—A professional institution conducts a formal review of project proposals that advance to the defense and evaluation stage, followed by the organization of a答辩评审 (defense and review) process. Project leaders present their proposals and defend them via online video conferencing. Projects are then selected for funding based on expert evaluations. For guideline areas supporting 1 or 2 projects, typically only one project will receive funding. However, if the top two-ranked proposals receive similarly strong evaluations but feature distinctly different technical approaches, both could be approved for funding simultaneously. In such cases, a dynamic adjustment mechanism will be implemented, allowing for mid-term assessments conducted alongside ongoing project management. Funding support for these projects will ultimately depend on the outcomes of these mid-term evaluations.

Notice on the Application Guide

To the Science and Technology Departments (Commissions/Bureaus) of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, and cities specifically listed in the planning; to the Science and Technology Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps; to the relevant science and technology divisions and bureaus of all departments under the State Council; and to all concerned organizations:

According to the overall deployment outlined in the "Plan on Deepening the Reform of Central Financial Science and Technology Programs (Special Projects, Funds, etc.)" issued by the State Council (Guofa [2014] No. 64), and in line with the relevant requirements for organizing and managing the National Key R&D Program, we are now releasing the 2020 Project Application Guidelines for key special projects such as "Stem Cells and Translational Research." Please organize your project applications according to the guidelines provided. Details are as follows:

I. Project Organization and Application Workflow

1. The applying organization should submit its proposal as a project, structured around the research areas outlined in the guidelines. The project may include sub-projects under it. All components of the project must be submitted together and must fully address every evaluation criterion specified in the relevant guideline area. Each project applicant is required to nominate one researcher as the project leader, while each sub-project will have its own dedicated leader. Notably, the project leader can also serve as the head of one of the sub-projects.

2. The project's organization and implementation should integrate and leverage leading, innovative teams from relevant fields across the country, focusing on R&D challenges while strengthening the seamless coordination among foundational research, development of common key technologies, and demonstration of exemplary applications—ultimately concentrating resources to tackle critical issues collaboratively.

3. The application and review process for National Key R&D Program projects is conducted in two steps: first, by submitting a pre-proposal, and then a formal proposal. The specific workflow is as follows.

——The project applicant organization will prepare and submit a pre-proposal of approximately 3,000 words via the National Science and Technology Management Information System, in accordance with the relevant guidelines. The pre-proposal should clearly outline the objectives and key indicators of the proposed project, while briefly detailing the innovative concepts, technical approach, and existing research foundation. From the date the guidelines are released until the deadline for accepting pre-proposals, there must be at least 50 days.

——The leading applicant organization must sign a joint application agreement with all participating entities, clearly specifying the date of agreement signing. Additionally, the leading applicant organization, project-specific applicant units, the project leader, and the sub-project leaders are required to submit letters of integrity commitment. Both the leading applicant organization and all participating entities must comply with the requirements outlined in the "Several Opinions on Further Strengthening Research Integrity," ensuring rigorous review and verification of all submitted materials to prevent exaggeration, inaccuracies, or even outright falsification.

——Each recommending organization should strengthen the review and verification of the project application materials they submit, and ensure that recommended projects are uniformly reported through the National Science and Technology Management Information System on time.

——Professional organizations begin accepting preliminary project applications. To ensure fair competition, for non-targeted application guidelines where the number of applicant teams does not exceed the planned number of projects to be supported, the subsequent review and approval process will not proceed. Instead, the guideline will be revisited at a later date, with a new call for proposals issued.

——A professional organization will conduct a formal review and then proceed with the first-round evaluation based on the submitted applications. The project leaders are not required to present their proposals during this initial round. Based on the experts' evaluations, 3 to 4 times the number of projects intended for approval will be selected to advance to the presentation-based review stage. For applications that do not make it to the presentation review, the evaluation results will be promptly communicated back to the applicant organizations and their respective project leaders.

——After receiving notification from the specialized agency about advancing to the defense review, the applicant organization will complete and submit the official project application form via the National Science and Technology Management Information System. The official application form will be accepted for 30 days.

——A professional institution conducts a formal review of project proposals that advance to the defense and evaluation stage, followed by the organization of a答辩评审 (defense and review) process. Project leaders present their proposals and defend them via online video conferencing. Projects are then selected for funding based on expert evaluations. For guideline areas supporting 1 or 2 projects, only one project will typically receive funding. However, if the top two-ranked proposals receive similarly strong evaluations but feature distinctly different technical approaches, both could be approved for funding simultaneously. In such cases, a dynamic adjustment mechanism will be implemented, allowing for mid-term assessments conducted alongside ongoing project management. Funding support for these projects will ultimately depend on the outcomes of these mid-term evaluations.

II. Recommending Organizations for Application Nominations

1. Relevant science and technology departments and bureaus under the State Council;

2. Science and technology authorities of provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, cities with separate planning status, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps;

3. Industry association established through the transformation of the original industrial sector;

4. Industry-Technology Innovation Strategic Alliances that have been included in the Ministry of Science and Technology’s pilot program and received an A-level evaluation, as well as industry pilot alliances for innovative development in the science and technology service sector, jointly conducted by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance.

5. Projects led by universities in Hong Kong and Macao will be recommended through the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission and the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund, respectively, as per their respective requirements.

Each recommending organization should make recommendations within the scope of its own functions and business areas, and shall be responsible for the authenticity and accuracy of the projects it recommends. Relevant departments of the State Council may recommend organizations with which they have a business guidance relationship. Industry associations, industry-led innovation alliances, and pilot alliances focused on innovative development in the science and technology service sector will recommend their member organizations. Provincial-level science and technology authorities, meanwhile, are tasked with recommending organizations located within their respective administrative regions. The list of all recommending organizations will be publicly released on the National Science and Technology Management Information System Public Service Platform.

III. Eligibility Requirements for Application

1. The leading applicant and participating organizations must be research institutions, universities, enterprises, and other entities registered within mainland China (hereinafter referred to as "Mainland Units"), or Hong Kong and Macao universities designated through consultations between the Mainland-Hong Kong and Mainland-Macao Science and Technology Cooperation Committees (list available in Appendix 1). Mainland Units must possess independent legal entity status, have been registered before March 31, 2019, demonstrate robust scientific research and development capabilities and infrastructure, and adhere to standardized operational and management practices. Government agencies are prohibited from serving as either the lead applicant or participating organization in the application process.

The leading applicant organization, participating organizations, and project team members all maintain excellent integrity records, with no history of serious scientific misconduct currently under penalty enforcement or any associated entries on public "blacklists" related to social trustworthiness.

The applying organization can submit only one application for each project through a single recommending entity; multiple submissions or duplicate applications are not permitted.

2. The project (research) leader must hold a senior professional title or possess a doctoral degree, be born on or after January 1, 1960, and dedicate at least 6 months annually to the project. Applicants from Hong Kong and Macao should demonstrate patriotism toward both Hong Kong and Macao, as well as loyalty to the motherland.

3. In principle, the project (or research topic) leader should be the researcher who first proposed the core scientific and technological approach for the project and is actually overseeing its execution. Civil servants from central and local government agencies at all levels, as well as public officials from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (including other personnel involved in managing science and technology programs), are not eligible to apply for projects (or research topics).

4. The principal investigator of a project (or research topic) is limited to applying for only one such project (or topic). Individuals currently leading ongoing projects (including tasks or sub-projects) under National Key Science and Technology Major Projects, Key Special Projects of the National Key R&D Program, or the Innovation 2030—Major Projects are prohibited from serving as the lead applicant for new projects (or topics). Additionally, principal investigators currently involved in ongoing Key Special Projects of the National Key R&D Program or Innovation 2030—Major Projects (but not as task or sub-project leaders) are also ineligible to participate as applicants in new projects (or topics).

This round of applications will be conducted via a paperless, digital process. All applicant organizations are strongly encouraged to strictly follow national and local COVID-19 prevention and control guidelines, while also adopting innovative approaches to team-building. Make full use of信息化 tools such as video conferencing and online collaboration platforms to assemble your R&D teams, minimizing in-person gatherings. Submission of applications must be completed online through the National Science and Technology Management Information System Public Service Platform (http://service.most.gov.cn). The project management agency will rely solely on the online-submitted application documents for subsequent formal reviews and project evaluations. All required supporting documents should be uploaded as electronic scans. If certain materials cannot be provided temporarily due to pandemic-related disruptions, please submit a scanned copy of an explanatory statement issued by your affiliated institution. The project management agency will assess the situation and notify you if additional documents need to be submitted at a later date.

Research projects (including tasks or sub-projects) currently underway with planned task completion dates—whether or not extended—before December 31, 2020, are exempt from the project cap.

5. Members of the specially invited advisory committee are not eligible to apply for projects (research topics); experts involved in drafting key special implementation plans or this year's project guidelines are also ineligible to apply for projects under that specific key initiative.

6. Foreign scientists and scientists from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan who are employed by entities in Mainland China may serve as project (subject) leaders for key special projects. Full-time appointees must provide valid documentation of full-time employment issued by their Mainland-based hiring institution, while part-time appointees must submit valid employment letters from both the hiring institutions—both documents to be included together as part of the pre-proposal materials.

7. In principle, once a project application is accepted, the applicant organization and the principal investigator cannot be changed.

8. For detailed application requirements of the project, please refer to the application guidelines for each key special program.

Before formally submitting project proposals, each applicant organization can use the National Science and Technology Management Information System Public Service Platform to check the status of relevant researchers currently working on ongoing national key science and technology projects, including major projects under the National Key R&D Program and the Innovation 2030—Major Projects (covering tasks or specific research topics), thereby avoiding duplicate submissions.

4. Specific Application Method

1. Online submission.

This round of applications will be conducted via a paperless, digital process. All applicant organizations are urged to strictly adhere to national and local COVID-19 prevention and control guidelines, while also adopting innovative approaches to team-building. Make full use of信息化 tools such as video conferencing and online collaboration platforms to assemble your R&D teams, minimizing in-person gatherings. Submission of applications must be completed online through the National Science and Technology Management Information System Public Service Platform (http://service.most.gov.cn). The project management agency will rely solely on the online-submitted application documents for subsequent formal reviews and project evaluations. All required supporting documents should be uploaded as electronic scans. If certain materials cannot be provided temporarily due to pandemic-related disruptions, please submit a scanned copy of an explanatory statement issued by your affiliated institution. The project management agency will assess the situation and notify you if additional documents need to be submitted at a later date.

The online submission period for the pre-proposal by project applicants is: From 8:00 on April 27, 2020, to 16:00 on May 27. The project applications that advance to the defense and review stage should be formally submitted by the applicant organizations, following the required guidelines, via the National Science and Technology Management Information System. Specific timelines and relevant requirements will be announced separately.

2. Organization recommendation.

Please have each recommending organization submit by June 3, 2020, 4:00 PM Previously, projects were individually confirmed and recommended through the National Science and Technology Management Information System Public Service Platform, and the recommendation letters—bearing the official seal of the recommending organization—were uploaded as electronic scans.

3. Technical support phone number and email: 010-58882999 (trunk line), program@istic.ac.cn.

4. The consultation phone number is as follows.

(1) Pilot Special Consultation Hotline for "Stem Cells and Translational Research": 010-88225180.