It was established to solve computational tasks related to government programs of nuclear and fusion energy, space research and missile technology.
The main direction of activity of the institute is the use of computer technology to solve complex scientific and technical issues of practical importance.
Currently, such work in KIAM is continuing in the field of plasma physics and controlled thermonuclear fusion, which began under the leadership of S. P. Kurdyumov, A.
Current research is connected with: One of the greatest mathematicians of the twentieth century I. M. Gelfand was at the head of the Department of heat transmission before his departure for the United States in 1989.
Currently, the existing arsenal of numerical methods is updated and improved in response to the growing complexity of the models and the possibilities of modern supercomputers.
Scientists of KIAM elaborate grid methods for solving computational problems, which has led, in particular, to the creation of a declarative language "Norma".
Already as the Department of Applied Mathematics of Steklov Institute it had conducted some outstanding research in the field of space exploration: in 1953 it developed the method of ballistic spacecraft descent, that was used on 12 April 1961 for Yuri Gagarin's return to the Earth, and in 1957 Sputnik 1 orbit was calculated there using the computer processing of optical observation data.
[4] As a result of the reorganization in RAS of 2015–2016 years[5] Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology became a branch of KIAM.