2025 NSFC International Collaboration Fund for Creative Research Teams

2025 NSFC International Collaboration Fund for Creative Research Teams
2025年度国家自然科学基金合作创新研究团队项目指南

January 20, 2025

The Official Announcement in Chinese
The Official Announcement in English

Sponsor:
National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)

About:
The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) is launching a call for proposals of the International Collaboration Fund for Creative Research Teams (ICFCRT). The fund aims to enhance international scientific collaborations and support pioneering scientists with foreign citizenship to construct and lead research teams in China’s mainland and carry out creative basic research and applied basic research on self-selected topics within the funding scope of NSFC, and eventually cultivate research teams to conduct research in the forefront of global scientific advancements.

Funding Areas:
Mathematical and Physical Sciences (A), Chemical Sciences (B), Life Sciences (C), Earth Sciences (D), Engineering and Materials Sciences (E), Information Sciences (F), Management Sciences (G), Medical Sciences (H), and Interdisciplinary Sciences (T).

1. When selecting the application code, try to select to the secondary application code (4 digits);
2.  When filling in the application form, please enter accurate keywords.
3.  For applicants in the field of Interdisciplinary Sciences, please first select the code T01-T04, and then select at least two application codes from A-H, according to the content of the research. For details of the application codes, please refer to the "2025 NSFC Program Guide".

Funding Amount:
The grant provides a total direct cost of 6 million RMB per project and a total indirect cost of 1.2 million RMB per project. For projects of Mathematical Sciences and Management Sciences, the direct cost is 4.8 million RMB per project and indirect cost is 1.2 million RMB per project.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. The applicant, as the PI of the Collaborative Creative Research Team, shall meet the following requirements:
   a. Foreign citizenship and a senior academic title;
   b. Outstanding academic achievements and significant international influence, and ability to construct and lead a research team to conduct creative research in China’s mainland;
   c. Commitment to work for no less than 6 months per year (calendar year) at the host institution during the implementation of the project;
   d. The Agreement to Support the Application of ICFCRT shall be signed between the applicant and the host institution (If the applicant has a full-time position abroad at the application stage, the foreign employer institution should be informed).
2. Participants as backbone researchers of the Collaborative Creative Research Team, regardless of nationalities, shall hold senior academic titles or doctoral degrees.
3. No more than 4 backbone researchers and 2 participating institutions in each project.
4. Compliance with Chinese laws and NSFC’s relevant rules and regulations while conducting research in China.

Additional Requirements for Eligibility:

1. For an individual with a senior academic title, the total number of application, no matter as PI or as participant, for the ICFCRT, the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups (SFCRG)，the Continuing Grant of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (CGNSFDYS) and the Excellence Research Group Program (ERGP, the former Basic Science Center Program) shall not exceed 1 for each year.
2. The PI of an on-going or completed project of the Continuing Grant of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (CGNSFDYS), the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups (SFCRG) or the Excellence Research Group Program (ERGP) shall not apply for or participate in this program.
3. The individual with a senior academic title who is participating in an on-going project granted by the ICFCRT, the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups (SFCRG) or the Excellence Research Group Program (ERGP), shall not apply for or participate in this program.
4. The PI of an on-going grant of the Research Fund for International Scientists (RFIS) cannot apply for the ICFCRT. The total number of application for the RFIS and the ICFCRT shall not exceed 1 for each year.
5. NSFC’s limit on the total number of projects applied and undertaken does not apply to this program.

For more eligibility requirements, please refer to the official announcement.

Important Dates: