Dear Colleagues,

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has issued the "Guidelines of National Natural Science Foundation of China Projects in 2025".  Applicants intending to apply for this year's NSFC projects should log in to the NSFC Internet-based Science Information System, and write the proposal according to the outline and related requirements for each type of project application. The types of projects accepting applications in 2025 include: General Project, Key Project, Key International (Regional) Collaborative Project, Youth Project, Regional Science Fund project, Outstanding Young Scientists Fund project, National Outstanding Young Scientists Fund project, National Outstanding Young Scientists Fund Continuation project, Innovative Research Groups project, Basic Science Centers Projects, Research Fund for Foreign Scholars, Mathematics Tianyuan Fund Project, National Major Research Instruments Development Projects (open application), etc.

1. Different types of projects have different requirements. Applicants should send names and type of project applied for to brianyang@uic.edu.cn before February 8, 2025, so that RDKTO can understand the overall situation and make preparation in advance;

2. Applicants should submit the proposals in the system (only the soft copy) before March 8, 2025;

3. RDKTO will conduct a formal review of applications, and notify applicants to make modifications and additions from March 9 to 15, 2025;

4. RDKTO will report applications to the NSFC from March 16 to 18, 2025. (the deadline for the NSFC to receive applications is 16:00 on March 20, 2025, to prevent network congestion during the final period).

Notes:

1. Applicants:

(1) To avoid duplication of funding, the NSFC Department of Management Science Division Project has joint restrictions on applications. For details, please refer to the "Guidelines of National Natural Science Foundation of China 2025" – Funding Areas and Notes for the Department of Management Science.

(2) Applicants should carefully read the guidelines and requirements in the guidelines. Also, due to the differences among various departments, offices, and disciplines, special attention should be paid to the funding areas and notes for each department.

2. System Account Opening:

(1) If there is a change in your work unit, you don’t need to add a new account! Simply log in to the system and update your college in the "Personal Information Maintenance" section.

(2) There is no need to add "Principal Investigator" to the roles of approved personnel, as the principal investigator already includes the "Online Application" privilege.

(3) If you have never had an account in the system, please send your name, email (please use your UIC email), and ID number to brianyang@uic.edu.cn , RDKTO will be responsible for adding a new account.

3. Relevant websites:

(1) "Guidelines of National Natural Science Foundation of China Projects in 2025":     https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/xmzn/2025/jj/

(2) 2025 NSFC Research Fund for International Scientists Application:   https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/xmzn/2025/15/

(3) Application Regulations of NSFC in 2025:    https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/xmzn/2025/sqgd/

(4) Notice on Matters Related to the Application and Conclusion of 2025 NSFC Projects:    https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab434/info94273.htm

(5) National Natural Science Foundation of China:   https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/

(6) Science Foundation Network Information System:    https://grants.nsfc.gov.cn/

(7) NSFC Big Data Knowledge Management Service Platform:   https://kd.nsfc.cn/

(8) National Natural Science Foundation of China（NSFC）open-access repository platform：  https://kd.nsfc.cn/oar

(9) How to Fill out the Project Application Form (User Manual for Project Applicants and Principals):   https://grants.nsfc.gov.cn/egrantweb/help-center-viewpdf?fw=hc&nTabs=fzr&g=9a96daa8cea568e6e053cd02a8c00303

For system technical problems, please call the information system technical support at 010-62317474 or click the online consultation button in the upper right corner of the system.