National Key R&D Plan: “Inter-governmental International Science & Technology Innovation Cooperation” - 2026 Personnel Exchange Program (Second Batch)

National Key R&D Plan: “Inter-governmental International Science & Technology Innovation Cooperation” - 2026 Personnel Exchange Program (Second Batch)
国家重点研发计划“政府间国际科技创新合作”2026年度第二批人员交流计划项目

May 11, 2026

The Official Announcement in Chinese

Sponsor:

Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)

About:

The National Key R&D Plan: “Inter-governmental International Science & Technology Innovation Cooperation” - 2026 Personnel Exchange Program (Second Batch) is now open for application. Please refer to the official announcement for more details.

Research Directions:

There are 7 research directions that will allow researchers to collaborate with 6 countries. MOST aims to support 118 research projects with a total funding amount of about 21.29 million RMB.

Research Directions/Topics:

1.1 China-Korea scientific and technological exchange program

• Focus Areas: life sciences, information and communication technologies, renewable energy, medicine, aerospace, and climate change, etc.
• Expected Funded Projects: up to 10
• Total Funding: RMB 600,000 in total
• Funding Period: 1 year
• Application requirements:
  • Application should be submitted by both Chinese and Korean teams
  • At least one Chinese participating institution must have signed a formal and valid science and technology cooperation agreement with the Korean partner institution prior to application, or the Chinese PI must have received funding within the past five years from a national- or provincial-level China–South Korea science and technology cooperation or exchange program

1.2 China-France research partnership collaboration program

• Focus Areas: all science and technology areas (excluding humanities, social sciences)
• Expected Funded Projects: up to 15 (5 project in carbon neutrality-related fields, 10 projects in other areas)
• Total Funding: RMB 2,250,000 in total
• Funding Period: 2 years
• Application requirements:
  • Applications should be submitted jointly by the two teams.
  • The project supports the team in China to have scholarly exchange activities in France. The funding amount is RMB 75,000 per year for a two-year project period.
  • The PI on China side should: be a Chinese citizen, be born on or after 1/1/1966. The team should be composed of at least three persons, including one senior researcher (Associate Professor or above level), one junior researcher and one postdoc (or doctoral student).
  • The French team should fulfill the requirements set by the French agency.

1.3 China-France exchange program for outstanding young scholars

• Focus Areas: Climate change and carbon neutrality, environment and biodiversity, aging, and theoretical chemistry.
• Expected Funded Projects: up to 18
• Total Funding: RMB 1,440,000 in total
• Funding Period: 1 year
• Application requirements:
  • This project supports one Chinese researcher to carry out scientific and technological exchange activities in France, for a period of 6-8 weeks in 2027.
  • The PI should be a Chinese citizen, be born on or after 1/1/1982.

1.4 China–Bulgaria Young Researchers Exchange Program

• Focus Areas: Materials and nanoscience, ecology, biology, astronomy and space research, polar research, artificial intelligence, theoretical physics, green energy, and quantum technologies.
• Expected Funded Projects: up to 20
• Total Funding: RMB 4,000,000 in total
• Funding Period: 2 years
• Application requirements:
  • Applications should be submitted by both teams
  • The PI on China side should: be a Chinese citizen, be born on or after 1/1/1981.
  • Both agencies will jointly support reciprocal exchange visits during the project period. 

1.5 China–Serbia Partner Institute Exchange Program

• Focus Areas: Artificial intelligence, digital economy, new energy (including nuclear energy), mechanical engineering, civil engineering, metallurgy, medicine (including traditional medicine), agriculture and food, satellite applications and space technologies, and science and technology management.
• Expected Funded Projects: up to 30
• Total Funding: RMB 9,000,000 in total
• Funding Period: 2 years
• Application requirements: Applications should be submitted by both teams

1.6 China–Hungary Young Researchers Exchange Program

• Focus Areas: Green transition, digitalization, and life sciences and health. Expected Funded Projects: up to 20
• Total Funding: RMB 3,000,000 in total
• Funding Period: 2 years
• Application requirements:
  • Applications should be submitted by both teams
  • All members on China side should be born on or after 1/1/1981. The PI should be a Chinese citizen.
  • Both agencies will jointly support reciprocal exchange visits during the project period.

1.7 China–Slovenia Partner Institute Exchange Program

• Focus Areas: Green transition, life and health sciences, robotics, data technologies, and materials science (including electrocatalysts and battery systems
• Expected Funded Projects: up to 5
• Total Funding: RMB 1,000,000 in total
• Funding Period: 2 years
• Application requirements: Applications should be submitted by both teams

More requirements please refer to the official announcement. 

Important Dates: