The Global Research Council (GRC) 2021 Asia Pacific Regional Meeting was successfully held online from November 29-30. Co-organized by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the GRC, this meeting brought together more than 40 representatives of research funding agencies from Japan, Korea, New Zealand, India, Iran, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and others.

The meeting’s main topics for discussion include “Research ethics, integrity and culture in the context of rapid results research; Science technology workforce development; Discussion on Gender and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI); GRC Roadmap and Vision; and Responsible Research Assessment. Prof. Li Jinghai, President of the NSFC attended the meeting and delivered an opening speech, emphasizing that “Tackling global challenges and promoting the paradigm shift of science should be treated as complementary tasks and special focus should be placed on their interactions. ”

With a long-term objective of fostering multilateral research and collaboration across continents to benefit both developing and developed nations, GRC is a virtual organisation comprised of the heads of science and engineering funding agencies from around the world, dedicated to promoting the sharing of data and best practices for high-quality collaboration among funding agencies worldwide. (https://www.globalresearchcouncil.org/)

Other participants from NSFC include Director General Zou Liyao, Deputy Director General Zhang Yongtao from the Bureau of International Cooperation, Deputy Director Guo Jianquan from General Office (Office of Research Integrity) and relevant staff of General Office (Office of Research Integrity), Bureau of Planning and Policy, Bureau of International Cooperation and Department of Interdisciplinary Sciences.