OVERVIEW OF CHINESE RESEARCH & INNOVATION PROGRAMMES

Kai Zhang
Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovao (SPI)
kaizhang@spi.pt

Agenda

I.

Background

II. Chinese Funding Programmes

III. Conclusions

I. Background China
s Innovation Status

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 9,4 trillion USD (around 6,8 trillion Euros)
in 2013, witnessing a GDP growth of more than 7% per year in the
industry and services sector

Ranks 35th out of 142 countries in the Global Innovation Index

Relative strengths of Innovation are seen in

Reading
Assessment

Mathematics
and Sciences

Creative Goods
Export

Firms Offering
Formal
Training

GERD Financed
by Business

Chinas Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D (GERD) has more than

doubled from 2005 to 2010, reaching 1,77% of Chinas GDP in 2010
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I. Background Reasons for collaboration with China

Economic importance of China

Changing global geography of sciences: easier

technology acquisition

Huge and growing Chinese investment in science

and education

Large talent pool

Research opportunities, especially fieldwork in

certain fields

EUs competitors are cooperating with China

Beyond self-interest globally important to jointly

tackle shared problems

Agenda

I.

Background

II. Chinese Funding Programmes

III. Conclusions

II. Chinese Funding Programmes - National

At national level, funding programmes are provided mainly by the

following four entities:

Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST)

National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)

Chinese Academy of Science (CAS)

China Scholarship Council (CSC)

II. Chinese Funding Programmes National (MoST)

Website: http://program.most.gov.cn/

National Basic Research Programme (973 Programme)

National High-Tech Research and Development Programme (863 Programme)

International S&T Cooperation Programme (ISTCP)

EU-China SME energy conservation and emission reduction research

collaboration fund

II. Chinese Funding Programmes National (NSFC)

Website: http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/nsfc/cen/xmzn/2014xmzn/14/index.html

NSFC - International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange Programme



Key International (Regional) Joint Research Programme

Research Fund for International Young Scientists

International (Regional) Organisation Joint Research Programme

China International (Regional) Conference Programme

II. Chinese Funding Programmes National (CAS)

Website: http://english.cas.cn/IC/

CAS Fellowships and Cooperative Programmes



Einstein Professorship Programme

Fellowships for Young International Scientists

Visiting Professorships for Senior International Scientists

International Cooperation Award for Young Scientists

Award for International Scientific Cooperation of CAS

II. Chinese Funding Programmes National (CSC)

Website: http://www.csc.edu.cn/laihua/scholarshipdetailen.aspx?cid=97&id=2070

Chinese Government Scholarship - EU Programme

Chinese Government Scholarship-Bilateral Programme

Chinese Government Scholarship Chinese University Programme

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II. Chinese Funding Programmes - Regional

In Mainland China, there are several regional agencies providing science and
technology research funding to the researchers.

Among them, the major funding agencies include Beijing Municipal Commission of
Science and Technology (BMCST), Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai
Municipality (STCSM) and Guangdong Provincial Department of Science &
Technology (GPDST).

The main programmes open to European researchers include the following:



BMCST - Beijing S&T International Cooperation Programme

STCSM - Shanghai S&T International Cooperation Programme

GPDST - Guangdong S&T International Cooperation Programme

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II. Chinese Funding Programmes Hong Kong

Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC)



ITC 1 - Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems (APAS) R&D Centre Project
Funding

ITC 2 - General Support Programme (GSP)

ITC 3 - Hong Kong R&D Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Enabling Technologies (LSCM)

ITC 4 - Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP)

ITC 5 - Nano & Advanced Materials Institute Limited (NAMI) Programme

ITC 6 - The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA)
Programme

http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/welcome.htm

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II. Chinese Funding Programmes- Hong Kong

Research Grants Council (RGC)



RGC 1- The Research Grants Council Collaborative Research Fund

RGC 2- The Research Grants Council General Research Fund

RGC 3 The Research Grants Council Joint Research Schemes

http://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/

Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF)



ECF - Environmental Education and Community Action Projects

http://www.ecf.gov.hk/text/en/home/index.html

Food and Health Bureau (FHB)



FHB 1- Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF)

FHB 2 - The Health Care and Promotion Fund (HCPF)

http://www.fhb.gov.hk/en/index.html
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Agenda

I.

Background

II. Chinese Mainland National Programmes

III. Conclusions

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III. Conclusions

Differences in research culture: open competition based on peer review in

Europe vs hierarchical, top-down approach in China

Common priorities supporting complementary strengths: e.g. energy, climate

change, food security, urbanisation, aviation, ICT

Access to national level funding depends critically on local partners

Many Chinese research programmes tend not to cover staff costs (except some
programmes from Hong Kong)

Track record of collaboration is important papers, patents, MoUs

Engaged leadership, governing body and follow-up capacity can be crucial

build reliable networks

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Contacts

www.spieurope.eu
kaizhang@spi.pt

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