Intergovernmental International S&T Innovation Cooperation Key Special Program (政府间国际科技创新合作)

Intergovernmental International S&T Cooperation

Supports Chinese and international partners through intergovernmental collaboration to co develop science and technology for practical impact.

The Intergovernmental International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Key Special Programme (政府间国际科技创新合作重点专项) is a sub-track of China's National Key R&D Programme (国家重点研发计划, NKP), administered by MOST's Department of International Cooperation (CISTC). It is the primary formal channel through which non-Chinese research institutions and companies can engage with Chinese national R&D funding: both governments co-fund their respective project sides under bilateral S&T agreements, with Chinese institutions applying through service.most.gov.cn while foreign partners apply through their own national funding agency. MOST's International Cooperation Department issued active 2026 calls on 9 May 2026 and 30 April 2026, confirming that the programme is currently accepting proposals.

Eligible applicants on the Chinese side include registered legal entities — universities, research institutes, state-owned enterprises, and private companies — that hold a bilateral S&T framework agreement with the foreign partner's government. Foreign participation is as a co-applicant partner, not as a lead. The specific countries invited and the thematic priorities for each call are published per-cycle; not all bilateral relationships are active in every cycle. Topics span MOST's priority areas including AI and digital infrastructure, biotechnology, climate and environment, energy, advanced materials, and quantum technologies. Award sizes and co-funding ratios depend on the bilateral agreement terms and are published in Chinese-language call guides on service.most.gov.cn.

Foreign institutions seeking to participate should identify whether their country has an active bilateral S&T agreement with China that carries a mirror call from their own national funding agency. The Chinese partner institution submits the lead application via service.most.gov.cn; the foreign partner applies through their national programme simultaneously. Programme enquiries on the Chinese side can be directed to CISTC at cistc.gov.cn. Application materials on the MOST side are in Chinese; documentation requirements and budget rules follow MOST NKP templates (2021 templates confirmed on service.most.gov.cn).