On September 12, 2025, Prof. Lan Yujie, Vice president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), led a delegation to Tianjin University and Nankai University for special research on international cooperation in basic and applied basic research.

The delegation visited the School of Earth System Science at Tianjin University and the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources at Nankai University and attended meetings to exchange ideas with researchers  at both university. Yang Xianjin, Secretary of the Tianjin University Party Committee, and Chen Yulu, President of Nankai University, participated in the meetings and delivered welcome remarks. Based on the experience in international cooperation as well as the application and management of international cooperation projects, representatives and experts from both universities provided suggestions and recommendations on enhancing the international cooperation in science funds amid current major challenges.

Dr. Fan Yingjie, Director General of the Bureau of International Cooperation, provided a comprehensive introduction to the history, overview, and reform updates in recent years of NSFC. Dr. Yin Wenxuan, Executive Deputy Director of the Department of International Programs, introduced NSFC’s international cooperation funding system, especially the Science Fund for Global Challenges and Sustainability.

Prof. Lan Yujie introduced the reform initiatives of NSFC in areas such as international cooperation and talent cultivation, with a particular focus on the funding system for international collaborative research projects. He emphasized that openness is essential for scientific and technological progress, highlighting the need to strengthen top-level design and enhance the strategic planning of international scientific collaboration in basic and applied basic research, and guide scientific research through strong research teams and platforms, so as to increase the international impact and leading position of China's basic and applied basic research. NSFC will further increase investment in international cooperation, using its unique advantages to expand and deepen joint scientific research coopeartion with global partners.

Staff from the Bureau of International Cooperation and the Department of  International Programs attended the meetings.