Funding Opportunities

Focus will be given to Europe's new "Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities" (FP7) and China's 11th "Five-year Scientific and Technological Development Plan" (which is in the light of the "Outline") stressing a scientific approach to development.

China has implemented numerous programmes to support scientific R&D projects at home and abroad. The National programme on Key Basic Research Projects ("973 Programme") mobilises China's scientific talents in conducting innovative research on major scientific issues in agriculture, energy, information, resources and environment, population and health, materials, and related areas. In addition to the 973 Programme, the national high-tech R&D programme ("863 Programme") has as its mission to boost innovation capacity in high-tech sectors, achieve breakthroughs in key technical fields.

The 7th Framework Programme (FP7), in effect from 2007 to 2013, provides a vision for the future of research and innovation in Europe. It also provides a structure for opening the European Research Area to the world. China is an important partner of Framework Programmes from the non-EU countries, and participates now in to about 4% of all projects of the EU Framework Programmes, which is equivalent to new projects for about 200 million Euro per year. FP7 will be used as a tool to facilitate the S&T cooperation and ties between China and Europe.