To thoroughly implement the innovation-driven development strategy and speed up building Shanghai into a globally influential center of science, technology and innovation, the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (STCSM) hereby release the Call for Proposals for the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai, under the 2025 Basic Research Plan.

 

　　I. Scope

 

　　Type 1 General Projects

 

　　Objective: To encourage and support researchers to define key scientific issues and carry out original and cross-disciplinary research, targeting scientific and technological frontiers and major needs for application, so as to enhance original innovation.

 

　　Duration: From May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2028.

 

　　Funding: Fixed grants with RMB200,000 for each project.

 

　　Eligibility: Applicants must apply through his/her employing organization (host institution). A person who has served as the Principal Investigator (PI) of one or more ongoing research projects under national or municipal fiscal funding cannot apply as the PI. The host institution shall review the submitted applications to ensure that they meet the above requirements and select and endorse the most suitable ones.

 

　　Type 2 Youth Projects

 

　　Objective: To empower young researchers to select their own topics and carry out basic research, in order to strengthen their ability of conducting innovative projects independently.

 

　　Duration: From May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2028.

 

　　Funding: Fixed grants with RMB250,000 for each project.

 

　　Eligibility: By January 1, 2025, male applicants must be younger than 35 (born on/after January 1, 1990) and female applicants must be younger than 38 (born on/after January 1, 1987). Applicants must apply through his/her employing organization. A person who has served as the Principal Investigator (PI) of one or more ongoing research projects under national or municipal fiscal funding cannot apply as the PI. The host institution shall review the submitted applications to ensure that they meet the above requirements and select and endorse the most suitable ones.

 

　　II. Application Requirements

 

　　Apart from the above conditions, the following requirements shall also be abided by:

 

　　1.The host institution shall be an incorporated or unincorporated body registered in Shanghai and have the capability of implementing the proposed projects.

 

　　2.For new projects proposed based on previous projects that have already received municipal fiscal funding or funding from other agencies (such as the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation of China), the similarities, differences, and development relationships between the two shall be clearly stated.

 

　　3.All host institutions and project participants shall abide by the management requirements of research integrity. The Principal Investigator (PI) shall certify the authenticity of all submitted materials. The host institution shall be responsible for the eligibility of applicants, verify the authenticity and completeness of submitted materials, and refrain from submitting any application that contains confidential information.

 

　　4.If the applicant requests to exclude certain experts from the review panel, an official letter needs to be issued by the host institution and uploaded with the feasibility plan, indicating the list of excluded experts and the corresponding reasons for the exclusion.

 

　　5.All host institutions and project participants shall abide by the science and technology ethics. Proposed scientific and technological activities shall be subject to scientific and technological ethics risk assessment. If they fall within the scope listed in Article 2 of the Measures for Scientific and Technological Ethics Review (for Trial Implementation) issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology, ethics review shall be conducted as required together with corresponding scientific and technological ethics review approval materials.

 

　　6.All host institutions and project participants shall observe the laws and regulations on the management of human genetic resources and on the biosafety management in pathogenic microbiology laboratories.

 

　　7.Each applicant shall apply for one project only.

 

　　8.The host institution shall submit, within 5 working days after the deadline of application, a letter of recommendation with its official seal. See attachment for the template of the letter and mailing address.

 

　　III. Application Method

 

　　1.Applications shall be made online. Applicants shall get access to the application system via “Shanghai Science and Technology Information System” (svc.stcsm.sh.gov.cn), select an appropriate subject and start application. Host institutions shall review the applications online and submit.

 

　　(Notice: Filling in English is welcome, although webpages of the application system are in Chinese, and assistance might be needed. )

 

　　2.The online application starts from 9:00 on February 10, 2025, and ends at 16:30 on February 27, 2025 (including review and submission by host institutions).

 

　　IV. Review

 

　　Two rounds of online peer reviews.

 

　　V. Announcement

 

　　The STCSM will release the list of approved projects for public review and feedback.

 

　　VI. Service Hotline

 

　　8008205114 (Landline), 4008205114 (Mobile)

 

　　VII. Attachment

 

　　Letter of Recommendation of Host Institutions (template)

 

 

Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality

January 26, 2025