research fund for international scientists call for proposals fy 2023
by national natural science foundation of china
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 in china’s mainland. the rfis is open to all research areas within the nsfc’s funding scope, which include mathematics and physics, chemistry, life sciences, earth sciences, engineering and materials sciences, information sciences, management sciences, health sciences, and interdisciplinary sciences. the rfis will also enhance the long-term, sustainable academic collaboration and exchange between chinese and international scientists.
i. types of grant
the rfis consists of three sub-types:
1. the research fund for international young scientists (rfis-i)
2. the research fund for international excellent young scientists (rfis-ii)
3. the research fund for international senior scientists (rfis-iii)
ii. project duration
projects are expected to start on january 1, 2024 and close on december 31, 2024 or on december 31, 2025.
iii. average award amount
for the rfis-i, applicants can apply for up to 200,000 rmb per year (per project) .
for the rfis-ii, applicants can apply for up to 400,000 rmb per year (per project) .
for the rfis-iii, applicants can apply for up to 800,000 rmb per year (per project) .
all the funding is direct cost.
iv. eligibility
the rfis is aimed at international scientists who are ready to work at chinese host institutions. the host institution must be based in china’s mainland and have registered at nsfc.
specific requirements for each sub-type of the rfis are as follows:
1. rfis-i
(1) doctoral degree obtained within the past 6 years (phd must have been obtained after january 1, 2017);
(2) experience of conducting basic research or postdoctoral research;
(3) commitment of working 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.
2. rfis-ii
(1) doctoral degree completed within the past 15 year (phd must have been obtained after january 1, 2008);
(2) senior academic title;
(3) experience of conducting basic research projects as principal investigator (pi);
(4) commitment of working 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.
3. rfis-iii
(1) senior academic title;
(2) outstanding academic achievements and significant international influence;
(3) commitment of working 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.
v. additional requirements for eligibility
1. the applicant who has (had) a rfis project will not be granted in the same sub-type of rfis. the applicant can only be granted for each sub type of the rfis once.
2. an applicant shall only apply for one rfis in a year.
3. the grantee of an on-going rfis project shall not apply for a new rfis project.
4. 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:
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)
pilot group program of the rfis-iii (pgp rfis-iii)
5. 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 pgp rfis-iii, the ysf, the eysf, the nsfdys and the sfcrg.
6. 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 pgp rfis-iii, the eysf, the nsfdys and the sfcrg.
7. an applicant shall not apply for the research fund for international senior scientists (rfis-iii) if the applicant has been the pi of an on-going or completed project of the pgp rfis-iii, the nsfdys and the sfcrg.
8. other restrictions on the eligibility of applicants in the national natural science fund guide to programs 2023.
vi. proposal submission
there are two steps to submit proposal:
step 1: submission by the applicants
applicants should submit their proposals online via nsfc’s internet-based science information system (http://grants.nsfc.gov.cn/egrantweb/). the call opens from march 1 to march 20, 2023 (closes at 16:00 beijing time). applicants should complete online application form in english or in chinese following this guidance and outlines for the fund in the application form, and submit the application form in pdf form online. no hard copies are required. (after approved, the signed and sealed page of the application form should be attached to one hard copy of the research plan report and submit it to nsfc together.)
for more information, please check out the link below:
https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab1356/info88469.htm
