Germany Sino-German NSFC-DFG Scholarship 2026: Fully Funded Research Opportunity for Scientists and Academics

Strengthening Global Scientific Collaboration Between Germany and China

The Germany Sino-German NSFC-DFG Scholarship 2026 offers an exceptional opportunity for researchers and scientists to collaborate on groundbreaking projects in Intelligent Numerical Mathematics. Jointly funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), this program promotes international cooperation in advanced fields such as scientific computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

With growing global demand for AI-powered computation and simulation, this bilateral initiative supports the development of innovative numerical methods that can drive the future of science, technology, and engineering.

Scholarship Overview

Host Country: Germany
Program Type: Joint Research Funding
Funding Providers: DFG (Germany) and NSFC (China)
Eligible Applicants: Established researchers and principal investigators
Eligible Countries: Germany and China
Application Deadline: October 30, 2025
Funding Duration: Up to 3 years

This scholarship supports projects that merge numerical algorithms with machine learning, aiming to solve complex mathematical and computational challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Fields of Research

The program targets research within Intelligent Numerical Mathematics (iNum), focusing on the following areas:

1. Learning-Based Numerics, including adaptive numerical methods, regularization techniques, and optimized solver strategies.
2. Efficient Learning Algorithms, covering sparsification, parallel computation, and optimization for scalable applications.
3. Model Reduction and Multi-Scale Methods, including innovations in simulation modeling, iterative solvers, and computational accuracy.
4. Applications in Science and Engineering, focusing on practical implementation in computational physics, data science, and applied mathematics.

This structure encourages interdisciplinary work that combines mathematical rigor with advanced machine learning techniques.

Scholarship Benefits

The NSFC-DFG Scholarship provides partial to full financial support for joint research projects between Germany and China.

Benefits include:

Funding Duration: Up to three years of continuous support.
Financial Coverage: German researchers receive funding through DFG Research Grants (Sachbeihilfe), while Chinese researchers are funded through NSFC.
Access to Partner Facilities: Participants gain access to high-performance computing resources and laboratory infrastructure.
Collaboration Support: Funding encourages exchange programs, research mobility, and student participation.
Open Science Policy: Scholars are expected to publish results, data, and software openly to advance global research transparency.

Eligibility Requirements

For German Researchers:

• Must meet eligibility standards for the DFG Research Grants Program (form 50.01).
• Applicants from non-university institutions must collaborate with a German university partner (Kooperationspflicht).
• Must hold faculty or equivalent research positions.

For Chinese Researchers:

• Must satisfy NSFC eligibility rules and demonstrate active institutional support.

Additional Conditions:

• Joint proposals must involve at least one German and one Chinese principal investigator (PI).
• Projects with military applications or affiliations to defense institutions are not eligible.

How to Apply

Both German and Chinese applicants must submit joint project proposals that align with the theme of Intelligent Numerical Mathematics.

Application Steps:

1. Prepare Proposal: Include objectives, methodology, team composition, work plan, and requested funding details.
2. Separate Submissions: German applicants submit via the DFG’s electronic system (elan), while Chinese applicants submit through the NSFC online platform.
3. Key Dates:
   • Deadline for DFG submissions: October 30, 2025
   • elan registration deadline: October 23, 2025 (for first-time users)
4. Required Documents:
   • Project description (DFG form 53.01)
   • CVs of all Principal Investigators (DFG form 53.200)
   • Budget breakdown (for German applicants)
   • Statements regarding dual-use research and cooperation safety

Evaluation and Funding Decision

Applications are reviewed independently by DFG and NSFC panels, focusing on scientific excellence, innovation, and bilateral collaboration potential.

Review Period: November 2025 – April 2026
Decision Announcement: Expected by May 2026
Grant Agreement: Successful projects must sign a cooperation agreement addressing data protection and legal compliance in both countries.

Program Impact

The NSFC-DFG Intelligent Numerical Mathematics Call (iNum) strengthens global research connectivity and promotes technological advancement in AI-driven numerical analysis.

By merging the strengths of German precision and Chinese innovation, the initiative is set to produce world-class findings in areas such as computational modeling, climate simulations, quantum mathematics, engineering optimization, and scientific software development.

This partnership enhances Germany’s position as a hub for international researchers while supporting China’s vision for global scientific integration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the NSFC-DFG Scholarship 2026?
Only researchers from eligible institutions in Germany and China may jointly apply as Principal Investigators.

What is the duration of the funding?
Up to three years of project-based financial support.

Can researchers from other countries participate?
They may collaborate informally but cannot receive direct funding.

Do proposals need to be identical?
Yes, both DFG and NSFC submissions must describe the same joint project.

When will results be announced?
Funding decisions are expected by May 2026.

Important Dates

Application Deadline (Germany side): October 30, 2025
elan Registration Deadline: October 23, 2025
Expected Funding Decision: May 2026

The Germany Sino-German NSFC-DFG Scholarship 2026 represents a landmark step in global scientific collaboration. Researchers working in numerical mathematics, AI, and computational science are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this prestigious opportunity.

With financial support, research mobility, and access to advanced facilities, this scholarship opens the door to transformative innovations that can shape the future of mathematics, engineering, and artificial intelligence.