Department of Engineering and Materials Science, National Natural Science Foundation of China Notice on the application of the first special project (scientific and technological activity project) in 2023

Department of Engineering and Materials Science, National Natural Science Foundation of China Notice on the application of the first special project (scientific and technological activity project) in 2023

I. Positioning and funding scope

Special projects (scientific and technological activities) are used to fund strategic and management research, academic exchange activities, scientific communication, platform construction and other activities related to the development of the National Natural Science Foundation. The Ministry of Engineering and Materials Science provides funding for two special projects (scientific and technological activities) every year. The first phase is released in the first half of the year, and the project implementation period is half a year, mainly supporting scientific and technological activities from July to December of that year; The second phase was released in the second half of the year, and the implementation period of the project was one year, mainly supporting scientific and technological activities from January to December of the following year.

This special project (scientific and technological activity project) includes the following two types:

(1) Research on discipline development strategy in related fields of engineering and materials science (hereinafter referred to as “strategy and management research” project);

(2) influential international (regional) academic conferences and short-term training activities for basic research held in China (hereinafter referred to as “academic exchange” projects).

II. Reporting requirements and matters needing attention

(1) Application qualifications and restrictions

1. Special projects with a funding period of no more than 1 year (inclusive) are not included in the limited items.
2. The special projects in this period are not included in the scope of the total number of 2 items applied and undertaken by senior professional and technical positions (titles).
3. The applicant can only undertake 1 special project in the same year.
4. The applicant should have a senior professional and technical position (title) or a doctorate. People who are engaged in research work in post-doctoral mobile stations or workstations, are studying for graduate degrees, and have no work units or units that are not supported by them may not apply for special projects.
5. Applicants for “Strategy and Management Research” scientific and technological activities should have a clear understanding of the development laws and trends of the corresponding disciplines, and it is recommended to consult with the disciplines (departments) with corresponding application codes before applying. The application for the “Strategy and Management Research” project put forward by the project leader who has made innovative achievements in the corresponding disciplines and excellent performance evaluation will be given priority funding under the same conditions.
6. The international (regional) academic conference held in China in the “academic exchange” scientific and technological activity project shall be an influential series of conferences initiated by international academic organizations, and the project applicant shall be the main member of the organizing committee. The electronic attachment materials of the application shall include the certification materials of the authorization of the international academic organization to hold the conference and the official approval (scanned copy) from the higher authorities of the supporting units. For short-term talent training activities in basic research held in China, the project applicant should be the main member of the organizing committee or the lecturer.

If the above conditions are not met or the materials are incomplete, it will not be accepted.

(2) Application Filling

1. The application for this special project is written online. The specific requirements for the applicant are as follows:

(1) Select “special project” as the funding category in the application, “scientific and technological activity project” as the subcategory, and “comprehensive scientific and technological activity project of the Ministry of Science” as the note, and select the corresponding application code (application code starting with e) according to the specific research content of the application.

(2) The applicant shall specify the type of scientific and technological activities applied for in the project name and adopt the format of “XXX category: XXX project name”.

(3) Special projects (scientific and technological activities) shall generally apply 3 months before the activities are launched. The project research period starts and ends from July 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.

The project application with inaccurate or unselected selection above will not be accepted.

2. The text of the application should correspond to the type of application.

(1) The scientific and technological activities of “strategy and management research” should include: the current situation, trend, challenges and opportunities faced by the discipline, strategic research objectives, contents, research schemes, feasibility analysis and expected results.

(2) “Academic Exchange” scientific and technological activities should include: the background and significance of holding scientific and technological activities, the composition of the organizing committee, the start and end time of the activities, the scope, scale, potential impact, the name of important reports or courses and the introduction of their lecturers, the list of overseas participants, expected results, etc.

3. The expected results of scientific and technological activities must include the research report/activity summary related to the theme of the activity; If the application is funded, the research report/activity summary will be an important material for the final review.

(3) Matters needing attention in application

1. Before completing the application, the applicant shall carefully read the Measures for the Administration of Special Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Guide to Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2023 and the relevant contents of this notice. Applications that do not meet the management measures, project guidelines and related requirements will not be accepted.
2. The applicant logs in to https://grants.nsfc.gov.cn/egrantweb/, the network information system of the National Science Foundation (if there is no system account, please apply to the fund management contact person of the supporting unit for opening an account), and write an application according to the writing outline and relevant requirements.
3. Paperless application is implemented for special projects in this period. The receiving time of application materials is from March 27, 2023 to 16: 00 on March 29, 2023. Applications submitted outside the receiving time will not be accepted.
4. After completing the application writing, the applicant submits the electronic application form and the attached materials online. Attachment materials required in the application materials (original documents of relevant certification materials, approval documents and other special instructions) are all uploaded by electronic scanning.
5. The applicant shall strictly implement the relevant provisions on fund management of projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation.

III. Contact information for consultation

1. Technical problems encountered in the process of reporting can be solved by contacting the Information Center of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the telephone number is 010-62317474.
2. Questions related to the application of “strategy and management research” and “academic exchange” projects can be consulted with relevant disciplines (divisions) of the Ministry of Engineering and Materials Science.
3. For other questions, please consult the Comprehensive and Strategic Planning Division, Department of Engineering and Materials Science, National Natural Science Foundation of China, tel: 010-62326884; E-mail: doeminfo@nsfc.gov.cn.