Handbook

for European Researchers

DRAGON-STAR
SUSTAINING TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH (EU-CHINA COLLABORATION)

Handbook for European Researchers

DRAGON-STAR
SUSTAINING TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH (EU-CHINA COLLABORATION)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Handbook for European Researchers

DRAGON-STAR
SUSTAINING TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH (EU-CHINA COLLABORATION)

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................... 1
1. WHAT SUPPORT SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES FOR INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION ARE AVAILABLE? ................. 1
1.1 Funding for European researchers based in Europe ......................................................................................... 2
1.2 Funding for European researchers based in China ............................................................................................ 3
2. WHAT TRAINING PROGRAMMES SUPPORTING S&T INNOVATION ARE AVAILABLE? ............................................. 3
3. CHINESE S&T POLICIES AND LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ............................................................................................ 5
4. WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL ISSUES FOR EUROPEAN RESEARCHERS TO APPLY FOR CHINESE FUNDING
PROGRAMMES? .......................................................................................................................................................... 8
5. RECOMMENDATIONS TO EUROPEAN RESEARCHERS .............................................................................................. 9
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................................................. 11

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Handbook for European Researchers

DRAGON-STAR
SUSTAINING TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH (EU-CHINA COLLABORATION)

INTRODUCTION

This report is the additional deliverable of Task 3.1 - Identify and promote opportunities for European researchers
to participate in Chinese research and innovation programmes.

The project team developed this handbook that provides the latest developments of Research and Innovation in
China and practical recommendations to European researchers based on an analysis of the critical issues of
accessing opportunities in Chinese funding programmes.
This Handbook for EU Researchers is structured under five sections:
-

Section 1 What support schemes/programmes for international collaboration are available?

Section2 What training programmes supporting S&T innovation are available?

Section 3 Chinese S&T policies and latest developments

Section 4 What are the critical issues for European researchers to apply for Chinese funding
programmes?

Section 5 Recommendations to European researchers

1. WHAT SUPPORT SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES FOR INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

ARE AVAILABLE?
The entire research funding structure in China is under review and it is likely that the information contained
within this report will change in the near future.
The Chinese funding available to European researchers based in Europe or in China is different, and different
eligibility rules apply.
Several programmes for international collaboration have been launched over the past years in China. The Chinese
government has been investing in its S&T infrastructure through the opening of international collaboration
programmes between European countries and China.

International S&T Cooperation Programme (ISTCP)1
The International S&T Cooperation Programme (ISTCP) aims to support Chinese scientists in international
research activities, cooperation projects launched under China's multilateral and bilateral S&T agreements with
other countries. It is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and budget for each project should not
exceed 2,5 million RMB (approx. 328.800 EUR ). The priority areas are hard sciences and technology. Within this
1

http://www.istcp.org.cn/index.html, Last accessed in December 2014

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programme, a special scheme named China-EU Science and Technology Cooperation Programme provides
funding to European researchers from universities, research institutes, or enterprises as the eligible partners of
Chinese applicant.
1.1 Funding for European researchers based in Europe
China/UNESCO - the Great Wall Fellowship Scheme2
Funded by the Ministry of Education (MOE), China/UNESCO, the Great Wall Fellowship Scheme is a full
scholarship scheme for candidates recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)
The fellowship covers tuition fees, monthly pay (paid by host institution), one-time settlement subsidy, health
insurance, one-off inter-city travel subsidy (domestic travel to university of destination from the nearest port). A
monthly living allowance is granted to the students through the Chinese host institution.

NSFC - International Young Scientists Fellowship3
The Programme provides fellowships for excellent international young researchers to work in a Chinese university
or research institute. Institutional recommendation is adopted, whereby applicants submit their applications to
NSFC via their host institutions in mainland. On the other hand, self-nomination is also acceptable. . The
candidates, under the age of 40, should have obtained a PhD degree and have basic research or post-doctoral
experience. The Programme will provide funding for the research activities and the Chinese host organizations is
responsible for covering living costs, insurance, research facilities, among others. The duration of the funded
project is either 12 months or 24 months, starts from 1st January 2016. A request for continuing funding for 12
months or 24 months after the conclusion of the funded project is allowed on the basis of the requirements of
the research work.

The Einstein Professorship Programme4
Funded by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Einstein Professorship Programme aims to encourage
international scientists who are actively working in the frontiers of science and technology to conduct
lecture-tours to China, specifically, to enhance the links between scientists in CAS and respective Einstein
Professors and to provide training to the Chinese young scientists. In each year, 20 distinguished researchers will

http://www.csc.edu.cn/studyinchina/scholarshipdetailen.aspx?cid=97&id=2051, Last accessed in December 2014

http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab38/info47770.htm, Last accessed in January 2015
4
http://english.ucas.ac.cn/JoinUs/Pages/EinsteinProfessorshipProgram.aspx, Last accessed in December 2014
3

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be awarded by the Programme.

Beijing Municipal Scholarship5
The Beijing Government Scholarship (BGS) was established by the Beijing Municipal Government, aiming to
provide tuition fees fully or partially to international students studying or applying for studies in Beijing. Its
administrative office is the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of the Beijing Municipal Commission of
Education, which is in charge of project establishment, review, acceptance and the daily management of the
Beijing Government Scholarship Programme.

1.2 Funding for European researchers based in China
The Thousand International Talents Program6
The Thousand International Talents Program was published by CAS. It aims to attract foreign researchers from
leading international institutions to work in China. The applicants should be under 65 years old (non-Chinese
descendants) with strong research background and tracking records. Successful applicants will be offered
research grants of 3.000.000,00 to 5.000.000,00 RMB and a 1.000.000,00 RMB allowance from the Chinese
government if they work full-time and have a contract in China for over three years.

2. WHAT TRAINING PROGRAMMES SUPPORTING S&T INNOVATION ARE AVAILABLE?

In the past 10 years, China has gradually established a national financial aid system for innovation talent through
various talent programmes sponsored by government agencies such as the NSFC, the MOE, and the CAS. In order
to build an innovation oriented country, China published its National Plan for Medium and Long-term Educational
Reform and Development (2010-2020), Medium and Long-Term Talent Development Plan (20102020), and other
funding programmes to support talents from both China and other countries.

Ten-thousand talents programme7
The Ten-thousand talents programme, also known as the Special Support Plan for National High Level Talents,
aims to provide more funding support to cultivate scientists in China by overcome bureaucracy in scientific

http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/Study/Scholarships/t1167204.htm
http://english.ucas.ac.cn/JoinUs/Pages/TheThousandInternationalTalentsProgram.aspx, Last accessed in December 2014
7
http://africa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-12/12/content_17168668.htm, Last accessed in December 2014
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research activities in China. The 10-year program is expected to select 10.000 outstanding researchers to build a
solid foundation for the Chinas development of science and technology.

The Long-Term Thousand Talents Program and the Short-Term Thousand Talents Program8
The two plans aim to attract oversee Chinese researcher to come back to China. The ideal candidate would hold a
current professorship in a distinguished international university or an equivalent in international research
institution. The candidate should have years of oversee research experience in natural Sciences, engineering
technology or other research fields. In principle, the candidate should be under 50 years old (or under 55 years
old in exceptional cases) and is willing to take full-time position (Long-Term Thousand Talents Program) or
part-time position (Short-Term Thousand Talents Program) in a Chinese research organization. Both plans provide
the researchers significant financial support to their research activities and living allowance in China.

Hundred Talent Programme9
The "Hundred Talent Program" is one of the major measures that the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has
adopted to bring up top-quality professionals for the next century. The programme selects both candidates from
both overseas distinguished talent and domestic Talent. The qualified candidates will receive financial support to
their research activities and living allowance in China.

Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Programme10
Agriculture is an important sector in China. Published in 2013 by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
(CAAS), the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Programme (ASTIP) aims to support Long-term and
interdisciplinary research activities, enhance the capacity building, improve research support facilities and
infrastructure and foster international cooperation in agricultural industry. It addressed important agricultural
issues in China, such as breeding, animal disease control and quality standards on agricultural products.

Through the initiatives established by the Chinese government, it is clear that the training policies are focused on
S&T innovation. Besides promoting the recruitment of new young talent and global experts, Chinas strategy also
focuses on international S&T training sessions to build a sustainable economic base.

http://english.ucas.ac.cn/JoinUs/Pages/default.aspx, Last accessed in December 2014

http://english.gyig.cas.cn/ju/201202/t20120223_81675.html, Last accessed in December 2014
10
http://www.caas.cn/en/research/research_program/index.shtml, Last accessed in December 2014
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SUSTAINING TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH (EU-CHINA COLLABORATION)

3. CHINESE S&T POLICIES AND LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

China is currently one of the main players in the economic and financial environment, mainly due to the fact that
it is considered to be a key driver of the worlds economy, the extent of its productive sector and the large
number of reserves that it holds.11
The country ranks 29th out of 143 countries in the Global Innovation Index with relative strengths in reading,
mathematics, and science, firms offering formal training, creative goods exports and Gross Domestic Expenditure
on R&D (GERD) financed by business enterprise, among others. Concerning the relative weaknesses, press
freedom, the regulatory environment, GERD financed from abroad and Environmental performance are
included.12
Having a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 8.524 trillion USD (approx. 6.969 trillion Euros13) in 2013, China has
been witnessing a GDP growth of more than 7% per year, mainly focusing on the industry and services sector.14
Chinas GERD has more than doubled from 2005 to 2010, becoming in 2009 the second largest country after the
United States. GERD has reached more than 2% of Chinas GDP in 2013.15

In order to accelerate the transformation of the Chinese economy to a more productivity-driven, knowledge
based economy, the Chinese government made considerable efforts to improve the S&T and innovation
capabilities through a series of strategic plans.

Medium and Long Term S&T Development Plan 2006-2020 (MLP)16,17

The objective of the plan is to transform China into an innovative society by 2020. Indigenous Innovation is highly
encouraged by stimulating high R&D investment in industries, supporting the establishment of R&D centres and
government procurement of high-tech products and services. The Plan also defined the following four indicators
used to assess the achievement by 2020:
-

R&D as a percentage of GDP greater than 2.5%;

The contribution of S&T activities to economic growth to be at least 60%;

Less than 30% reliance on foreign technologies;

11

China Ficha de Mercado, AICEP Portugal Global, 2013

http://www.globalinnovationindex.org/content.aspx?page=data-analysis,last accessed in December, 2014
13
All amounts in EURO in this document are calculated based on the following USD: EUR exchange rate: 0.722. Source: Oanda.
http://www.oanda.com/lang/pt/currency/converter/,last accessed in December 2014
14
http://news.163.com/14/0120/09/9J1ACFAT0001124J.html, last accessed in December, 2014
15
http://news.hexun.com/2014-10-24/169672151.html, last accessed in December, 2014
16
Medium and Long Term S&T Development Plan 2006-2020, State Council, http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2006-02/09/content_183787.htm (in
Chinese). Last accessed in December 2014.
17
Medium and Long Term S&T Development Plan 2006-2020, summary information, ERAWATCH (in English).
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A rank among the world top five countries in terms of scientific publication citations and patenting.

National Medium- and Long-term Plan for Building Key Science and Technology Infrastructure (2012 - 2030)
China also outlined its policy to improve its research infrastructure through the plan of National Medium- and
Long-term Plan for Building Key Science and Technology Infrastructure (2012 - 2030)18,19. This plan aims to
improve the research infrastructure in seven strategic fields: energy, life science, earth system and environment,
materials, particle physics and nuclear physics, space and astronomy, and engineering technology. The research
infrastructures are to be opened to foreigners to promote international collaboration.
In addition, the plan proposed 16 major R&D infrastructure projects until 2015: seabed scientific observation
network, validation device for the high-energy synchrotron radiation light source, an accelerator-driven
transmutation research facility, a comprehensive experimental facility for extreme conditions, an intense
heavy-ion accelerator, efficient and low-carbon gas turbine test equipment, a high-altitude cosmic ray
observatory, a future network test facility, a ground simulator for space environment, a translational medicine
research facility, a south pole observatory, a high-precision gravity measurement facility, a large-scale low-speed
wind tunnel, a SSRF beam-line station, a model animal phenotype and heredity research facility, and a numerical
simulator for earth systems.

Technological Revolution and China's Future-Innovation 2050

Technological Revolution and China's Future-Innovation 205020, published by the Chinese Academy Sciences
(CAS), presented a roadmap for China's science and technology development until 2050. The report is composed
of one general strategic report and 17 sub-reports that are related with the 17 specific fields such as population
and health, minerals and resources, space and ocean, information, material, ecology and environment.
Researchers from CAS believe that a new technological and industrial revolution featured by green energy,
artificial intelligence and sustainable development is most likely to take place in the next 10 to 20 years. In the
report, CAS emphasized the following eight social economic systems backed-up by science and technology
innovation: sustainable energy and resources system, new material and green manufacture system, information
networking system, ecological higher value agriculture and bio-industry system, health insurance system, ecology
and environment preservation and development system, space and ocean system, national and public security

18

National Medium- and Long-term Plan for Building Key Science and Technology Infrastructure (2012 - 2030), State Council, 2013,
http://most.gov.cn/yw/201303/t20130306_99983.htm (in Chinese): Last accessed in December 2014
19
National Medium- and Long-term Plan for Building Key Science and Technology Infrastructure (2012 - 2030), Summary, ERAWATCH.
20
Technological
Revolution
and
China's
Future-Innovation
2050,
Chinese
Academy
of
Science,
June
10,
2009,
http://english.bic.cas.cn/NE/200906/t20090619_7263.html: Last accessed in December 2014.

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system.

National Plan for Medium- and Long-term Educational Reform and Development (2010-2020)21
The plan is Chinas first national plan for medium and long-term education reform and development. It provided a
roadmap to achieve the modernization of education in the next 10 years in accordance with Chinas overall
national strategy of reform and opening to the outside.

National Outline for Medium and Long-term Talent Development Plan (2010-2020)22
The Plan aims to increase the quantity and improve the quality of talents in multi-fields and thus to significantly
enhance the comparativeness of both research activities and industry growth for a sustainable development.

Besides these policies and programmes, the Chinese government is also focusing on creating an impact on the
world stage through the production of quality academic papers written in English. In 2013, MoST released the
Guidelines for the 2014 National S&T fund on publishing S&T works. In 2013, China accounted for almost 18%
(compared to 4% in 2002) of the total share of world output regarding the number of scientific papers. 23

On October 20th, 2014, the Chinese government announced a reform plan that will change the Chinese funding
system.24 The government announcement noted that wastefulness and fragmented management has led to
overlaps and inefficient use of funds for science and technology, and the need for a unified platform for
distributing grants. According to the reform plan from Chinese government, building a public and unified National
Technology Management Platform is one of the key spot in this reform plan. A steering committee (joint meeting
mechanism) will be established and it will also involve financial department. Its main role will be to establish the
decision-making process. Moreover, professional agencies will replace government organizations to manage the
proposal assessment.
According to the plan, Chinese competitive funding will be organized into the five new programmes below:

National Natural Science Foundation: funding for basic research and scientific frontier exploration;
support talent training; connect to other funding programme to increase synergies.

National science and technology major projects: funding for national strategic product development and
industry priority.

21

http://www.moe.edu.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/moe/moe_2862/201010/109029.html, Last accessed in December 2014

http://cfd.seu.edu.cn/jsjx_en/14/21/c7765a70689/page.htm, Last accessed in December 2014
23
Source: Scopus - SciVerse Elsevier.
24
http://www.most.gov.cn/ztzl/shzyczkjjhglgg/zcjd/201501/t20150107_117295.htm , Last accessed in January 2015.
22

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Key national research and development programmes: funding for research and development for national
social societal challenges, industry competencies, innovation capacity and national security.

A special fund to guide technological innovation: fund that will integrate the innovation funds previous
managed by different ministries (MoST, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development and
Reform Commission.

Special projects for talent training and S&T infrastructure: fund that will integrate the previous funds for
national key labs, national engineering technology centres, national engineering centre and other S&T
infrastructures.

The plan was started in the end of 2014 and by 2017 the new funding systems will fully replace the current ones.
In addition, CAS announced the launch of a new round of reform in August 2014, aimed at becoming a worldwide
science and technology (S&T) leader by 2030. It is to reorganise all 104 CAS research institutes into four classes:25

centres of excellence focused on basic research,

advanced institutes doing applied research and commercialisation,

big science centres running huge facilities and

institutes that will address problems specific to a region of China.

Key plank of the plan is to increase the salaries of scientists conducting basic research, so that they no longer rely
on grants as their principal source of income.

4. WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL ISSUES FOR EUROPEAN RESEARCHERS TO APPLY FOR
CHINESE FUNDING PROGRAMMES?
There are a lot of issues to be considered in order to pave the way for European researchers towards receiving a
Chinese funding grant. This section presents the most critical issues and aims to provide practical
recommendations to support European researchers in applying for Chinese funding programmes.
One of the critical issues always mentioned by European researchers is that it is quite difficult to access the
Chinese funding calls information. Overall, the Chinese funding system is not well structured, or has a different
structure compared with EU funding programmes, or it is not as transparent as the EU is. In addition, although
some Chinese funding programmes are available in English, it remains challenging for European researchers to
find accurate and detailed information published in languages other than Chinese. Thus, the accessibility and
transparency of Chinese programmes are limited to those who speak Chinese or those who have collaborators
who can speak and read Chinese. For Europeans who do not understand Chinese, the language is one of the key
obstacles for information accessing.
25

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2014/10/chinese-academy-cas-launches-new-reform-drive

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Another critical issue is about the time frame. Limited time to prepare for the calls is a big challenge in China.
Some calls are published regularly, but many calls are officially published only a few weeks before the deadline
(often 3 to 4 weeks). Thus, potential applicants need to ensure that they make themselves aware of the calls
before they are published, and be prepared in advance to promptly react once they are available. Sometimes the
Chinese counterpart may be aware of interesting programmes and priority topics well in advance. Nevertheless,
the applicants need to keep a regular track for calls for proposals, and it would be wise to initiate the proposal
preparation long before call publication and be ready for submission when the call is made official. Also be noted
that apart from very few programmes which require applications in English or require a project summary in
English, applications must be submitted in Chinese.
The third relevant issue is related with the partnership. Having a good partnership with Chinese research
organizations is one of the most important steps towards a successful application. Generally, the lead applicant
must be Chinese or established in China (with a few exceptions). Moreover, by lead applicant, programmes
normally mean individuals and not organisations. This means it is also very important to establish a strong
personal relationship with Chinese researchers who are influential in the relevant research field. Working with
Chinese partners seems to be a plus or even a precondition for participation. A popular term good cooperation
basis is used frequently within the calls, showing the importance of having a proven long term cooperation
between the Chinese and European researchers.

5. RECOMMENDATIONS TO EUROPEAN RESEARCHERS

Based on the brief analysis of the critical issues above, the project team provided the following recommendations
to European researchers:
-

Build up links with Chinese researchers and extend the Chinese S&T network as much as possible. This
would be helpful to understand the Chinese S&T policy and the structure of Chinese funding programmes
and funding agencies. Moreover, it helps to identify the potential funding opportunities within a specific
research field.

Take time to visit the potential Chinese partners (universities or research institutes) and let the potential
partner know about the research interests and intension for cooperation. This would help to figure out
the common research interest with your Chinese partner and be prepared to have a concept note or even
a short proposal before identifying the funding opportunity.

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Keep track to the website of Chinese important funding agencies (for example, NSFC website). If
necessary, have assistance from a Chinese translator or from the potential Chinese partner. This would
help to have more time to prepare the proposal considering the short time frame.

Work with a Chinese researcher who is experienced in the joint application for the funding. For example,
most of the applications are required to be written in the Chinese language. So, it is useful to have these
written by or jointly prepared with experienced Chinese partners who can present the application in a
language that is favoured by the reviewers. The translation of a European partners contribution involves
considerable specialized effort, which may severely block the involvement of Europeans.

Understand the counterparts working culture and research environment. Any misunderstandings or
wrong pre-conceptions may result in mismatches on expectations and even mistrust from both sides.
Usually, the Chinese counterpart emphasizes more on the outputs the mutual benefit and a
win-win-situation is directly linked to the project outputs, rather than other equal terms (financial
contribution, exchange of information, clear terms of participation, etc.) that should be ensured by both
parties. The European researchers must be fully aware of essential differences in the interpretation of
reciprocity by both parties.

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REFERENCES

Bureau of International Co-operation Chinese Academy of Sciences, http://www.bic.cas.cn/

ChinaAccess4EU Supporting the EU Access to Chinese Research and Innovation Programmes,
http://www.access4.eu/China/
China International Science and Technology Cooperation, http://www.cistc.gov.cn/
China Scholarship Council, http://www.csc.edu.cn
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, http://www.caas.cn/
Chinese Academy of Sciences, http://www.cas.ac.cn/
Hexun Finance, http://www.hexun.com/
Institute of Geochemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, http://www.gyig.cas.cn/
International S&T Cooperation Program of China, http://www.istcp.org.cn/
Ministry of Education, China, http://www.moe.edu.cn/
Ministry of Science and Technology of the Peoples Republic of China, http://www.most.gov.cn/eng/
National Basic Research Programme (973 Programme), http://www.973.gov.cn/Default_3.aspx
National High-Tech Research and Development Programme (863 Programme), http://www.863.gov.cn/
National Natural Science Foundation of China, http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/
National Science and Technology Major Project, http://www.nmp.gov.cn/
National Technology Plan Project Application Centre, http://program.most.gov.cn/
Science, Technology and Innovation Performance of China (STI China), European Commission (DG Research and
Innovation), 2014
The Global Innovation Index 2014, http://www.globalinnovationindex.org/
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, http://www.ucas.ac.cn/

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