国家自然科学基金委员会（以下简称自然科学基金委）结合深化改革落实举措，设立外国资深学者研究基金团队试点项目（以下简称外资深团队试点项目），旨在支持具有国际公认学术造诣和影响力的外籍科学家，在基础科学前沿领域领衔科研团队开展研究工作。
一、项目说明
（一）资助领域及申请代码
2022年外资深团队试点项目资助领域如下：
（二）资助期限
资助期限为3年，申请书中的研究期限应填写为2023年1月1日至2025年12月31日。
（三）资助规模
资助强度一般不超过450万元/项（直接费用）。2022年度拟资助外资深团队试点项目9项左右。
二、项目申请
（一）申请人条件
1．具有外国国籍；
2．具有高级专业技术职称（职务）；
3．具有国际公认的学术造诣和影响力；
4．需保证资助期限内每年在依托单位从事基础研究工作的时间在9个月以上；
5．申请人须组建不少于5人的研究团队（含申请人本人）；
6．确保在中国工作期间遵守中国法律法规及自然科学基金的各项管理规定。
（二）限项申请规定
申请人申请时须遵循以下限项规定：
1. 作为负责人获得过国家自然科学基金外国学者研究基金项目、重点项目、重大项目、重大研究计划（重点项目）、国家杰出青年科学基金项目、创新研究群体项目和基础科学中心项目资助的不得申请（含2022年度获资助项目）。
2. 为保证项目负责人集中精力开展研究工作，在资助期内的外资深团队试点项目负责人不得作为申请人申请除国家杰出青年科学基金项目之外的其他科学基金项目。
3. 本项目不计入高级专业技术职务（职称）人员申请和承担项目总数合计限2项的范围。
4. 《2022年度国家自然科学基金项目指南》中关于申请数量的其他限制。
（三）合作研究单位要求
该项目一般由1个单位承担，确有必要时，合作研究单位不得超过2个。
三、申报说明
（一） 申请人注意事项
项目申请书采取在线方式撰写，具体要求如下：
1. 申请人在填报申请书前，应当认真阅读本项目指南和《2022年度国家自然科学基金项目指南》中的相关内容，不符合项目指南和相关要求的项目申请将不予受理。
2. 申请书填报路径：登录科学基金网络信息系统，选择“RFIS Application”，然后选择“外国学者（RFIS）”角色，在菜单栏点击“Application and Acceptance”-“RFIS Application”进入申请界面；点击“New Proposal”，首先选择申请项目所属科学部：“Application for Scientific Departments (A-H)”或“Application for Department of Interdisciplinary Sciences(T)”，然后点击“The Research Fund for International Senior Scientists (RFIS-Ⅲ)”，进入申请书填写界面。申请语言为英文或中文。
（1）预算编报：申请人应当认真阅读《2022年度国家自然科学基金项目指南》申请须知中预算编报要求的内容，严格按照《国家自然科学基金资助项目资金管理办法（财教〔2021〕177号）》以及《国家自然科学基金项目资金预算表编制说明》的要求，认真如实编报《国家自然科学基金项目资金预算表》。
（2）正文撰写：申请书正文须依据外国资深学者研究基金团队试点项目申请书撰写提纲（附件1. Research Proposal Outline for PGP RFIS-III_Scientific Departments (A-H)或附件2. Research Proposal Outline for PGP RFIS-III_Department of Interdisciplinary Sciences）及相关填写说明的要求详细撰写。
3. 申请人完成申请书撰写后，通过科学基金网络信息系统（https://isisn.nsfc.gov.cn/pmpweb/login）在线提交电子申请书及附件材料，无需报送纸质申请书。项目获批准后，须将申请书的纸质签字盖章页及团队成员列表签字盖章页装订在《资助项目计划书》的最后，一并提交。签字盖章的信息应与电子申请书保持一致。
附件材料：
（1）申请人与依托单位签订的项目申报协议书。该协议书须使用协议书模版（附件3. Agreement），申请人本人签字后由依托单位法定代表人签名（章）并加盖依托单位公章（注意：科研管理部门章、二级学院章等无效）。
（2）申请人与依托单位签订的聘用合同。当前尚未签订聘用合同的，须在获资助后随计划书一并提交。
（3）涉及科研伦理及科技安全（如生物安全、信息安全等）的项目申请，申请人应严格执行国家有关法律法规和伦理准则，并按要求上传相应材料的电子扫描件。具体要求参见《2022年度国家自然科学基金项目指南》“申请规定”及“科学部资助领域和注意事项”。
（二）依托单位注意事项
依托单位应认真审核本单位申请人所提交申请材料的真实性、完整性和合规性，编制项目预算的目标相关性、政策相符性和经济合理性。依托单位应在规定的项目申请截止日期前提交本单位电子版申请书及附件材料，并通过自然科学基金网络信息系统上传本单位项目申请清单，无需提供纸质版。
依托单位需在提交本项目申请前完成《2022年度国家自然科学基金依托单位项目申请承诺书》的上传工作（请参照《关于2022年度国家自然科学基金项目申请与结题等有关事项的通告》执行）。
（三）项目申请接收
在线申报接收期为：2022年8月25日－2022年10月10日16时（北京时间），依托单位须于10月11日16时前在线提交本单位项目申请清单。
注：请申请人严格遵照本项目指南的各项要求填报申请，不符合上述要求的申请将不予受理。如有疑问，请致电项目联系人。该项目英文指南链接：
https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/english/site_1/international/D5/2022/08-25/276.html
联系方式
联系人：沈薇，张婷婷
电话：+86-10-62328949/5793
传真：+86-10-62327004
Email：fis@nsfc.gov.cn
信息系统技术支持（信息中心）：+86-10-62317474
国家自然科学基金委员会
国际合作局
2022年8月25日
Pilot Group Program of the Research Fund for International Senior Scientists (RFIS-III) Call for Proposal FY 2022
The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) is pleased to launch a call for the Pilot Group Program of the RFIS-III (PGP RFIS-III) aimed at supporting international scientists with outstanding academic achievements and significant international influence to establish scientific research groups and carry out research works in the frontier areas of fundamental research in China’s mainland.
I. Program Specification
1. Research Areas and Application Code
The available areas to be funded by the PGP RFIS-III FY 2022 are as follows:
2. Project Duration
Projects are expected to start on January 1, 2023 and end on December 31, 2025 with the duration of three years.
3. Funding Level
The proposed funding level is up to 4.5 million Yuan per project (direct costs). Around 9 research groups are expected to be awarded under the pilot call.
II. Application Requirements
1. Eligibility of Applicants
The applicant should:
(1) Have foreign citizenship;
(2) Have a senior academic title;
(3) Have outstanding academic achievements and significant international influence;
(4) Make a commitment of working for no less than 9 months each year (calendar year) at the host institution during the implementation of the project;
(5) Establish a research group with at least five members (including the applicant);
(6) Ensure compliance with Chinese laws and NSFC’s relevant rules and regulations while conducting research in China.
2. Other restrictions
The applicants are required to comply with the following restrictions:
(1) The PI who has been awarded with Research Fund for International Scientists, Key Program, Major Program, Major Research Plan (Key Project), National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (NSFDYS), Science Fund for Creative Research Groups, or Programs of the Fundamental Science Center from NSFC (including those awarded in 2022) are not eligible to apply for this pilot program.
(2) The PI of an on-going PGP RFIS-III shall not apply for any other NSFC-funded projects except for the NSFDYS.
(3) This pilot program does not count towards the maximum of 2 projects that an applicant with a senior academic title could apply for and run at the same time.
(4) Other restrictions on the eligibility of applicants in the “National Natural Science Fund Guide to Programs 2022”.
3. Additional Requirements for Eligibility
In general, all members of the research group should be based in the same host institution, unless if necessary, up to 2 cooperation institutions are allowable for each group.
III. Proposal Submission
1. Submission by the Applicants
The application needs to be submitted online. The specific requirements are as follows:
(1) Before completing the online application form, all applicants should read through this guidance as well as the relevant contents of “National Natural Science Fund Guide to Programs 2022” in detail. Applications that do not meet the above mentioned requirements will be rejected.
(2) Application path: Log in to the NSFC’s Internet-based Science Information System (https://isisn.nsfc.gov.cn/pmpweb/login), select “RFIS Application”, use the role of “RFIS” and click “Application and Acceptance” – “RFIS Application” in the menu bar to enter the application interface. Click “New Proposal” to enter the page of Application(s) in Preparation. Then select the science department of the applied project: “Application for Scientific Departments (A-H)” or “Application for Department of Interdisciplinary Sciences (T)”. Finally click on the “The Research Fund for International Senior Scientists (RFIS-III)” to enter the application page. The application language can be either English or Chinese.
Ø The applicant shall, in accordance with the “National Natural Science Fund Guide to Programs 2022”, the “Regulation on the Financial Management of NSFC-Awarded Projects” (https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab475/info81899.htm) and “Instruction for Budget Table”, carefully prepare the budget table based on the actual needs.
Ø The applicant should use the template (Appendix I. Research Proposal Outline for PGP RFIS-III_Scientific Departments (A-H)or Appendix II. Research Proposal Outline for PGP RFIS-III_Department of Interdisciplinary Sciences (T)) and fill in the main text of the research proposal in accordance with the instructions and requirements.
(3) Applicants should complete the online application form and submit the application through the NSFC’s Internet-based Science Information System (https://isisn.nsfc.gov.cn/pmpweb/login). No hard copies are required. After awarded, the signed and sealed page of the application form, as well as the signed and sealed group member list, should be attached to the Research Plan and submitted to NSFC together. Please ensure that the signed and sealed information should be consistent with the electronic application.
Attachments required:
(1) An agreement signed by the applicant and the host institution. The agreement should use the template (Appendix III. Agreement) and be signed by the applicant, the legal representative of the host institution with the official seal of the institution. (The seals of the scientific research management department and the second-level college are invalid).
(2) An employment contract signed between the applicant and the host institution. Applicant who has not yet signed an employment contract can submit the contact together with the research plan after funded by NSFC.
(3) If the proposed research involves issues related to scientific research ethics and scientific and technological security (such as biosecurity, information security, etc.), the applicant shall strictly follow relevant national laws, regulations and codes of ethics, and provide corresponding materials as attachment in accordance with the requirements of relevant scientific departments (a scanned copy shall be attached to the electronic application). For specific requirements, please refer to the “Information on Application” and “Funding Scope and Instructions” in “National Natural Science Fund Guide to Programs 2022”.
2. Submission by the Host Institution
The host institution should ensure the application complies with the provisions of NSFC’s Regulations on Host Institutions Management. It should be responsible for the authenticity, completeness and compliance of the proposals and submit the application documents in time to NSFC. All proposals and the necessary supplementary documents should be submitted to NSFC before the deadline. Late applications will be rejected. The host institution should provide a list of all the applications when submitting the applications to the NSFC’s Internet-based Science Information System. No hard copies are required.
The host institutions are required to upload the annual ”Letter of Commitment for Research Integrity of Host Institution for National Natural Science Fund Projects 2022” before submitting the project application. (Please refer to the “Notice on Application and Conclusion of National Natural Science Found Projects in 2022”.)
3. Deadline
The call opens from August 25, 2022 to October 10, 2022 (closes at 16:00 Beijing time). The host institution should submit the Application List online before 16:00 on October 11.
Note: Before completing the online application form, all applicants should check that they comply with the eligibility requirements and ensure all necessary information is presented in the application. Applications that do not meet the above mentioned requirements will be rejected. Should you have any questions please reach us via the following contacts.
Contacts
Ms. Shen Wei, Ms. Zhang Tingting
Phone: +86-10-62328949/5793
Fax: +86-10-62327004
Email: fis@nsfc.gov.cn
Information System Technical Support (Information Center): +86-10-62317474
Bureau of International Cooperation
National Natural Science Foundation of China
August 25, 2022
