Scientific research platform and project applications for 2021

                                                         Scientific research platform and project applications for 2021

1. Research Platform. Regular higher education institutions in Guangdong: Key Laboratory, Engineering Technology Research (Development) Center, Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences, and New Think Tank; higher vocational colleges in Guangdong: Innovation Platform with Integration of Production and Teaching; higher education institutions in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao: Joint Laboratory.
2. Research Project. Regular higher education institutions in Guangdong: Innovation Team Project, Special Project in Key Field, Special Innovation Project, and Young Talent Innovation Project.

II. Application Quotas

The number of applications submitted by each institution is subject to caps.

1. Key Platforms
   Quotas of platform applications vary among different types of institutions. Specific requirements are as follows:
   ① Higher education institutions included in the Guangdong program for building first-class universities, strengthening weak links, and developing distinctive disciplines, Dongguan University of Technology, and Foshan University can apply for one Joint Laboratory and one Key Laboratory/Research Center of Integrated Circuit, respectively. ② Each higher education institution can apply for one New Think Tank. ③ Each higher vocational college can apply for one Innovation Platform with Integration of Production and Teaching. ④Each undergraduate institution with no more than nine research platforms established by the Department of Education of Guangdong Province or higher vocational college with no more than four research platforms established by the Department of Education of Guangdong Province may apply for one platform of other categories than the three categories as mentioned above.

An institution may apply for cancellation of platforms that have been approved but deliver poor performance, and apply for new research platforms to fill in the vacant quotas resulting therefrom according to the above requirements. The research platform category should be indicated in the application.

2. Innovation Team Project: Each higher education institution included in the Guangdong program for building first-class universities, strengthening weak links, and developing distinctive disciplines or provincial first-class higher vocational college can apply for no more than three Innovation Team Projects. Other higher education institutions can apply for no more than two Innovation Team Projects.
3. Special Project in Key Field: Each higher education institution of higher learning can apply for no more than 12 special projects in four key fields, namely next-generation information and communication technology, biological medicine and health, digital economy, and technology-powered rural revitalization.
4. Special Innovation Project and Young Talent Innovation Project: Each higher education institution included in the Guangdong program for building first-class universities, strengthening weak links, and developing distinctive disciplines or provincial first-class higher vocational college can apply for no more than 12 projects in these two categories. Other higher education institutions can apply for no more than eight projects in these two categories.

III. Application Guide and Requirements (See Appendix 1)

IV. Project Application and Initiation

Applications are subject to review and approval. Proposals for Key Platforms, Innovation Team Project and Special Project in Key Field shall be recommended by higher education institutions and reviewed by an expert panel appointed by the Department of Education of Guangdong Province, of which the excellent ones will be approved for initiation. Proposals for Special Innovation Project and Young Talent Innovation Project shall be reviewed by an expert panel appointed by the higher education institutions and then registered with the Department of Education of Guangdong Province for approval for initiation.

V. Funding

Initiation of any research platforms and projects under this call for application is subject to approval by the Department of Education of Guangdong Province. For institutions that do not provide funds for the research platforms and projects approved by the Department of Education of Guangdong Province in the recent two years and do not specify the project budgets in the submitted applications for this year, all applications shall be rejected.

VI. Relevant Requirements

1. Application will be conducted online this year. All institutions must complete the application process between May 11 and June 11, 2021 (application portal: http://210.76.75.91/). Institutions must review and confirm their application documents online before the deadline.
2. The hard copy documents, including official documents of the school and the Application List for Research Platforms and Projects for Higher Education Institutions in Guangdong Province (2021), should be submitted to the Division of Scientific Research of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province before June 18.

Appendix 1:

Application Guide and Requirements for Research Platforms and Projects for Higher Education Institutions in Guangdong Province 2021

I. Basic Requirements

1. Institutions of higher education are encouraged to apply for multidisciplinary platforms that focus on science and technology and social issues.
2. Applicants must be employees in teaching, research or management positions in a higher education institution. They should have certain research experience in the disciplines involved in their project applications, demonstrate good ideological and political awareness and academic integrity, and be able to carry out research independently.
3. According to the Interim Regulations on Further Strengthening the Supervision of Funds for Research Projects issued by Guangdong Provincial Departments of Supervision, Finance and Audit, the project lead or primary participant can apply for and undertake no more than three projects/platforms with provincial funding. Applications that do not meet the above requirements will be rejected.

II. Specific Requirements

1. Key Laboratory

1.1. The laboratory should be based on a well-developed discipline. In principle, the laboratory should focus on a key discipline at the ministerial/provincial level or higher and can host degree-granting master’s programs or higher (barring emerging disciplines, interdisciplinary disciplines and disciplines with distinct local characteristics).

1.2. The laboratory should have clear research orientations and objectives that match with the discipline characteristics and key discipline layout of higher education institutions in Guangdong Province and meet the compelling need for economic and social development in Guangdong Province.

1.3 The laboratory should be led by a well-structured academic team. The team should include well-acknowledged academic leaders, young and middle-aged elite researchers, and a leading group with strong teamwork and management capacities in its research field. With reasonable age and knowledge structure, the research team should demonstrate high academic competence and good research tradition and academic atmosphere. There should be more than 10 team members with a senior/vice-senior title. In the last five years, the laboratory has undertaken 10 research projects at the ministerial/provincial level or higher with more than RMB 5 million of funds.

1.4. The laboratory should offer good experimental conditions. In principle, it should cover no less than 200 m² with a compact layout and have advanced equipment with good technical quality that originally cost no less than RMB 8 million (barring some basic disciplines). It should be managed by a stable team of management and technical staff with a sound management system.

1.5. The laboratory can get adequate financial, technical and logistical support and opportunities of cooperation and exchange in and outside China from the institution.

2. Engineering Technology Research (Development) Center

2.1. Based on the preponderant or exemplary discipline of an institution, the research center should have sufficient system integration conditions to support engineering technology, distinctive characteristics and good performance in engineering technology research and achievement transformation in a certain technology field. In the past three years, it has cooperated with no less than two companies and successfully conducted no less than two engineering technology research and achievement transformation projects with no less than RMB 2 million research funds (no less than RMB 500,000 for higher vocational colleges), at least 30% of which are horizontal funds.

2.2. The research center should have major scientific and technological achievements, invention patents, or proprietary technologies with proprietary intellectual property rights and inviting market prospects. In the past five years, it has applied for more than two invention patents, more than one of which has been granted, and received more than one science and technology awards at the ministerial or provincial level (higher vocational colleges are not required to have science and technology awards at the ministerial or provincial level).

2.3. The research center should have proper conditions for engineering technology research, essential facilities and equipment such as processing equipment, and necessary detection, analysis and testing techniques. It should be capable of comprehensive engineering technology research and development, product development and product engineering.

2.4. The research center should be led by a well-structured team capable of high-quality technology innovation, engineering technology research and achievement transformation. Its management team should be sensitive to market trends, experienced in achievement transformation, and headed by leading experts with extensive practical experience in engineering technology.

2.5. The research center should be capable of driving technological advancement and continuous innovation in the industry.

3. Joint Laboratory

3.1. The joint laboratory should be developed jointly by higher education institutions and research institutions in and outside China. Pivoting on national strategies and the need for technology innovation, and economic and social development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, it should focus on major scientific issues in key fields and key technologies, promote achievement transfer and transformation, and introduce and cultivate talents.

3.2. The joint laboratory should have a high-level research team and research achievements and offer essential conditions, sites, and financial support for the project.

3.3. The partner institutions of the joint laboratory should carry out deep cooperation among platforms, institutions and technology professionals and mutual exchange of technology and joint research achievements. The joint laboratory should demonstrate high innovation capability in enterprise-university-research institute cooperation, and have a solid foundation and great potential in exchange programs, graduate student cultivation, and innovation and entrepreneurship.

4.Key Laboratory/Research Center of Integrated Circuit

The laboratory or research center should have relevant system integration conditions to support integrated circuit technologies, as well as a solid foundation, distinctive characteristics and good performance in integrated circuit research, sci-tech achievement transformation, and promotion of economic and social development.

5. Innovation Team Project

5.1. Innovation teams developed based on long-term cooperation with a certain scale are preferred. The team should have clear objectives and tasks and give priority to teamwork. It should be backed by sound platforms and projects, have the potential to develop major innovations, and ensure a stable talent pool for continuous innovation.

5.2. In principle, the institution applying for this project should have a national or provincial key discipline, a ministerial/provincial-level key platform, or an exemplary discipline at the provincial level or higher. The innovation team should be able to undertake national and major research projects, and have a good research environment and atmosphere, distinct academic advantages over its peers in China, and outstanding research performance or obvious innovation potential.

5.3. The innovation team lead should have outstanding academic achievements and a broad academic vision.

5.4. The innovation team should be developed based on long-term cooperation and focusing on specific research orientations and research projects.

5.5. The incubation period for an innovation team lasts three years.

6. Special Project in Key Field

6.1. Categories:

Special Project in Next-generation Information and Communication Technology:

Special Project in Biological Medicine and Health:

Special Project in Digital Economy:

Special Project in Technology-powered Rural Revitalization:

6.2. Applicants should be in-service teachers at higher education institutions, who, in principle, have a senior title. A project team will be formed under a research topic for project application. It should have no less than three qualified members who can cooperate and finish the research on time.

6.3. The project should have clear research objectives and orientations and essential platforms, equipment and other conditions supporting major research projects. Interdisciplinary, inter-school, inter-department, and inter-region cooperation in research is encouraged. The project implementation period generally lasts no more than three years.

7. Special Innovation Project

7.1. This project aims to support research by academic elites at higher education institutions with great potential for research in special fields or orientations.

7.2. The special innovation project (natural science) should focus on hot topics in science and technology and satisfy the need for economic and social development in Guangdong Province.

7.3. In principle, the lead applicant should have a senior title or a doctorate. The research team should have a reasonable and stable structure with good research performance. The project implementation period generally lasts no more than two years.

8. Young Talent Innovation Project

8.1. This project aims to support high-level research by potential young talents.

8.2. Applicants should be under 35 years old (as of April 30, 2021) with a master’s degree or higher and a vice-senior title or lower. In principle, team members of the project should not be older than 39 years old (as of April 30, 2021).

8.3. The applicants have not received any research funding at the national, ministerial or provincial level.