Joint Projects with National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)

Funding area: International

The RSE–NSFC Joint Project scheme is designed to facilitate international collaboration between researchers based in Scotland and China. A grant is provided to researchers to cover travel, subsistence, and research expenses.

The collaboration should be based on a single project, with two teams or individuals based in Scotland and China. The collaboration should involve bilateral exchanges between Scotland and China (applications will only be considered for bilateral, not multilateral, projects).

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Fund deadline passed

This fund is currently closed for applications.

Fund value

Applications will be considered for funding of up to £12,000 per project, or £6,000 per year. A similar level of funding will be provided by the NSFC to the China-based applicant.

Fund duration

2 years

Additional Information

For 2021 the specific themes are:

  • Public health management, operational sciences, health delivery sciences and social and behavioral aspects of emergency public health response;
  • New technologies for rapid and precise diagnosis of coronavirus;
  • Screening and development of broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus drugs.

Read the full Terms and Conditions here.

This scheme is available for Scottish-based researchers only and is not available for researchers based in the rest of the UK. Researchers based outside Scotland may wish to apply to the Royal Society, London Joint Project scheme.

Joint Projects are intended for researchers of at least postdoctoral status. The Scottish based collaborators must be employed by a Scottish research institution, and the China-based collaborators must be eligible to apply for NSFC funding.

A progress report must be submitted to the RSE 12 months after the start date of the Joint Project. A Final Report must be submitted no later than one month after the completion of the Joint Project. Funding for the second year of the project will not be made available until a satisfactory report has been received.

Please submit your report by using our Report Template.

The RSE should be informed of any publications, further collaborations, funding etc. resulting from this Joint Project. The RSE is pleased to receive copies of publications.

If you have any questions about the award, please [email protected].

In the meantime, it may be helpful to read the award Terms and Conditions