一、申请路径与模板Submission Paths and Templates

1、 Q：登录国家自然科学基金委员会科学基金网络信息系统（Grants系统）后，找不到合作创新研究团队项目的申请路径怎么办？

After logging into the NSFC Grants system (http://grants.nsfc.gov.cn), I can’t find the application path for the International Collaboration Fund for Creative Research Teams (ICFCRT). What should I do?

A：请联系依托单位科研管理部门为您添加“Applicant for RFIS, ICFCRT”角色，选择该角色后即可看到这类项目。

Please contact the office of scientific research management at your host institution to add the role of “Applicant for RFIS, ICFCRT” to your account. Once this role is selected, you will gain access to the application portal.

2、 Q：如何获取合作创新研究团队项目的申请书模版？

How to obtain the application templates of the ICFCRT?

A：请登录Grants系统获取或联系依托单位科研管理部门获取。

Please log into the Grants system or contact the office of scientific research management at your host institution to obtain the templates.

二、资助强度Funding Amount

1、 Q：合作创新研究团队项目指南中，资助直接费用“600万元/项”是上限还是定额?

In the Call Guidelines for International Collaboration Fund for Creative Research Teams, does the “6 million RMB per project” for direct costs refer to the maximum amount or a fixed amount?

A：定额。

It is a fixed amount.

三、申请人条件Eligibility of Applicants

1、 Q：对申报合作创新研究团队项目的外籍申请人是否有年龄限制？

Is there any age requirement for foreign applicants applying for the ICFCRT program?

A：对申报合作创新研究团队项目的外籍申请人没有年龄要求，但须符合指南中的其他规定。

For the ICFCRT program, there is no age restrictions for foreign applicants given that he/she meets other requirements specified in the Call Guidelines for International Collaboration Fund for Creative Research Teams..

2、 Q：已在国内单位工作的外籍学者，可以申请合作创新研究团队项目吗？

Is a foreign scholar who is already employed by a domestic institution eligible to apply for the ICFCRT program?

A：可以申请，但须符合指南中的其他规定。

Yes, he/she is eligible to apply given that he/she meets other requirements specified in the Call Guidelines for International Collaboration Fund for Creative Research Teams.

四、限项申请规定Application Limits

1、 Q：具有高级专业技术职务（职称）的创新研究群体项目的参与者，同年能否作为申请人申请或作为参与者参与申请合作创新研究团队项目？

If an individual with a senior academic title applies for the the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups (SFCRG) as a participant, can he/she apply as the PI or as a participant for the ICFCRT program in the same year?

A：均不能。

No, he/she can neither apply for an ICFCRT project as the PI nor as a participant in the same year.

2、 Q：合作创新研究团队项目中，具有高级专业技术职务（职称）的外籍参与者在该项目结题后，能否作为申请人申请合作创新研究团队项目？

After an ICFCRT project is completed, can the participant of this project who holds foreign citizenship and a senior academic title apply for another ICFCRT project as the PI?

A：可以申请，但须符合指南中的其他规定。

Yes, he/she is eligible to apply given that he/she meets other requirements specified in the Call Guidelines for International Collaboration Fund for Creative Research Teams.

3、 Q：创新研究群体项目、卓越研究群体项目（原基础科学中心项目）的外籍学术带头人在结题后，能否作为申请人申请或作为参与者参与申请合作创新研究团队项目？

After an SFCRG or an Excellence Research Group Program (ERGP, the former Basic Science Center Program) is completed, can the PI of these projects who holds foreign citizenship apply for the ICFCRT as the PI or participant?

A：均不能。

No, he/she can neither apply for an ICFCRT project as the PI nor as a participant.

4、 Q：青年科学基金项目（A类延续资助）[原国家杰出青年科学基金延续资助项目]的外籍负责人在结题后，能否申请或参与申请合作创新研究团队项目？

After a Continuing Grant of Young Scientists Fund-Type A (the former Continuing Grant of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars) is completed, can the PI of this project who holds foreign citizenship apply for the ICFCRT as the PI or participant?

A：均不能。

No, he/she can neither apply for an ICFCRT project as the PI nor as a participant.

5、 Q：青年科学基金项目（A类）[原国家杰出青年科学基金项目]的外籍负责人，能否申请合作创新研究团队项目？

Can the PI of the Young Scientists Fund-Type A (the former National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars) who holds foreign citizenship apply for the ICFCRT?

A：可以申请，但须符合指南中的其他规定。

Yes, he/she is eligible to apply given that he/she meets other requirements specified in the Call Guidelines for International Collaboration Fund for Creative Research Teams.

6、 Q：外国学者研究基金项目的申请人当年能否作为参与者参与申请合作创新研究团队项目？

Can the applicant for Research Fund for International Scientists (RFIS) apply for the ICFCRT as a participant in the same year?

A：可以参与申请，但须符合指南中的其他规定。

Yes, he/she is eligible to apply given that he/she meets other requirements specified in the Call Guidelines for International Collaboration Fund for Creative Research Teams.

五、其他注意事项Additional notes

1、 Q：合作创新研究团队项目要求“申请书语言为英文”，个人简历必须为全英文吗？

The proposal of the ICFCRT is required to be prepared in English. Does this mean the Research Resumes must be entirely in English?

A：考虑到参与者不限外籍，故个人简历部分可用英文或中文。

Since the participants may be Chinese researchers, the Research Resumes can be prepared in English or Chinese.

2、 Q：合作创新研究团队项目的参与者能否为境外单位聘用的科研人员？

Can a researcher employed by an institution not based in the Chinese mainland participate in the ICFCRT?

A：可以，但其所在的境外单位不被视为合作研究单位。需注意：受聘于依托单位的境外人员，不得同时以境内申请人和境外合作者[指国际（地区）合作研究项目的外方合作者]两种身份申请项目。

Yes. However, his/her working institution not based in the Chinese mainland is not regarded as a participating institution. Please note: As required in the NSFC Guide to Programs 2026, any researcher employed by an NSFC-registered host institution shall not apply for NSFC programs as both a domestic applicant and an overseas collaborator (referring to overseas collaborators in International (Regional) Joint Research Programs) at the same time.

3、 Q：合作创新研究团队项目可以变更依托单位吗？

Could the host institution of an ICFCRT project be changed?

A：可以根据负责人实际情况发起依托单位变更申请，变更需要符合相关管理规定并按流程办理。

Yes. The change of host institution should comply with relevant management regulations and follow the official procedures.

4、 Q：合作创新研究团队项目的外籍负责人在国内工作要求为每年六个月及以上，是连续六个月还是累积六个月即可？

For the ICFCRT program, the applicant is required to work in China for six months or more per year. Does this refer to six consecutive months, or is a cumulative total of six months also acceptable?

A：没有连续的要求，每年累计在国内依托单位从事科研工作六个月及以上。

Not necessarily to be six consecutive months. As long as the applicant can be employed for scientific research work at the host institution for a cumulative total of six months or more per year, it would be acceptable.

以上内容仅供申请人参考，如有与科学基金年度指南冲突之处，请以指南为准。

The above information is for the applicant’s reference only. If there is any discrepancy between the FAQs and the NSFC Guide to Programs 2026, the NSFC Guide to Programs 2026 shall prevail.