The Institute of Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences of Nanchang University (IMIS NCU) was officially established in 2022 with the strong support of the university leadership and various departments, as well as the care and assistance of numerous experts and scholars.

IMIS NCU is a university-level independent research institute of Nanchang University. Adhering to the development philosophy of “focusing on interdisciplinary applications while giving due consideration to fundamental theory,” the Institute aims to support the high-quality development and rapid growth of mathematics and related disciplines at Nanchang University. It is committed to building a first-class domestic and international platform and research institute that places equal emphasis on scientific research and talent cultivation, and promotes deep interdisciplinary integration across multiple fields.

The Institute operates under a governance structure of Dean Responsibility System under the leadership of an Academic Committee. The first Academic Committee is chaired by the renowned mathematician Professor Zhouping Xin from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, with 17 distinguished experts and scholars of significant domestic and international influence serving as committee members, including Academician Song Jiang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Tao Tang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the European Academy of Sciences, and Professor Shi Jin, a foreign member of the European Academy of Humanities and Natural Sciences and a member of the European Academy of Sciences. Professor Jing Li serves as the founding Director of the Institute.

Guided by scientific research, oriented toward the cultivation of outstanding talent, and driven by major national and Jiangxi provincial demands, the Institute focuses on frontier and key academic fields, strengthens domestic and international academic exchanges, and brings together research strengths in mathematics and related disciplines. Its key development areas and research directions are as follows:

1. Mathematics and Applied Mathematics

The Mathematics and Applied Mathematics direction primarily focuses on the mathematical theory of fluid dynamics equations, the theory, computation, and applications of partial differential equations, differential equations and dynamical systems, complex analysis, and topological dynamical systems. It is dedicated to original and influential fundamental mathematical research, with a clear focus on rapidly enhancing the domestic and international influence of mathematics at Nanchang University and in Jiangxi Province.

2. Scientific Computing and Artificial Intelligence

The Scientific Computing and Artificial Intelligence direction mainly conducts research on numerical algebra, numerical solutions of partial differential equations, big data algorithms and analysis, optimization theory and algorithms, swarm intelligence computation and evolutionary algorithms, and rough set theory. Closely following the forefront of intelligent computing research worldwide, and in response to the development needs of Jiangxi Province’s VR industry, this direction centers on two core capabilities—“precise modeling and analysis of complex data systems” and “principle analysis and algorithm design methods for complex intelligent systems.” It carries out fundamental theoretical research and application-oriented, aiming to build a first-class scientific computing and artificial intelligence research team with distinctive Jiangxi characteristics.

3. “Computer Science + Mathematics + X” Interdisciplinary Sciences

The “Computer Science + Mathematics + X” interdisciplinary science direction is dedicated to integrating computer science and mathematics with Nanchang University’s advantageous disciplines, such as food science, materials science, medicine, biology, and finance. By bringing together and coordinating relevant disciplinary strengths, it carries out the interdisciplinary research, cooperation and communication as well as talent cultivation in areas including mathematics, computer science, engineering technology, biomedicine, and socio-economic systems, and strives to build a high-quality interdisciplinary research team with distinctive features.

Short-Term Development Goals 

In the short term, the Institute aims to use research on partial differential equation theory, numerical algorithms, and their applications as a breakthrough point, driving overall improvements in the mathematics discipline through focused development. It seeks to form a new growth engine for the rapid development of mathematics, build a first-class research institute in central China with international recognition, and achieve breakthroughs in establishing provincial-, ministerial-, or national-level research platforms in mathematics.

Medium- and Long-Term Development Goals

In the medium and long term, relying on Nanchang University’s advantageous disciplinary teams, the Institute aims to form a sound development pattern of interdisciplinary integration and coordinated growth between mathematics and the university’s strong disciplines. It strives to become a first-class domestic research institute with significant international influence and an important national strategic point for applied mathematics in central China.