A country may adhere to the Union as an Associate Member through an Adhering Organization. This type of membership has been created to encourage countries with currently low mathematical research output but determined to create their own mathematical research activities to join the worldwide IMU network. Associate membership is supposed to help build links with other IMU members and to provide opportunities to benefit from the work of IMU's commissions and committees.
At its 15th General Assembly in August 2006 at Santiago de Compostela, Spain the IMU introduced Associate Members as a new type of IMU membership. In contrast to ordinary membership an Associate Member does not need independent scientific activity. It is assumed that an Associate Member is determined to develop its mathematical landscape and has the will to become an IMU Member after four to eight years of associate membership.
The IMU asks countries interested in Associate Membership to read the IMU Membership Guidelines and to contact the IMU Secretary General (secretary@mathunion.org) concerning the application procedure.
The IMU Statutes describe this type of membership as follows: