2025 NSFC Research Fund for International Scientists
2025年度国家自然科学基金外国学者研究基金项目指南
January 20, 2025
The Official Announcement in Chinese
The Official Announcement in English
Sponsor:
National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
About:
Aiming at providing more research opportunities for and contributing to the career development of researchers at different academic stages, the Research Fund for International Scientists (hereinafter referred to as the RFIS) is set up by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) to support international scientists with foreign citizenship who are ready to conduct basic research and Applied Basic Research in China’s mainland. The RFIS will also enhance the long-term, sustainable academic collaboration and exchange between Chinese and international scientists.
Project Description:
The NSFC Research Fund for International Scientists includes the following three levels:
- The Research Fund for International Young Scientists (RFIS-I)
- The Research Fund for International Excellent Young Scientists (RFIS-II)
- The Research Fund for International Senior Scientists (RFIS-III)
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).
- When selecting the application code, try to select to the secondary application code (4 digits);
- When filling in the application form, please enter accurate “key words”;
- The applications in interdisciplinary sciences can only be submitted to the Research Fund for International Excellent Young Scientists (RFIS-II) and the Research Fund for International Senior Scientists (RFIS-III). For the applicants of interdisciplinary sciences, please first choose from the division codes T01~T04, and then select at least two application codes from A-H according to the research content when filling in the application form. For detailed guidance on application codes, please refer to the “2025 NSFC Program Guide".
Funding Amount:
(1) For the RFIS-I, the direct cost is 200,000 RMB per year (per project).
(2) For the RFIS-II, the direct cost is 400,000 RMB per year (per project).
(3) For the RFIS-III, the direct cost is 800,000 RMB per year (per project).
Funding Period:
Applicants can apply for either one-year or two-year RFIS project. The one year project is expected to last from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026, while the two year project is expected to last from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027.
Eligibility Requirements:
- RFIS-I
(1) Doctoral degree obtained within the past 6 years (Doctoral degree was obtained after January 1, 2019);
(2) Experience of conducting basic research or postdoctoral research;
(3) Commitment to work for no less than 9 months each year (calendar year) at the host institution during the implementation of the project;
(4) Compliance with Chinese laws and NSFC’s relevant rules and regulations while conducting research in China.
(5) The Agreement to Support the Application of RFIS-I 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).
- RFIS-II
(1) Doctoral degree completed within the past 15 year (Doctoral degree was obtained after January 1, 2010);
(2) Senior academic title (Associate Professor or Higher level or (equivalent qualification));
(3) Experience of conducting basic research projects as Principal Investigator (PI);
(4) Commitment to work for no less than 9 months each year (calendar year) at the host institution during the implementation of the project;
(5) Compliance with Chinese laws and NSFC’s relevant rules and regulations while conducting research in China.
(6) The Agreement to Support the Application of RFIS-II 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).
- RFIS-III
(1) Senior academic title (Associate Professor or Higher level or (equivalent qualification));
(2) Outstanding academic achievements and significant international influence;
(3) Commitment to work for no less than 9 months per year (calendar year) at the host institution during the implementation of the project;
(4) Compliance with Chinese laws and NSFC’s relevant rules and regulations while conducting research in China.
(5) The Agreement to Support the Application of RFIS-III 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).
Additional Requirements for Eligibility：
- The applicant can only be granted for each sub type of the RFIS once.
- The PI of an on-going grant of the RFIS cannot apply for a new RFIS project. The total number of applications for the RFIS shall not exceed 1 for each year. If the applicant has submitted an application for any of the sub-types of the RFIS, the application shall not apply for the following programs in the same year:
International Collaboration Fund for Creative Research Teams (ICFCR)
Young Scientists Fund (YSF)
Excellent Young Scientists Fund (EYSF，including EYSF for scholars in Hong Kong and Macao)
National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (NSFDYS)
Science Fund for Creative Research Groups (SFCRG) - An applicant shall not apply for the RFIS-I if the applicant has been the PI of an on-going or completed project of the RFIS-II, the RFIS-III, the ICFCR, the YSF, the EYSF, the NSFDYS and the SFCRG.
- An applicant shall not apply for the RFIS-II if the applicant has been the PI of an on-going or completed project of the RFIS-III, the ICFCR, the EYSF, the NSFDYS and the SFCRG.
- An applicant shall not apply for the RFIS-III if the applicant has been the PI of an on-going or completed project of the ICFCR, the NSFDYS and the SFCRG.
- NSFC’s limit on the total number of projects applied and undertaken does not apply to RFIS.
- Other restrictions on the eligibility of applicants in the NSFC Guide to Programs 2025.
For more details, please refer to the Official Announcement.
Important Dates:
| DATES (Shanghai Time) | TO BE COMPLETED |
| By 4:00 pm, January 22, 2025 (Shanghai Time) | For those who have not expressed their intent, please notify the Research Grants Office at shanghai.researchgrants@nyu.edu within one week. |
| By 4:00 pm February 25, 2025 (Shanghai Time) | Send your draft application (including grant proposal and supplemental documents) to us for institutional review. |
| By 4:00 pm, March 15, 2025 (Shanghai Time) | Finalize and submit your application through NSFC system. Please be aware that this deadline is final. Late submissions will NOT be accepted. |