — MAA Award & SIAM Award

Beijing Institute of Technology, China

Northeast Electric Power University, China

Southwest Jiaotong University, China

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China

The Complete 2020 MCM Problem A Results 

2020 MCM Problem B Results

The FIVE Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (B) Problem are:

Beijing Normal University, China — Frank Giordano Award

Wuhan University, China — COMAP Scholarship Award & INFORMS Award

North University of China, China — AMS Award & SIAM Award

Northwestern Polytechnical University, China

Xi'an Jiaotong University, China

The Complete 2020 Problem B Results

2020 MCM Problem C Results

The FIVE Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (C) Problem are:

Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, China — ASA Award

South China University of Technology, China — COMAP Scholarship Award & AMS Award

Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, China — INFORMS Award

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China (2)

Shenzhen University, China

The Complete 2020 MCM Problem C Results

2019 MCM Problem A Results

The SIX Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (A) Problem are:

Central South University, China  — SIAM Award

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China   — Ben Fusaro Award

Richard Montgomery High School, MD, USA  —  MAA Award & COMAP Scholarship Award

University of Maryland, MD, USA  — AMS Award

Virginia Tech, VA, USA — INFORMS Award

Southeast University, China

The Complete 2019 MCM Problem A Results

2019 MCM Problem B Results

The FIVE Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (B) Problem are

China Jiliang University, China — SIAM Award

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China —  AMS Award & COMAP Scholarship Award

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China

Zju-Uiuc Institute, Zhejiang University, China — INFORMS Award

The Complete 2019 MCM Problem B Results

2019 MCM Problem C Results

The SIX Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (C) Problem are:

ShanghaiTech University, China —  ASA Data Insights Award

University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA —   AMS Award

University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA —   INFORMS Award

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China

University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA

Sichuan University, China

The Complete 2019 MCM Problem C Results   

2018 MCM Problem A Results

The FIVE Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (A) Problem are:

Harbin Institute of Technology, China — INFORMS Award

University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA  — SIAM Award & MAA Award

China Electric Power University Baoding, China  

North China Electric Power University Baoding, China

Zhengzhou University, China

Complete Results for Problem A 2018

2018 MCM Problem B Results

The FIVE Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (B) Problem are:

Beihang University, China — COMAP Scholarship Award

Beijing Normal University, China — Frank Giordano Award

Peking University, China — SIAM Award

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China — INFORMS Award

University of International Business and Economics, China

Complete Result for Problem B 2018

2018 MCM Problem C Results

The SIX Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (C) Problem are:

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China —  INFORMS Award

Xi'an Jiaotong University, China —  ASA Data Insights Award

Virginia Tech, VA, USA —   MAA Award & COMAP Scholarship Award

Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, China

Beijing Forestry University, China

Beijing University of Technology, China

Complete Results for Problem C 2018   

2017 MCM Problem A Results

The FOUR Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (A) Problem are:

Nanjing University, China — Ben Fusaro Award

Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China — SIAM Prize Recipient

Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, China

Complete Results for Problem A 2017

2017MCM Problem B Results

The FIVE Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (B) Problem are:

Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications,  China

Neijiang Normal University, China — INFORMS Prize Recipient

North Carolina State University, NC, USA — SIAM Prize Recipient & MAA Prize Recipient

Shandong Normal University, China — Frank Giordano Award

The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR)

Complete Result for Problem B 2017

2017 MCM Problem C Results

The FOUR Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (C) Problem are:

University of California at Berkeley,  CA, USA — MAA Prize Recipient & Two Sigma Scholarship Award

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China — INFORMS Prize Recipient

Complete Results for Problem C 2017

2016 MCM Problem A Results

The SIX Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (A) Problem are:

Adlai E. Stevenson High School, IL, USA — Ben Fusaro Award

Chongqing University, China — INFORMS Prize Recipient

Northwestern Polytechnical University, China

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China

Southwest Jiaotong University, China — SIAM Prize Recipient

University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA — MAA Prize Recipient

Complete Results for Problem A 2016

2016 MCM Problem B Results

The THREE Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (B) Problem are:

Southwestern University of Finance and Economics,  China — Frank Giordano Award

Wuhan University, China — SIAM Prize Recipient

Zhejiang University, China — INFORMS Prize Recipient

Complete Results for Problem B 2016

2016 MCM Problem C Results

The THREE Outstanding Winners of THE MCM (C) Problem are:

Shanghai University of Finance and Economics,  China

Tsinghua University, China — INFORMS Prize Recipient

Virginia Tech, VA, USA — MAA Prize Recipient & Two Sigma Scholarship Award

Complete Results for Problem C 2016

2015 
 7636 teams participated
 Problem A Outstanding  Winners
 Northwestern Polytechnical University, China
 State University of New York, University at Buffalo, NY — MAA Prize Recipient
 Chongqing University, China — SIAM Prize Recipient
 Central South University, China — Ben Fusaro Award
 University of Adelaide, Australia — INFORMS Prize Recipient
 Problem B Outstanding Winners
 University of Colorado Boulder, CO — SIAM Prize Recipient & Two Sigma Scholarship Award
 Bethel University, MN — MAA Prize Recipient & Frank Giordano Award
 University of Colorado Boulder, CO
 Colorado College, CO — INFORMS Prize Recipient
 Tsinghua University, China

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE RESULTS

2014 
 6755 teams participated
 Problem A Outstanding Winners
 Shanghai Jiaotong University, China
 Tsinghua University, China — INFORMS & Ben Fusaro Award
 Nanjing University, China
 Zhejiang University, China— SIAM Prize Recipient
 Beijing Normal University, China
 Tufts University, MA — MAA Prize Recipient

DOWN THE COMPLETE PROBLEM (A) RESULTS

 Problem B Outstanding Winners
 Chongqing University, China
 University of International Business and Economics, China
 Southeast University, China
 Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China — Frank Giordano Award
 Southwest University for Nationalities, China — SIAM Prize Recipient
 College of Information Science and Engineering; Northeastern University, China
 NC School of Science and Mathematics, NC — INFORMS & MAA Prize Recipient

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE PROBLEM (B) RESULTS

2013 
 5636 teams participated
 Problem A Outstanding Winners
 Bethel University, MN — MAA Prize Recipient
 Fudan University, China
 Peking University, China
 Shandong University, China — INFORMS Prize Recipient
 Shanghai Jiaotong University, China
 University of Colorado Boulder, CO — SIAM Prize Recipient
 Tongji University, China — Ben Fusaro Award (Finalist)

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE PROBLEM (A) RESULTS

 Problem B Outstanding Winners
 Beijing Univ. of Posts and Telecomm, China
 Colorado College, CO — Frank Giordano Award
 Nanjing University, China — INFORMS Prize Recipient
 Tsinghua University, China — SIAM Prize Recipient
 University of Colorado Boulder, CO — MAA Prize Recipient

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE PROBLEM (B) RESULTS

2012
 3697 teams participated
 Problem A Outstanding Winners
 Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
 National University of Singapore, Singapore — Ben Fusaro Award
 Shanghai Foreign Language School, China — INFORMS Prize Recipient
 Zhejiang University, China — SIAM Prize Recipient
 Cornell University, NY — MAA Prize Recipient (Finalist)

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE PROBLEM (A) RESULTS

 Problem B Outstanding Winners
 Bethel University, MN
 Peking University, China
 University of Colorado, CO — MAA Prize Recipient
 University of Colorado, CO — INFORMS Prize Recipient
 University of Louisville, KY — SIAM Prize Recipient
 Western Washington University, WA — Frank Giordano Award

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE PROBLEM (B) RESULTS

2011
 2775 teams participated
 Problem A Outstanding Winners
 Eastern Oregon University, OR — MAA Prize Recipient
 Peking University, China
 Tsinghua University, China —SIAM Prize Recipient
 University of Western Ontario, Canada — INFORMS Prize Recipient & Ben Fusaro Award

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE PROBLEM (A) RESULTS 

 Problem B Outstanding Winners
 Harvey Mudd College, CA — SIAM Prize Recipient
 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
 University of Electronic Science and Technology, China — INFORMS Prize Recipient & Ben Fusaro Award
 Virginia Tech, VA — MAA Prize Recipient

DOWN THE COMPLETE PROBLEM (B) RESULTS

See also 
 Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling
 International Mathematical Modeling Challenge

References

External links 
 Official contest website
 

Mathematics competitions
Recurring events established in 1985
1985 establishments in the United States