A NSFC delegation, led by Prof. Sun Jiaguang, Vice President of the foundation, paid a visit to Australian Research Council (ARC) and New Zealand Foundation for Research Science and Technology (FRST) during May 10-19, 2009, with a view to exchanging ideas and holding detailed discussions on topics of the background, organization, procedure and methods of strategic planning for science funding agencies and performance evaluation.

During the visit to ARC, the delegation was cordially received by Prof. Margaret Sheil, CEO of ARC, Prof. Phyllis Tharenou, director of the Department of Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences, and officers in charge of program coordination and evaluation. Such topics as the key role played by ARC, ARC’s strategic planning, project evaluation mechanisms, the management of funded projects and the organization’s performance evaluation were thoroughly addressed during the meeting.

While visiting the FRST, the delegation held discussions on S&T planning, project management and performance evaluation etc. with officials and professors from the strategic planning and policy making departments at FRST.

The delegation also visited the University of New South Wales, the University of Queensland, Waikato University and some Chinese overseas scholars and their laboratories, aiming at hearing their views on the further development of National Natural Science Fund.

The success of the visit was ensured by the unfailing support and assistance from the Chinese embassies and consulates in the Australia and New Zealand. Members of the delegation came from the Bureau of Planning, the Bureau of Policy and the Bureau of International Cooperation at NSFC.