According to the cooperation agreement signed among the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Royal Society (RS) of the UK, Research Foundation — Flanders (FWO) of Belgium, National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, and Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research (BRFFR), as well as subsequent consensus, all parties will continue to jointly fund cooperation and exchange programs in 2025.

I. Program Description

1. Royal Society (RS) of the UK

(1) Funding Areas

Mathematics and Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Engineering and Materials Science, Information Science, and Medicine

(2) Special Requirements

The project encourages the establishment of new cooperation between China and the UK and involves young scientific researchers. Collaborators who previously had a working relationship or a teacher-student relationship will not be funded.

(3) Funding Scale

Approximately 70 items will be funded.

2. Research Foundation — Flanders (FWO) of Belgium

(1) Funding Areas

Mathematics and Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Engineering and Materials Science, Information Science, Management and Medicine

(2) Special Requirements

The project encourages young researchers to apply for or participate in the application.

(3) Funding Scale

Approximately 15 items will be funded.

3. National Research Council (CNR) of Italy

(1) Funding Areas

Renewable Energy (Application Code 1 must select the sub-application code under E06), and Agriculture and Food Science (Application Code 1 must select the sub-application code under C13-C20 or C22)

(2) Special Requirements

The Italian collaborators of this project must be scientific researchers employed by CNR.

(3) Funding Scale

No more than 4 items will be funded.

4. Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research (BRFFR)

(1) Funding Areas

Mathematics and Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Engineering and Materials Science, Information Science, and Medicine

(2) Funding Scale

No more than 24 items will be funded.

Funding Amount

The funding amount from the Chinese side shall not exceed 150,000 yuan per project, while the foreign side will provide corresponding funding to the foreign partner.

Funding Content

International travel expenses (economy class), accommodation, meals, and intercity transportation expenses for mutual visits by Chinese and foreign researchers, and expenses for small bilateral symposiums.

Project Duration

Projects are expected to start on January 1, 2026 and end on December 31, 2027, with a duration of two years.

II. Eligibility

According to the Measures for Fund Management of NSFC-Funded International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange Programs and the consensus reached by all the parties, applications for this program must meet the following requirements: Foreign applicants should meet the eligibility requirements for domestic applicants and submit their applications as required. Applications submitted unilaterally will not be accepted.

For a detailed explanation of applicant requirements, please refer to the National Natural Science Fund Guide to Programs 2025.

III. Approval Result Notification

The funding result will be notified through the NSFC’s online information platform at grants.nsfc.gov.cn/pmpweb/login.

IV. Contacts

RS Grants team (RS)

Tel: +44-20-74512666

E-mail: international.exchanges@royalsociety.org

Tinne Jacobs (FWO)

Tel: +32-2-5501544

E-mail: Tinne.Jacobs@fwo.be

Francesca Argenio (CNR)

Tel: +39-0649933130

E-mail: francesca.argenio@cnr.it

Elena Titova (BRFFR)

Tel: +375-17-3790742

E-mail: fond@it.org.by

Sun Hui (Chinese)

Department of International Programs

Tel: +86-10-62326747

E-mail: sunhui@nsfc.gov.cn

Zhang Fan (Chinese)

Department of International Programs

Tel: +86-10-62325943

E-mail: zhangfan@nsfc.gov.cn

For technical support (Information Center):

+86-10-62317474

For more detailed information, such as regulations on restricted applications and application description, please visit https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab442/info94794.htm.

Department of International Programs,

National Natural Science Foundation of China