I. Overview

On March 11, 2020, the coronavirus outbreak was declared a global pandemic by the WHO. The spread and potential lasting existence of the COVID-19 pose severe threats to the world. In face of the global challenge, joint efforts of science funding agencies, based on the principles of equality, openness and mutual benefits, are urgently needed to accelerate the R&D activities against the novel coronavirus. To mobilize scientific communities and facilitate research responses to COVID-19, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) are opening a call for collaborative proposals in COVID-19 research.

The purpose of the call is to build on the combined strengths of academic research groups within China and New Zealand to work together on collaborative research that will advance the understanding of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the illness it causes (COVID-19), in order to contribute to the global response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Applicants are invited to submit bilateral collaborative research proposals comprising eligible researchers from China and New Zealand. This call for proposals will require applicants to work together in partnership within transnational teams on research projects where each country’s component is funded by the respective funding agency. Eligibility to apply is determined by each agency’s eligibility rules and the nature of the resources requested must also adhere to each agency’s guidelines.

Project duration is 24 months.

The deadline for receipt of proposals is: 9 December 2020 for applicants. 

II. Scope of the Call

Based on the research agenda defined by the WHO, the priorities identified by the participating funding agencies, as well as the research capacity in China and New Zealand, the scope of collaborative research will include:

l  Screening and development of broad-spectrum anti-COVID-19 drugs;

l  Etiology of animal-derived viruses and etiology and pathogenesis of coronavirus infection;

l  New technologies and methods for rapid and precise diagnosis of coronavirus;

l  Prevention measures against COVID-19;

l  Immune system impairment caused by coronavirus and protective immune mechanisms against virus. 

Please note that it is not the intention of this initiative to invest in vaccine research. 

The funding agencies wish to develop and strengthen transnational collaborations and to support collaborations which will have a real impact in this field. Applicants must successfully demonstrate the sustainability of the collaboration and the potential impact of the activities proposed. 

III. Funding available

The projects will be supported with grants in accordance with the respective national funding regulations.

NSFC:

Chinese awardees can receive up to RMB 1.5 million yuan for projects of 24 months. NSFC-funded costs of each grant will be issued and managed by NSFC according to its funding guidelines and procedures.

HRC:

HRC funds up to $350,000 New Zealand dollars (fully-costed, exclusive of GST) per project. 

IV. Eligibility

Each collaborative research proposal must involve at a minimum of one eligible Principal Investigator (PI) based in China and one eligible Principal Investigator based in New Zealand.

All applicants must adhere to national eligibility rules for research proposals. Any queries concerning eligibility shall be addressed to the contact persons of the respective funding agencies.

Principal Investigators need to ensure that they and any Co-Investigators included on the application are eligible. Applications involving any ineligible applicants (from China or New Zealand) will result in the whole application being rejected.

Eligibility of Applicants in China

1. With the title of professor or associate professor; and as the PIs of on-going or completed NSFC research project with the duration of no less than 3 years.

2. For New Zealand side, the call is open to employed researchers in New Zealand who meet the eligibility by HRC.

3. The researchers of both sides shall have long-term steady collaboration, and the project application shall fully reflect strong cooperation and complementary advantages.

4. Other requirements stated in the NSFC Guide to Programs 2020.

Application Limit for Researchers based in China

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-HRC Joint Research Program" is one of the MoU-based Joint Research Programs. Applicants shall abide by 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 are the PIs of an on-going International (Regional) Joint Research Project shall not apply for this project as a principal investigator.

3. NSFC-HRC collaborative 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 stated in the NSFC Guide to Programs 2020.

V. Application

For each proposal, the Chinese PI must apply using NSFC’s ISISN system (http://isisn.nsfc.gov.cn/egrantweb/) by completing a standard NSFC grant application along with the COVID-19 Collaboration Fund Application Form in English. The Call Guidance in Chinese is at http://bic.nsfc.gov.cn/Show.aspx?AI=1383. The New Zealand PI must apply using details are set out in the RFP released on HRC official website.

Please note the Application Form must be jointly composed by the consortia. The applicants must submit the Application Form to their country’s funder respectively. The Application Form will be the most important material for evaluation.

The deadline for receipt of proposals is: 9 December 2020.

Collaboration Agreement

As the research projects will be carried out by bilateral project partners, the basis of collaboration between the project partners, including ownership of intellectual property (IP) generated during the project and rights to exploitation, and IP management is expected to be set out in a collaboration agreement between the Principal Investigators involved. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigators to put such an agreement in place before the research begins. The terms of collaboration must not conflict with the funding agencies terms and conditions and national law. 

Arrangements for collaboration and/or exploitation must not prevent the future progression of academic research and the dissemination of research results in accordance with academic custom and practice and the requirements of the funding bodies.

The full Collaboration Agreement shall be submitted to the funders together with the application.

VI. Evaluation

Each funding agency will carry out eligibility and internal checks and agree which proposals will go forward for assessment. Only proposals that fit the call topics mentioned in Part II of this call will be evaluated and funded. 

Eligible proposals will be subject to the independent evaluation by the funding agencies. Each funding agency will first establish its respective ranking list of proposals according to the evaluation result. Recommendations for funding generated by each side will be jointly considered and approved by NSFC and HRC. The final decision on projects to be funded will be made based on the common ranking list and within available budget of funding agencies.

Assessment Criteria

To be funded, proposals must be internationally competitive and at a standard equivalent to that normally expected to be supported by each funding organization.

Assessment criteria for NSFC include:

l  Relevance of the proposal to the call

l  Scientific and technical quality of the proposal

l  Project management, methodology, work plan, milestones

l  Quality of the consortium

l  Mobilization of resources

Assessment criteria for HRC include:

l  Scientific/Technological Excellence

l  Relevance of the proposal to the call

l  Quality of the consortium

l  Impact, dissemination of research outcomes

l  Project Management

l  Importance of International Collaboration

l  Promotion of Health Equity 

VII. Additional Considerations

(i) Ethical issues

Proposals that involve experiments on animals and/or human must be conducted in such a way that is in accordance with the laws and regulations that is applicable in each country.

All countries where research will be undertaken should be identified. The following special issues should be taken into account:

·         If the project involves ethical content, the applicant shall provide the Ethical Approval from Ethics Committees of their own or relevant authority as the attachment to the proposal for Chinese side. New Zealand side shall provide the Ethical Approval Form only if their project is selected to be funded.

·         If the project involves Informed Consent Form, the relevant regulations must be followed. 

(ii) Highly pathogenic microorganisms

For projects that involve highly pathogenic microorganisms, a scanned copy of letter of commitment to biosafety issued by the host institution shall be submitted to NSFC together with the application .

(iii) Data management and transfer of materials

Collection and exchange of data and materials must be in strict compliance with the funding agencies terms and the legislation in effect in the respective countries.

III. Reporting

The projects will be monitored through progress reports and the final report by respective funding agencies for its content and progress.

IX. Timetable

X. Contacts