Mathematical Foundations of Digital Twins | 24 559

Opportunity Information: Apply for 24 559

The Mathematical Foundations of Digital Twins opportunity (NSF funding opportunity number 24-559) is a joint effort between the National Science Foundation (NSF), specifically the Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). It is designed to support foundational research in mathematics, statistics, and closely related computational methods that underpins the development and use of Digital Twins in applied science and engineering contexts. The core idea is to advance the underlying theory and methodology that makes Digital Twins reliable, rigorous, and useful for real decision-making, rather than focusing only on building one-off application systems.

The program is motivated by the rapid growth in demand for Digital Twins across many domains where decisions depend on complex systems and real-time or data-informed modeling. Examples highlighted in the description include science and engineering broadly, as well as medicine and urban planning. NSF and AFOSR are emphasizing that progress in Digital Twins requires tight interplay between mathematical and statistical foundations, computational approaches, and practical application needs. In other words, the program is looking for research that pushes fundamental advances (new theory, new algorithms, new mathematical frameworks) while being informed by the challenges that arise when Digital Twins are used in realistic settings.

A central goal is to stimulate new collaborations around Digital Twins, particularly collaborations that meaningfully connect mathematicians, statisticians, and computational scientists with domain experts who can articulate real constraints, data characteristics, and operational requirements. The solicitation language stresses innovation and expanding the boundaries of knowledge, suggesting competitive proposals will not just apply existing tools, but will create new foundational ideas that can generalize across classes of Digital Twin problems. The broader framing also connects this work to societal needs, with an emphasis on harnessing science and technology to address pressing challenges, which aligns with NSF-style impacts while also fitting AFOSR interests in robust, high-assurance modeling and analysis.

This is a discretionary grant program in the science and technology/research and development category. The CFDA (Assistance Listing) numbers associated with the opportunity are 12.800, 47.041, and 47.049. The opportunity anticipates making around 10 awards, and while an award ceiling is referenced, the provided source text does not state a specific maximum dollar amount.

Eligibility is limited to specific types of U.S.-based organizations. Proposals may be submitted by U.S. institutions of higher education (two-year and four-year, including community colleges) that are accredited and have a U.S. campus, acting on behalf of their faculty. Non-profit, non-academic organizations are also eligible, including independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations that are directly tied to educational or research activities. Federally recognized Tribal Nations are eligible as well, defined according to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994. If a proposal includes funding that would go to an international branch campus of a U.S. higher education institution (including via subawards or consultants), the proposer must clearly explain why that international performance is beneficial and why the activities cannot be carried out at the U.S. campus.

Key dates included in the source data indicate an original closing date of March 17, 2025, and a creation date of March 23, 2024. Overall, the opportunity is best read as an invitation to develop the rigorous mathematical and statistical backbone that can make Digital Twins more trustworthy, scalable, and effective across high-impact application areas, supported through coordinated NSF and AFOSR investment.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mathematical Foundations of Digital Twins" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800, 47.041, 47.049.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-23.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-03-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for 24 559

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: