Sino-German Scholarship for Intelligent Numerical Mathematics (iNum) 2026
- Omran Aburayya
- Aug 23
- 3 min read
If you are a researcher in applied mathematics, computational sciences, or artificial intelligence and looking for an international collaboration opportunity, then here is great news: applications are now open for the Sino-German Scholarship 2026 under the Intelligent Numerical Mathematics (iNum) program.
This initiative, jointly funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), invites outstanding research proposals from German and Chinese scholars to strengthen international collaboration in the fast-growing field of numerical mathematics and scientific computing.
🎓 Scholarship Summary
Location: Germany & China (collaborative projects)
Host Institutions: German Research Foundation (DFG) & National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
Level: Postgraduate & Doctoral researchers, Early-career faculty, Experienced researchers
Target Group: Eligible researchers from German universities/research institutions and Chinese research institutions
Fields of Research: Numerical Mathematics, Scientific Computing, Computational Science & Engineering, AI and Machine Learning methods
Value & Coverage: Research funding (grants for up to 3 years, covering project costs, staff, travel, equipment, etc.)
Duration: Up to 3 years (2026–2029)
Application Deadline: 30 October 2025
Program Start Date: Successful projects will begin mid/late 2026 after review results (announced May 2026)
Eligible to Apply: Principal investigators in Germany (per DFG regulations) and China (per NSFC regulations)
📚 Scholarship Overview
The Intelligent Numerical Mathematics (iNum) program is designed to merge traditional numerical methods with modern learning-based approaches. It encourages proposals that integrate:
Learning-based numerics – boosting efficiency, stability, and scalability of numerical methods.
Numerically efficient learning methods – improving optimization, training robustness, and parallel scalability of machine learning algorithms.
Research topics include (but are not limited to):
Adaptive learning of numerical parameters (relaxation, regularization, etc.).
Model reduction and multiscale methods with learned components.
New approaches for iterative solvers and preconditioners.
Parallelization strategies and computational load balancing.
Error control, sparsification, and improved optimization techniques.
Projects should demonstrate strong collaboration between German and Chinese teams, with balanced contributions and open sharing of source codes and data.
🎁 Program Benefits
Research Funding: Up to 3 years of support for staff, consumables, equipment, and mobility.
International Collaboration: Build long-term partnerships with leading German and Chinese researchers.
Academic Impact: Opportunities for joint publications, presentations, and high-profile research outcomes.
Capacity Building: Access to advanced numerical methods and cutting-edge computational resources.
Networking: Stronger ties between Europe and Asia in applied mathematics, AI, and computational sciences.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
German Applicants: Must meet the requirements of the DFG Sachbeihilfe/Research Grants program. Non-university researchers must partner with a German university.
Chinese Applicants: Must fulfill NSFC eligibility rules for research funding.
General Rules:
Projects must be collaborative (Germany + China).
All proposals must be in English.
No projects linked to military applications or involving military institutions.
Strong scientific merit and balanced collaboration required.
📝 Application Procedure
Prepare a Joint Proposal in English, including research plan, team structure, and budget for both German and Chinese sides.
Submission:
German PIs submit via the DFG’s elan system.
Chinese PIs submit via the NSFC application portal.
First-time German Applicants: Must register in elan no later than 23 October 2025.
Final Deadline: 30 October 2025 (late or incomplete submissions will not be considered).
Review & Selection: Jointly reviewed by DFG and NSFC (Dec 2025 – May 2026).
Results: Announced by May 2026.
📂 Required Documents
Full project description (scientific aims, methods, timeline, impact).
CVs of all principal investigators (using DFG format).
Budget plan (separately for DFG and NSFC).
Cooperation agreement draft between partners.
Proof of compliance with data protection, ethical research, and safety-related guidelines.
📆 Timeline (Key Dates)
23 October 2025: Registration deadline in elan (for German PIs applying for the first time).
30 October 2025: Proposal submission deadline.
May 2026: Announcement of results.
Mid/Late 2026: Project start date.
Funding Period: Up to 3 years.
📨 Contact Information
Germany (DFG):
Dr. Carsten Balleier – carsten.balleier@dfg.de
Dr. Frank Kiefer – frank.kiefer@dfg.de
Administrative: Silke Seiler – silke.seiler@dfg.de
China (NSFC): Applicants should follow the official NSFC call and contact NSFC program officers.
⭐ Final Thoughts
The Sino-German Scholarship 2026 for Intelligent Numerical Mathematics (iNum) presents a rare opportunity for international researchers to lead cutting-edge projects at the intersection of mathematics, AI, and computational sciences. With its focus on joint collaboration, this program not only funds excellent research but also builds long-lasting academic bridges between China and Germany.
