z-bio 2025-07-04 3428

　　Notice of the National Natural Science Foundation of China on the Issuance of the 2025 Project Application Guidelines for Key Special Projects such as "Mathematics and Applied Research" of the National Key R&D Plan

　　Departments of Science and Technology (Committees and Bureaus) of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government and municipalities with independent planning status, Science and Technology Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, relevant departments of the State Council, and relevant units:

　　According to the relevant requirements of the "Interim Measures for the Management of National Key R&D Plans" (Guokefazi [2024] No. 28) and the "Implementation Rules for the Key Special Management of National Key R&D Plans of the National Key R&D Plans (Trial)" (Guoke Jinfaji [2025] No. 1), the 2025 annual project application guide for the "Mathematics and Applied Research", "Physical State Regulation", "Catalytic Science", "Biomacromolecules and Microbiomes", "Synthetic Biology", "Nanofront", "Nanofront", "Earth System and Global Change", and "Developmental Programming and Its Metabolic Regulation" key projects with the National Natural Science Foundation of China as its main responsible unit will be announced. Please organize project application work according to the requirements of the guidelines. The specific matters are notified as follows.

　　1. Application conditions

　　The application unit should organize the application in the form of a project based on the research content of the guideline, and the project may have a topic. The project should be submitted as a whole and cover all assessment indicators in the corresponding guidelines (except for special instructions). The project has one person in charge, and each project has one person in charge. The project leader can serve as the person in charge of one of the projects. Among them, the Young Scientist Project does not have any topics.

　　The person in charge of the project (project) should focus on the guidance tasks, strengthen the coordination and connection between basic research, common key technology research and development and typical application demonstration tasks, integrate advantageous innovation teams, and actively absorb outstanding young people and female scientific researchers to participate in project research and development. Excellent young and female scientific researchers are encouraged to undertake tasks as project (project) leaders.

　　(1) Project undertaking unit.

　　The project undertaking units include the project leading unit, the project undertaking unit and the project participating unit.

　　1. The project undertaking units for applying for this key special project should be scientific research institutes, universities and enterprises registered in mainland China (hereinafter referred to as mainland units), or units of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Region (hereinafter referred to as Hong Kong and Macao units, see Appendix 1 for the list). Mainland units should have independent legal person status and the registration time is before June 30, 2024.

　　2. The project undertaking unit should have strong scientific and technological research and development capabilities and conditions, and operate and manage standards.

　　3. State organs at all levels of the central and local governments shall not act as project undertaking units.

　　4. The project undertaking unit has no record of serious scientific research breach of trust during the punishment execution period and a record of "blacklist" in credit in related social fields.

　　5. If there are special provisions on the project undertaking units in the application guide for each key special project, the provisions shall be followed.

　　(II) Project (project) leader and participants.

　　1. The person in charge of the project (project) should have a senior professional title or a doctorate degree, and the working time spent on the project shall not be less than 6 months per year.

　　2. The person in charge of the project (project) should be under the age of 60 (born after January 1, 1965).For the age requirements of young scientist project leaders, please refer to the application guide for each key special project.

　　3. The project (project) leaders and participants of Hong Kong and Macao units should abide by the "Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China", "Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China" and the relevant provisions of the management of national key R&D plans, and love the country and love the country and love the Macao.

　　4. The person in charge of the project (project) should be the proposer of the main research ideas of the corresponding project (project) and the scientific researcher who actually presided over the research.

　　5. Civil servants of state organs at all levels in the central and local levels and civil servants of Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (including other personnel who exercise the management functions of science and technology plan) shall not take the lead or participate in the application for projects (topics).

　　6. Experts who participate in the implementation plan of key special projects or the preparation of this year's project guidelines shall not take the lead or participate in the application for the key special projects (topics).

　　7. The person in charge of the project (project) and participants have no records of serious scientific research breach of trust during the punishment implementation period and the "blacklist" of credit in related social fields.

　　8. If there are special provisions on project (topic) leaders and participants in the application guide for each key special project, the provisions shall be followed.

　　2. Application requirements

　　1. The applicant unit, project (project) person in charge and participants should carefully read this guide, application form filling instructions, etc., and fill out the application form in accordance with relevant requirements.

　　2. The project application form should include relevant agreements and commitments, etc., and the specific requirements are as follows.

　　(1) The leading unit of the project should sign a joint declaration agreement with all participating units to clarify the division of tasks, assessment indicators, funding allocation, intellectual property ownership, etc. of each unit; the person in charge of the project (project) should sign the joint declaration agreement, and the time of signing the agreement should be clearly reflected.

　　(2) The project leader unit, project undertaking unit, project (project) person in charge should sign a letter of integrity commitment and strictly abide by the commitment.

　　(3) If the person in charge of the project (project) is a foreigner employed in a mainland unit or a resident of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, the employment period should cover the execution period of the applied project (project) and should provide corresponding employment materials.Among them, full-time hired personnel should be provided with valid materials for full-time employment by the employing units in the mainland, and partial-time hired personnel should be provided with valid materials for full-time employment by all hired units at the same time.

　　(4) If the leading unit is an enterprise, it should provide relevant qualification certificates such as the enterprise business license.

　　(5) For projects that clarify supporting funds, a certificate of self-raised funding sources should be provided, and the supporting amount should be clarified. The supporting amount should meet the requirements of the relevant guidelines.

　　(6) For application demonstration projects, a letter of commitment letter of demonstration application and relevant supporting materials should be provided.

　　3. The leading unit of the project (topic) should follow the specific requirements of the "Several Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Reforming and Improving the Management of Central Scientific Research Funds" (Guobanfa [2021] No. 32), the "Regulations on the Management of Funds of the National Key R&D Plan" (Caijiao [2025] No. 2), and follow the basic principles of "target relevance, policy compliance, and economic rationality", and combine the existing basic and support conditions of the leading unit and participating units of the project (topic) and scientific and reasonable, and realistically prepare the project (topic) budget according to the actual needs of the task goals of the project (topic) task objectives.

　　4. There shall be no content in the declaration form that violates laws and regulations or contains confidential or sensitive information.

　　5. For projects involving scientific and technological ethics and scientific and technological security (such as biosecurity, information security, etc.), the project (project) leaders and participants should strengthen relevant knowledge learning, strictly implement relevant national laws, regulations and ethical standards, and provide attachment materials in accordance with the requirements of relevant key special guidelines.

　　6. The project undertaking unit should implement the requirements of "Several Opinions on Further Strengthening the Construction of Scientific Research Integrity" and "Opinions on Further Promoting the Spirit of Scientists to Strengthen Work Style and Academic Style Construction", strengthen the review and control of application materials, eliminate exaggeration and falsehood, and strictly prohibit fraud.

　　3. Limit requirements

　　1. The person in charge of the project (project) is limited to the person in charge of the project (project); the person in charge of the national key R&D plan and the national major science and technology projects shall not take the lead or participate in the application for the project (project), and the person in charge of the project may participate in the application for the project (project).

　　2. The total number of projects (projects) applied for by the project (project) and project backbone, the national key R&D plan, and the national major science and technology projects under research shall not exceed 2.The key special projects of "Intergovernmental International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation" with a central government's special fund budget of no more than 4 million yuan, and the key special special projects of "Strategic Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation" with a central government's special fund budget of no more than 4 million yuan will not be included in the limit range of the above two items.

　　3. The person in charge of the national key R&D plan and the project backbone of the national key R&D plan and major national science and technology projects shall not withdraw from the research projects due to the application of new projects; after withdrawing from the project R&D team, in principle, they shall not take the lead or participate in the application of new national key R&D plan projects during the implementation period of the original project.

　　4. National key R&D program projects (excluding young scientist projects, science and technology-based small and medium-sized enterprise projects, international cooperation projects; limited to project (project) leaders), national major science and technology projects (excluding young scientist projects, limited to project (project) leaders), joint restrictions shall be implemented with major projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (excluding project (project) leaders), basic science center projects (excluding academic leaders and backbone members), national major scientific research instrument development projects (excluding project leaders recommended by departments and major participants with senior professional titles). In principle, the total number of projects (projects) applied for and under research by scientific researchers at the same time shall not exceed 2.3. The leading unit of the project (topic) should follow the specific requirements of the "Several Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Reforming and Improving the Management of Central Scientific Research Funds" (Guobanfa [2021] No. 32), the "Regulations on the Management of Funds of the National Key R&D Plan" (Caijiao [2025] No. 2), and follow the basic principles of "target relevance, policy compliance, and economic rationality", and combine the existing basic and support conditions of the leading unit and participating units of the project (topic) and scientific and reasonable, and realistically prepare the project (topic) budget according to the actual needs of the task goals of the project (topic) task objectives.

　　4. There shall be no content in the declaration form that violates laws and regulations or contains confidential or sensitive information.

　　5. For projects involving scientific and technological ethics and scientific and technological security (such as biosecurity, information security, etc.), the project (project) leaders and participants should strengthen relevant knowledge learning, strictly implement relevant national laws, regulations and ethical standards, and provide attachment materials in accordance with the requirements of relevant key special guidelines.

　　6. The project undertaking unit should implement the requirements of "Several Opinions on Further Strengthening the Construction of Scientific Research Integrity" and "Opinions on Further Promoting the Spirit of Scientists to Strengthen Work Style and Academic Style Construction", strengthen the review and control of application materials, eliminate exaggeration and falsehood, and strictly prohibit fraud.

　　3. Limit requirements

　　1. The person in charge of the project (project) is limited to the person in charge of the project (project); the person in charge of the national key R&D plan and the national major science and technology projects shall not take the lead or participate in the application for the project (project), and the person in charge of the project may participate in the application for the project (project).

　　2. The total number of projects (projects) applied for by the project (project) and project backbone, the national key R&D plan, and the national major science and technology projects under research shall not exceed 2.The key special projects of "Intergovernmental International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation" with a central government's special fund budget of no more than 4 million yuan, and the key special special projects of "Strategic Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation" with a central government's special fund budget of no more than 4 million yuan will not be included in the limit range of the above two items.

　　3. The person in charge of the national key R&D plan and the project backbone of the national key R&D plan and major national science and technology projects shall not withdraw from the research projects due to the application of new projects; after withdrawing from the project R&D team, in principle, they shall not take the lead or participate in the application of new national key R&D plan projects during the implementation period of the original project.

　　4. National key R&D program projects (excluding young scientist projects, science and technology-based small and medium-sized enterprise projects, international cooperation projects; limited to project (project) leaders), national major science and technology projects (excluding young scientist projects, limited to project (project) leaders), joint restrictions shall be implemented with major projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (excluding project (project) leaders), basic science center projects (excluding academic leaders and backbone members), national major scientific research instrument development projects (excluding project leaders recommended by departments and major participants with senior professional titles). In principle, the total number of projects (projects) applied for and under research by scientific researchers at the same time shall not exceed 2.

　　5. Projects (items) whose end time of the execution period (including the post-deferred execution period) are earlier than December 31, 2025 will not be included in the total limit.

　　If there is no special explanation, the national major science and technology projects mentioned in this guide include 2030-major projects in Science and Technology Innovation, major special projects in succession projects, and major projects for 2035.

　　4. Application procedures

　　The key special projects of the national key R&D plan involved in this guide adopt a round of application procedures, and the specific work requirements are as follows.

　　1. Fill in the online report. According to the relevant application requirements of the guidelines, the project leader will fill in and submit the project application form through the National Science and Technology Management Information System Public Service Platform (http://service.most.gov.cn, hereinafter referred to as "National Science and Technology Management System"). All the attachment materials required in the application form will be uploaded in electronic scanned copies. The application form filled in online will be used as the basis for subsequent formal review and project review.

　　Before formally submitting the project application, all applicants should use the National Science and Technology Management System to inquire about the under-research and application projects of relevant scientific researchers to undertake key special projects of the National Key R&D Plan, major special projects of the National Science Foundation of China, major projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and major scientific research instrument development projects, so as to avoid the failure to pass the formal review due to failure to meet the limit application requirements.

　　The acceptance time for the project leader to fill out the application form online is from 8:00 on July 9, 2025 to 16:00 on August 21.

　　5. Projects (items) whose end time of the execution period (including the post-deferred execution period) are earlier than December 31, 2025 will not be included in the total limit.

　　If there is no special explanation, the national major science and technology projects mentioned in this guide include 2030-major projects in Science and Technology Innovation, major special projects in succession projects, and major projects for 2035.

　　4. Application procedures

　　The key special projects of the national key R&D plan involved in this guide adopt a round of application procedures. The specific work requirements are as follows.

　　1. Fill in the online report. According to the relevant application requirements of the guidelines, the project leader will fill in and submit the project application form through the National Science and Technology Management Information System Public Service Platform (http://service.most.gov.cn, hereinafter referred to as "National Science and Technology Management System"). All the attachment materials required in the application form will be uploaded in electronic scanned copies. The application form filled in online will be used as the basis for subsequent formal review and project review.

　　Before formally submitting the project application, all applicants should use the National Science and Technology Management System to inquire about the under-research and application projects of relevant scientific researchers to undertake key special projects of the National Key R&D Plan, major special projects of the National Science Foundation of China, major projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and major scientific research instrument development projects, so as to avoid the failure to pass the formal review due to failure to meet the limit application requirements.

　　The acceptance time for the project leader to fill out the application form online is from 8:00 on July 9, 2025 to 16:00 on August 21.

　　2. Organize recommendations. The application form must be recommended by the relevant unit (see Appendix 2 for the recommended unit to organize the application). All recommended units should strengthen the review and control of the recommended project application materials, and confirm the recommended projects item by item through the National Science and Technology Management System before 16:00 on August 25, 2025, and upload the recommendation letter stamped with the official seal of the recommendation unit in an electronic scanned copy.

　　Each project can only be declared through a single recommendation unit, and no multiple or repeated declarations are allowed.

　　3. Formal review. Professional institutions will conduct formal review of the application form, and the key points of the formal review are attached to the application guide for each key special project.

　　5. Project management reform measures

　　1. About the Youth Scientist Project. In order to create more opportunities for young scientific researchers to organize and implement major R&D tasks oriented towards national goal, young scientist projects have been established for major innovative directions that are expected to produce new theories and new methods, and young scientists are encouraged to boldly explore new methods and new paths that are more innovative and disruptive, so as to better serve the realization of the overall goals of key special projects. The Young Scientist Project does not have a topic, and in principle, budget assessments will no longer be organized.

　　2. Regarding the "Announcement and Leadership" project. In order to effectively improve the performance of scientific research investment and strengthen the "practicality" of major innovative achievements, the key R&D plan focuses on the research tasks urgently needed by national strategies, distinct application orientations, and clear end users, and set up the "Revealing List and Leading" project. There is no registration time requirement for the candidate units, and there is no age, education or professional title requirement for the candidate team leaders, encourage active application of advantageous teams with confidence and ability to organize key core technologies. Team selection can adopt methods such as mutual inquiries from the team and competition in the same field. The entire project process highlights the role of end users and implements management methods such as "military orders" and "milestones" assessments. Clarify the funding amount of the list task, simplify budget preparation, and explore the implementation of a "negative list" for fund management.

　　3. Regarding the linkage between ministries, provinces and cities. Some key special tasks will be implemented in combination with the major national strategic deployment and major needs of regional industrial development, and will be implemented in a coordinated manner by the Ministry, Province, (city) of the Ministry, Province, (city) and will jointly condense the needs, jointly invest, and coordinate management. Local governments will issue special policies to undertake project results, and promote the output and implementation of major scientific and technological achievements in the organization and implementation of the project.

　　6. Consultation method

　　1. Technical consultation phone number and email address:

　　010-58882999 (Trunk line), program@istic.ac.cn

　　2. Business consultation phone number: