www.research-in-germany.org

MATHEMATICS

Research
in Germany

Researchin Germany

Imprint
Published by: German Research Foundation (DFG), Bonn, Germany
Editor: Vera Pfister
Assistant Editor: Sonja Schaffartzik
Contact: researchmarketing@dfg.de
Sources: DFG, Fraunhofer Society, Helmholtz Association, Leibniz Association,
Max Planck Society, Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Graphic Design: KLINKEBIEL GmbH Kommunikationsdesign, www.klinkebiel.com
Printed by: DCM Druckcenter Meckenheim GmbH, www.druckcenter.de
Cover Photo Credits: Hans Babovsky & Stefan Brechtken, TU Ilmenau© DFG, December 2020
This publication was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education andResearch.

MATHEMATICS

PREFACE
This brochure provides a first insight into research in Germany in the field ofmathematics.
Mathematical research in Germany is primarily conducted at universities but also at
non-university research institutions. Almost all universities and many universities ofapplied sciences host a mathematical research section with smaller or larger working
groups. Most mathematics departments refer to mathematics in a broad sense andcover a wide range of mathematical subdisciplines. Many departments havenowadays developed a more focused research profile concentrating in priority areasof mathematical research.
This brochure is intended to give an initial overview. The following map and tables
highlight research consortia and graduate training programmes at universities andnon-university research institutes with a main focus on mathematics.
On top of this, there is a lot more to discover: e.g. the DFG funds a multitude ofindividual or joint projects in the area of mathematics through individual grants.
Towards the end of this brochure, you will find a link to the online database GEPRIS
that provides an overview of all DFG funded research projects. You will also findadditional important links for further information about programmes in the field ofmathematics and profiles of German universities and research institutions.
We invite you to explore the many opportunities that Germany has to offer andwelcome your feedback.

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OVERVIEW

Hamburg
BremenPotsdamEssen
Düsseldorf
AachenMagdeburg

Bielefeld

Münster

BerlinGöttingen

BochumWuppertal

Leipzig

CologneBonn
St. Augustin

DresdenFrankfurt/Main
Darmstadt

Trier
Kaiserslautern
Saarbrücken

Mannheim
Heidelberg

Karlsruhe
Research Training Groups

Helmholtz Graduate Schools

International Research Training Groups

International Max Planck
Research Schools

Integrated Research Training Groups in
Collaborative Research Centres/Transregios

Fraunhofer Institutes

Research Units

Leibniz Institutes

Clusters of Excellence

Max Planck Institutes

Collaborative Research Centres/Transregios

OthersErlangenNuremberg
Regensburg

Oberwolfach
Freiburg

MunichDFG funded Priority Programmes are not shown on the map since they are not necessarily locatedat a single location; they are listed on page 15.
>67<

CENTRES OF RESEARCH- funded by dfg Clusters of Excellence (EXC) promote cutting-edge research. They serve to strengthen
the research profiles of universities or university consortia in internationally competitive
fields. They create excellent training and career opportunities for early career
researchers. Within the framework of the Excellence Strategy, they can receive
between €3 million and €10 million annually and are funded for seven years. A
second seven-year period is possible.
Collaborative Research Centres (CRC) are organisational units established atuniversities which enable researchers to pursue an outstanding research programmecrossing the boundaries of disciplines, institutes, departments and faculties. The
traditional Collaborative Research Centre is generally applied for by one university
and is conducted by researchers of that university. Early career support is a key
objective of the Collaborative Research Centre Programme. Early career researchers
may get involved in a CRC in numerous ways, for example within the framework ofan Integrated Research Training Group. Collaborative Research Centres are funded
for a period of up to 12 years.
Transregios (TRR) are Collaborative Research Centres in which up to three universities
collaborate with each other and submit a joint application. The contributions of thecooperative partners are essential, complementary and synergetic to the joint
research objective. Funding facilitates close, nationwide collaboration among theparticipating universities and researchers, as well as networking and shared use ofresources. There is also the option of international Transregios.

CENTRES OF RESEARCH
Location

Title

Funded Since

Contact

CLUSTERS OF EXCELLENCE
BerlinFreie Universität
BerlinHumboldt-Universität
zu Berlin

MATH+: The Berlin
Mathematics ResearchCenter (EXC 2046)

2019

www.mathplus.deTechnische
Universität Berlin
BonnRheinische FriedrichWilhelms-Universität
BonnHausdorff Center for
Mathematics: Foundations,
Models, Applications(EXC 2047)

2019

www.hcm.uni-bonn.
deHeidelberg

Ruprecht-KarlsUniversität
Heidelberg

STRUCTURES: A Unifying
Approach to Emergent
Phenomena in the PhysicalWorld, Mathematics, andComplex Data (EXC 2181)

2019

www.thphys.
uni-heidelberg.
de/~structures

Münster

Westfälische
Wilhelms-Universität
MünsterMathematics Münster:
Dynamics – Geometry– Structure (EXC 2044)

2019

www.uni-muenster.
de/Mathematics
Muenster

COLL ABORATIVE RESEARCH CENTRES
Freie Universität
BerlinScaling Cascades inComplex Systems(CRC 1114)

2014

www.sfb1114.deUniversität Bielefeld

Taming Uncertainty andProfiting from Randonmessand Low Regularity inAnalysis, Stochastics andtheir Applications(CRC 1283)

2017

www.sfb1283.unibielefeld.de

Rheinische FriedrichWilhelms-Universität
Bonn

The Mathematics ofEmergent Effects (CRC 1060)

2012

http://sfb1060.iam.
uni-bonn.de

Göttingen

Georg-AugustUniversität Göttingen

Mathematics of Experiment:
The Challenge of Indirect
Measurements in the Natural
Sciences (CRC 1456)

2020

www.uni-goettingen.
de/en/628179.html

Karlsruhe

Karlsruher Institut fürTechnologie

Wave Phenomena: Analysis
and Numerics (CRC 1173)

2015

www.waves.kit.edu

Westfälische
Wilhelms-Universität
MünsterGeometry: Deformations
and Rigidity (CRC 1442)

2020

www.uni-muenster.
de/Mathematics
Muenster/de/
CRC-Geometry

Universität Potsdam

Data Assimilation – The
Seamless Integration of Data
and Models (CRC 1294)

2017

www.sfb1294.de

BerlinBielefeld

Bonn

Münster

Potsdam>8

Institution

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CENTRES OF RESEARCH
Location

Institution

Title

Regensburg

Universität
Regensburg

Higher Invariants –Interactions between
Arithmetic Geometry andGlobal Analysis (CRC 1085)

Funded Since
2013

Contact
www-app.uniregensburg.de/
Fakultaeten/MAT/
sfb-higher-invariants/
index.php/SFB1085

COLL ABORATIVE RESEARCH CENTRES/TRANSREGIOS
AachenKaiserslautern
Saarbrücken
BerlinRheinischWestfälische
Technische
Hochschule Aachen

Technische
Universität Berlin

Graz(Austria)

Technische
Universität Graz

Discretization in Geometryand Dynamics (TRR 109)

2012

www.discretization.de

Mathematical Modelling,
Simulation and Optimization.
Using the Example of Gas
Networks (TRR 154)2014

http://trr154.fau.deSymplectic Structures inGeometry, Algebra andDynamics (TRR 191)2017www.mi.uni-koeln.
de/CRC-TRR191

Technische
Universität Wien
Humboldt-Universität
zu Berlin
Technische
Universität Berlin

Darmstadt

Technische
Universität
Darmstadt

ErlangenNuremberg

Friedrich-AlexanderUniversität ErlangenNürnberg

BochumRuhr-Universität
BochumCologneUniversität zu Köln

Heidelberg

Ruprecht-KarlsUniversität
Heidelberg> 10

www.computer
algebra.de/sfb

Universität desSaarlandes

Technische
Universität München

Berlin2017

Technische
Universität
KaiserslauternMünchenVienna(Austria)

Symbolic Tools in
Mathematics and their
Application (TRR 195)

11 <

RESEARCH UNITS- funded by dfg Research Units (FOR) often contribute to establishing new research directions. Research
Units are made up of a team of researchers working together on a research project
which is often of an interdisciplinary nature. Research Units consist of several researchersand subprojects. The subprojects of a Research Unit are often located at several
locations throughout Germany. Research Units are generally funded for up to six years.

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RESEARCH UNITS
Title

Funded Since

Contact

Vector- and Tensor-Valued Surface PDEs (FOR 3013)
Subprojects mainly located in: Dresden

2019

https://for3013.webspace.
tu-dresden.de

Rough Paths, Stochastic Partial Differential Equations
and Related Topics (FOR 2402)
Subprojects mainly located in: Berlin

2016

www.for2402.tu-berlin.deSymmetry, Geometry and Arithmetic (FOR 1920)
Subprojects mainly located in: Heidelberg

2013

www.mathi.uni-heidelberg.de/fg-sga

13 <PRIORITY PROGRAMMES- funded by dfg -PRIORITY PROGRAMMES
Title

Funded Since

Contact

Theoretical Foundations of Deep Learning (SPP 2298)

2020

www.spp2298.deRandom Geometric Systems (SPP 2265)

2020

https://spp2265.wias-berlin.de/Priority Programmes (SPP) have a programmatic focus and have the purpose ofadvancing knowledge in an emerging field of research through collaborative networked
support.
They are characterised by their enhanced quality of research through the use of new
methods and forms of collaboration in emerging fields. One programme can consist of
up to 30 individual researchers and subprojects located at several institutions acrossGermany; it usually has one coordinating person. Priority Programmes normally receive
funding for a period of six years.

Variational Methods for Predicting Complex
Phenomena in Engineering Structures and Materials(SPP 2256)

2020

www.uni-regensburg.de/mathematik/mathematikdolzmann/spp-2256

Geometry at Infinity (SPP 2026)

2017

www.spp2026.de

Non-Smooth and Complementarity-Based Distributed
Parameter Systems: Simulation and Hierarchical
Optimization (SPP 1962)2016https://spp1962.wias-berlin.deCompressed Sensing in Information Processing(SPP 1798)2015

www.ti.rwth-aachen.de/SPP1798

Homotopy Theory and Algebraic Geometry(SPP 1786)2015

www.uni-due.de/~bm0032/
SPP1786/Web

Priority Programmes are not shown on the map. Only the titles of the overall themes
and the project website are listed.

Reliable Simulation Techniques in Solid Mechanics.
Development of Non-Standard Discretization
Methods, Mechanical and Mathematical Analysis(SPP 1748)

2014

www.uni-due.de/spp1748

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15 <

NON-UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTIONSNON-UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
Location

Institution

Contact
FRAUNHOFER INSTITUTES

Fraunhofer Society is one of the world’s leading organisations for applied researchwith an annual research budget of 2.8 billion euros, 74 institutes and more than
28,000 employees. Fraunhofer’s R&D portfolio covers a wide range of fields,
including health, security, communications, transport, energy and the environment.
www.fraunhofer.de
The Leibniz Association is an umbrella organisation of 95 research institutes. The annual
budget amounts to 1.9 billion euros. Some 11,500 researchers – approximately 25% ofthem from abroad – work on a widely diverse range of subjects, including the humanities and social sciences, economics, spatial and life sciences, mathematics, natural andengineering sciences and environmental research. www.leibniz-association.eu
The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science is one of Germany’s largest
independent non-profit research organisations. The Max Planck Society has been
allocated approximately 1.8 billion euros for 2018. A combined total of 15,300
researchers, postdoctoral/junior researchers and visiting researchers at 86 Max Planck
Institutes conduct basic research in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences
and humanities. One third of the researchers and more than half of the junior andvisiting researchers come from abroad. www.mpg.de> 16

Kaiserslautern

Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics (ITWM)

www.itwm.fraunhofer.de

St. Augustin

Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific
Computing (SCAI)

www.scai.fraunhofer.de

LEIBNIZ INSTITUTES
BerlinWeierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics
Leibniz Institute in Forschungsverbund Berlin e. V. (WIAS)

www.wias-berlin.deOberwolfach

Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach (MFO)

www.mfo.deBonn

Max Planck Institute for Mathematics (MPI-M)

www.mpim-bonn.mpg.
deLeipzig

Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences(MPI-MIS)

www.mis.mpg.de

BerlinECMath – Einstein Center for Mathematics Berlinwww.ecmath.de

BerlinForschungscampus MODAL - Mathematical Optimization
and Data Analysis Laboratories

www.
forschungscampusmodal.de/en

BerlinKonrad-Zuse-Zentrum für Informationstechnik Berlin (ZuseInstitute Berlin)

www.zib.de

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Programme “Mathematics for Innovations in Industry andServices”

www.bmbf.de/de/mathematik-treiber-fuerinnovationen-3534.html(DE)MA X- PL ANCK- INSTITUTESOTHERS

Network ofproject
consortia
spread all overGermany

17 <GRADUATE TRAINING- funded by dfg Research Training Groups (RTG) combine an ambitious research programme atuniversities with comprehensive training, tailored supervision and academic freedom toform an ideal environment for a successful doctorate. Research Training Groups can also
have an interdisciplinary approach. They are funded for a period of up to nine years.
International Research Training Groups (IRTG) provide opportunities for joint doctoral
training programmes between German universities and universities abroad. The researchand study programmes are jointly developed and supervised. Doctoral students in the
programme spend six months at the partner institution.
Integrated Research Training Groups (within Collaborative Research Centres/
Transregios) offer ideal research environments for doctoral researchers. The main aim ofthese structured training programmes is to provide young scientists and academics with
opportunities to independently carry out research at an early stage of their career. The
programmes further take care to closely integrate early career researchers into an
academic network. Working in Clusters of Excellence or Collaborative Research Centres
projects, doctoral researchers achieve additional qualifications. As research assistants inthese projects, they contribute to the Research Centre’s success. They are closely involved
with the projects and have access to the entire project infrastructure.

GRADUATE TRAINING
Location

Title

Funded Since

Contact

RESEARCH TRAINING GROUPS
AachenBerlinRheinisch-Westfälische
Technische
Hochschule Aachen

Energy, Entropy, andDissipative Dynamics(RTG 2326)

2017

www.eddy.rwthaachen.deFreie Universität
BerlinFacets of Compexity(RTG 2434)

2018

www.facetsofcomplexity.deTechnische
Universität Berlin

Differential Equation- andData-driven Models in Life
Sciences and Fluid Dynamics(DAEDALUS) (RTG 2433)

2018

https://daedalus.
berlinUniversität Bremen

Pi³: Parameter Identification– Analysis, Algorithms,
Implementations (RTG 2224)

2016

www.math.unibremen.de/rtg-pi3

Heinrich-HeineUniversität Düsseldorf

Algebro-Geometric Methods
in Algebra, Arithmetic andTopology (RTG 2240)

2018

http://reh.math.
uni-duesseldorf.
de/~grk2240

IntComSin Interfaces,
Complex Structures, andSingular Limits in Continuum
Mechanics – Analysis andNumerics (RTG 2339)

2018

www.uni-regensburg.
de/Fakultaeten/nat_
Fak_I/GK_2339

Humboldt-Universität
zu Berlin
Technische
Universität Berlin
BerlinBremenDüsseldorf
Wuppertal

ErlangenNuremberg
Regensburg

Bergische Universität
Wuppertal
Friedrich-AlexanderUniversität ErlangenNürnbegr
Universität
Regensburg

Essen

Universität DuisburgEssen

Symmetries and Classifying
Spaces: Analytic, Arithmetic
and Derived (RTG 2553)

2019

www.esaga.uni-due.
de/grk2553/

Freiburg

Albert-LudwigsUniversität Freiburg

Cohomological Methods inGeometry (RTG 1821)2011

www.gk1821.unifreiburg.de

Göttingen

Georg-AugustUniversität Göttingen

Discovering Structure inComplex Data: Statistics
meets Optimization andInverse Problems (RTG 2088)

2015

www.uni-goettingen.
de/en/514290.html

Universität Hamburg

Modeling, Simulation and
Optimization of Fluid
Dynamic Applications(RTG 2583)

2019www.c3s.unihamburg.de/rtg2583.html

Hamburg> 18

Institution

19 <GRADUATE TRAINING
Location
Heidelberg
Karlsruhe

Heidelberg
Mannheim

Magdeburg

Trier

Institution

Title

Ruprecht-KarlsUniversität
Heidelberg

Asymptotic Invariants andLimits of Groups and Spaces(RTG 2229)

GRADUATE TRAINING
Funded Since
2016

Contact
www.groups-andspaces.kit.edu

Karlsruher Institut fürTechnologie
2013

Universität
Mannheim

Statistical Modeling ofComplex Systems andProcesses – Advanced
Nonparametric Approaches(RTG 1953)

Otto-von-GuerickeUniversität
Magdeburg

Mathematical Complexity
Reduction (CoRe)(RTG 2297)

2017

Universität Trier

Algorithmic Optimization(ALOP) (RTG 2126)

2015

Ruprecht-KarlsUniversität
Heidelberg

http://rtg1953.
uni-heidelberg.unimannheim.dewww.mathcore.ovgu.
deOxford(GreatBritain)
Bielefeld
Seoul(SouthKorea)
MunichTechnische
Universität Berlin2019www3.math.tu-berlin.
de/stoch/IRTG

Humboldt-Universität
zu Berlin

Universität Bielefeld
Seoul National
University
Technische
Universität München

Title

Karlsruhe

Karlsruher Institut fürTechnologie

Integrated Research Training
Group within: Wave
Phenomena: Analysis andNumerics (CRC 1173)

2015

www.waves.kit.edu/
researchtraininggroup.
phpresearchtraining
group.php

Universität Potsdam

Integrated Research Training
Group within: Data
Assimilation – The Seamless
Integration of Data andModels (CRC 1294)

2017

www.sfb1294.de/graduate-school

PostdamAachenRheinischWestfälische
Technische
Hochschule Aachen

KaiserslauternTechnische
Universität
Kaiserslautern

Saarbrücken

Universität desSaarlandes
Humboldt-Universität
zu Berlin
Technische
Universität Berlin

Searching for the Regular in
the Irregular: Analysis ofSingular and Random
Systems (IRTG 2235)

2016

Optimization and Numerical
Analysis for Partial
Differential Equations with
Nonsmooth Structures(IRTG 1754)

2011

https://irtg.math.
uni-bielefeld.de

http://igdk1754.
ma.tum.de/
IGDK1754

Funded Since

Contact

INTEGRATED RESEARCH TRAINING GROUPS IN COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH CENTRES/
TRANSREGIOS

BerlinUniversity of Oxford

Universität der
Bundeswehr
München
Graz(Austria)

Stochastic Analysis inInteraction (IRTG 2544)

Institutionwww.alop.uni-trier.de

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH TRAINING GROUPS
BerlinLocation

Darmstadt

Technische
Universität
Darmstadt

ErlangenNuremberg

Friedrich-AlexanderUniversität ErlangenNürnberg

Integrated Research Training
Group within: Symbolic Tools
in Mathematics and their
Application (TRR 195)

2017

www.
computeralgebra.
de/sfb/graduateprogramme

Integrated Research Training
Group within: Mathematical
Modelling, Simulation and
Optimization Using the
Example of Gas Networks(TRR 154)2014

www.trr154.fau.de/subprojects

Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz
Technische
Universität Graz

INTEGRATED RESEARCH TRAINING GROUPS IN COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH CENTRES
Berlin> 20

Freie Universität
BerlinIntegrated Research Training
Group within: Scaling
Cascades in Complex
Systems(CRC 1114)

2014

www.mi.fu-berlin.de/en/sfb1114/phdprogram/index.html

21 <GRADUATE TRAINING- at non - university research institutions -GRADUATE TRAINING
LocationContact
HELMHOLTZ GRADUATE SCHOOLS

PotsdamHelmholtz Graduate Schools provide a roof under which a varied number of curricula
in different fields, or across disciplines, can find a home. Helmholtz Graduate
Schools constitute a valuable addition to the wide range of training programmes
available within the Helmholtz Association. They offer optimal conditions for PhD
students to work and enable them to create a network of contacts with fellow
university researchers while also fostering the integration of participants into theresearch environment.

Title
Helmholtz Graduate Research School GeoSim

www.geo-x.net/
geosimINTERNATIONAL MAX PLANCK RESEARCH SCHOOLS (IMPRS)
BerlinIMPRS for Biology AND Computationwww.molgen.mpg.
de/IMPRSBonnIMPRS for Moduli Spaceswww.mpim-bonn.
mpg.de/node/78

Leipzig

IMPRS for Mathematics in the Sciences

www.imprs-mis.mpg.de

PotsdamGolm

IMPRS for Mathematical and Physical Aspects of Gravitation,
Cosmology and Quantum Field Theory

www.imprs-gcp.aei.
mpg.deInternational Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS) offer talented German andinternational junior scientists the opportunity to earn a doctorate under excellent
research conditions. The research schools are established by one or several Max
Planck Institutes. These IMPRS work in close cooperation with universities and other– sometimes international – research institutions. This provides an extraordinary
framework for the graduate students to work in, and is a great advantage ininterdisciplinary research projects, or in projects that require special equipment.

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SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONSIN GERMANYFURTHER INFORMATIONRESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, PROJECTS, FUNDING, CONTACTS

Deutsche Mathematiker Vereinigung (DMV): www.mathematik.de/enInternational Association of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (GAMM):
www.gamm-ev.de

OPEN POSITIONS
Research in Germany: www.research-in-germany.org/jobs

www.research-in-germany.org

The “Research in Germany” Portal: Information on research
and funding opportunities, academic and research-related
job portals, as well as advice on preparing a research
stay or initiating a collaboration with German researchorganisations. www.research-in-germany.org
German Project Information System (GEPRIS): Online
database providing information about all current DFGfunded research projects and contact information for the
Principal Investigators. http://gepris.dfg.deGerman Research Institutions (GERiT): Information on morethan 25,000 institutes at German universities and nonuniversity research institutions, searchable by geographic
location, subject and other structural criteria. www.gerit.org

Fraunhofer Society: www.fraunhofer.de/en/jobs-and-career.html
Helmholtz Association: www.helmholtz.de/en/jobs_talent

Website of the DFG: Further background information about
DFG funding programmes, funding guidelines, and lists ofcurrently DFG-funded activities. www.dfg.de

Leibniz Society: www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/en/careers/jobs.html
Max Planck Society: www.mpg.de/jobboard

The German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) Research Map:
The interactive HRK Research Map database provides
information on the research priorities that are of strategic
institutional importance for each university.
www.hrk.de/home (go to Research Map)
The Higher Education Compass: Information on Germany’s
higher education institutions, the range of courses andprogrammes that they offer, their worldwide cooperation,
and who to contact locally.
www.hochschulkompass.de/en/study-in-germany

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25 <

NOTES> 26

Contact
German Research Foundation (DFG)
DFG Head Office Germany
www.dfg.deresearchmarketing@dfg.de