According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea, the NSFC and NRF are pleased to announce the joint call in 2020 for research proposals, and herewith invite all interested parties to submit their applications, by a date no later than the indicated closing date.

Areas of cooperation

At present, the epidemic of Coronavirus disease (referred to as COVID-19) has become a worldwide public health emergency, triggering a major crisis in global health, safety, economic and social order. The COVID-19 is a common challenge for mankind, which requires the international scientific research community to work together to tackle it. NSFC and NRF are pleased to announce the joint call in the field of COVID-19 research in 2020, including:

1. Etiology and pathogenic mechanisms of animal-derived viruses and protective immune mechanisms against virus (for Application Code 1, please select H1904);

2. New technologies for rapid and precise diagnosis of coronavirus (for Application Code 1, please select H1911);

3. Public health management, operational sciences, health delivery sciences and social and behavioral aspects of emergency public health response (for Application Code 1, please select G0406).

Duration of projects

The projects will be supported for three years from October 2020 to September 2023.

Grant for projects

While NSFC funding levels are based on the actual amount of funding requested, it could be up to RMB2 000 000 (Two million Chinese RMB).

Eligibility of applicants
(1) With the title of professor or associate professor; and as theprincipal investigators (PIs) of on-going or completed NSFC research project with the duration of no less than 3 years;
(2) For Korean side, the call is open to employed researchers in Korea who meet the eligibility by NRF;

(3) The researchers of both sides should have long-term steady collaboration, and the project application should fully reflect strong cooperation and complementary advantages;

(4) Other requirements in the NSFC Guide to Programs 2020.

Application limit

The International (Regional) Joint Research Programs of National Natural Science Foundation of China include International (Regional) Joint Research Program under Agreements/MoUs (hereinafter referred to as MoU based Joint Research Program) and Key International (Regional) Joint Research Program. "NSFC-NRF (China-Korea) Joint Research Program" is one of the MoU based Joint Research Programs. Applicants must follow the following restrictions when applying:

(1)Applicants can only apply for up to one International (Regional) Joint Research Project in the same year; 

(2)Applicants who is the principal investigators (PIs) of an on-going International (Regional) Joint Research Project shall not apply for this project as a principal investigator; 

(3)NSFC-NRF (China-Korea) cooperative research projects are not included in the scope of

the total number of up to two for researchers with senior academic rank (title) applies for (including as applicant and main participant) and undertakes (including as applicant and main participant).

(4)Other restrictions in the NSFC Guide to Programs 2020.

Application process

Chinese and Korean applicants shall write a joint application in English to be submitted to both NSFC and the NRF. In addition, Chinese applicants should write and submit an identical Chinese-language proposal to NSFC as required by its regulation. Please read the Chinese version of the guidelines for details.

Application for Chinese applicants may be completed by following the steps in the Chinese version of the guidelines, to be released on NSFC’s website.

The onus is on the applicant to find their own research partner. Proposals must be received in both China and Korea. Proposals which have only been received in either China and Korea, but not both countries, will not be considered for funding. Neither the NSFC nor NRF will be held responsible for non-submission of the application in the partner country.

Closing date for application

Applications for both China and Korea must be submitted by 30 June 2020. Applications received after this date will not be considered for funding.

Please note that the NSFC or NRF will not be held responsible for applications that were not received. Researchers are also advised to ensure that their research partners’ applications are submitted and have also been received in the partner country.

Contact information