The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) is pleased to launch a call for the Pilot Group Program of the RFIS-III (PGP RFIS-III) aimed at supporting international scientists with outstanding academic achievements and significant international influence to establish scientific research groups and carry out research works in the frontier areas of fundamental research in China’s mainland.

I. Program Specification

1. Research Areas and Application Code

The available areas to be funded by the PGP RFIS-III FY 2023 are as follows:

Please select one of the application codes from the above form when filling in the research proposal and then select the secondary application code (4 digits). For applications to the Department of Interdisciplinary Sciences (T), please first select the division code T04, and then select at least 2 application codes from A-H in line with the research fields of your research proposal. The application codes can be referred from the “National Natural Science Fund Guide to Programs 2023”.

2. Project Duration

Projects are expected to start on January 1, 2024 and end on December 31, 2026 with the duration of three years.

3. Funding Level

The proposed funding level is up to 4.5 million Yuan per project (direct costs). Around 12 research groups are expected to be awarded under the pilot call.

II. Application Requirements

1. Eligibility of Applicants

The applicant should:

(1)     Have foreign citizenship;

(2)     Have a senior academic title;

(3)     Have outstanding academic achievements and significant international influence;

(4)     Make a commitment of working for no less than 9 months each year (calendar year) at the host institution during the implementation of the project;

(5)     Establish a research group with at least five members (including the applicant);

(6)     Ensure compliance with Chinese laws and NSFC’s relevant rules and regulations while conducting research in China.

2. Other Restrictions

The applicants are required to comply with the following restrictions:

(1)     The PI who has been awarded with Research Fund for International Scientists, Key Program, Major Program, Major Research Plan (Key Project), National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (NSFDYS), Science Fund for Creative Research Groups, or Programs of the Fundamental Science Center from NSFC (including those awarded in 2023) are not eligible to apply for this pilot program.

(2)     The PI of an on-going PGP RFIS-III shall not apply for any other NSFC-funded projects except for the NSFDYS.

(3)     For both the applicant and group participants, this pilot program does not count towards the maximum of 2 projects that an applicant with a senior academic title could apply for and run at the same time.

(4)     Other restrictions on the eligibility of applicants in the “National Natural Science Fund Guide to Programs 2023”.

3. Additional Requirements for Eligibility

(1) In general, all members of the research group should be based in the same host institution, unless if necessary, up to 2 cooperation institutions (i.e., up to 3 institutions in total) are allowable for each group;

(2) There is no requirement as to the nationality of group participants.

III. Proposal Submission

1. Submission by the Applicants

The application needs to be submitted online. The specific requirements are as follows:

(1)     Before completing the online application form, all applicants should read through this guidance as well as the relevant contents of “National Natural Science Fund Guide to Programs 2023” in detail. Applications that do not meet the above mentioned requirements will be rejected.

(2)     Application path: Log in to the NSFC’s Internet-based Science Information System (https://grants.nsfc.gov.cn/egrantweb/), select “RFIS Application”, use the role of “RFIS” and click “Application and Acceptance” - “RFIS Application” in the menu bar to enter the application interface. Click “New Proposal” to enter the page of Application(s) in Preparation. Then select the science department of the applied project: “Application for Scientific Departments (A-H)” or “Application for Department of Interdisciplinary Sciences (T)”. Finally click on the “The Research Fund for International Senior Scientists (RFIS-III)” to enter the application page. The application language can be either English or Chinese.

Ø  The applicant shall, in accordance with the “National Natural Science Fund Guide to Programs 2023”, the “Regulation on the Financial Management of NSFC-Awarded Projects” (//www.lipjust.com/publish/portal0/tab475/info81899.htm) and “Instruction for Budget Table”, carefully prepare the budget table based on the actual needs.

Ø  The applicant should use the template (Appendix I. Research Proposal Outline for PGP RFIS-III_Scientific Departments (A-H) or Appendix II. Research Proposal Outline for PGP RFIS-III_Department of Interdisciplinary Sciences (T)) and fill in the main text of the research proposal in accordance with the instructions and requirements.

(3)     Applicants should complete the online application form and submit the application through the NSFC’s Internet-based Science Information System. No hard copies are required. After awarded, the signed and sealed page of the application form, as well as the signed and sealed group member list, should be attached to the Research Plan and submitted to NSFC together. Please ensure that the signed and sealed information should be consistent with the electronic application.

Attachments required:

(1)     An agreement signed by the applicant and the host institution. The agreement should use the template (Appendix III. Agreement) and be signed by the applicant, the legal representative of the host institution with the official seal of the institution. (The seals of the scientific research management department and the second-level college are invalid).

(2)     An employment contract signed between the applicant and the host institution. Applicant who has not yet signed an employment contract can submit the contact together with the research plan after funded by NSFC.

(3)     If the proposed research involves issues related to scientific research ethics and scientific and technological security (such as biosecurity, information security, etc.), the applicant shall strictly follow relevant national laws, regulations and codes of ethics, and provide corresponding materials as attachment in accordance with the requirements of relevant scientific departments (a scanned copy shall be attached to the electronic application). For specific requirements, please refer to the “Information on Application” and “Funding Scope and Instructions” in “National Natural Science Fund Guide to Programs 2023”.

2. Submission by the Host Institution

The host institution should ensure the application complies with the provisions of NSFC’s Regulations on Host Institutions Management. It should be responsible for the authenticity, completeness and compliance of the proposals and the objectiveness, policy consistency and economic rationality of the budget before submitting the application documents in time to NSFC.

The host institutions are required to upload the annual “Letter of Commitment for Research Integrity of Host Institution for National Natural Science Fund Projects 2023” before submitting the project application. All proposals and the necessary supplementary documents should be submitted to NSFC before the deadline. Late applications will be rejected. The host institution should provide a list of all the applications when submitting the applications to the NSFC’s Internet-based Science Information System . No hard copies are required.

Please refer to the “Notice on Application and Conclusion of National Natural Science Found Projects in 2023” for the above requirements of the host institutions.

3. Deadline

The call opens from August 25, 2023 to October 7, 2023 (closes at 16:00 Beijing time).

Note: Before completing the online application form, all applicants should check that they comply with the eligibility requirements and ensure all necessary information is presented in the application. Applications that do not meet the above mentioned requirements will be rejected. Should you have any questions please reach us via the following contacts.

Contacts

Ms. Shen Wei, Ms. Zhang Tingting

Phone: +86-10-62328949/5793

Fax: +86-10-62327004

Email: fis@nsfc.gov.cn

Information System Technical Support (Information Center): +86-10-62317474

Bureau of International Cooperation

National Natural Science Foundation of China

August 25, 2023

Appendix I. Research Proposal Outline for PGP RFIS-III_Scientific Departments (A-H)

Appendix II. Research Proposal Outline for PGP RFIS-III_Department of Interdisciplinary Sciences (T)

Appendix III. Agreement