Shanghai Basic Research Explorer Program

Shanghai Basic Research Explorer Program

Supports co-funded basic research in Shanghai through a municipal-STCSM explorer model with enterprise contribution.

The Shanghai Basic Research Explorer Program, administered by the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission, is a co-funded basic-research scheme that pairs STCSM with a Shanghai-registered enterprise or industry association acting as co-funder. It supports basic research tied to Shanghai's key and emerging industries, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors, medical technology, and advanced materials. The model is deliberately industry-coupled: research directions are co-directed with the corporate partner, aligning fundamental inquiry with industrial priorities.

The program is structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a fixed-amount grant. The corporate co-funder must contribute at least CNY 3,000,000 per year, and per-project award amounts are not fixed, instead being determined by the STCSM and co-funder arrangement. Both the research-performing entity and the co-funder must be Shanghai-registered. Eligible performers include for-profit companies, universities, research organizations, and non-profits; individuals cannot apply directly. The program operates on a rolling basis with multiple project batches per year, and runs under policy document 沪科规〔2025〕4号, effective from September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2030.

Because funding is contingent on securing a qualifying corporate co-funder, the central task for applicants is to line up a Shanghai-registered enterprise or industry association willing to commit the minimum annual contribution. Strong submissions present basic-research questions with clear relevance to the partner's industry and a co-directed work plan. Applicants should confirm both parties' Shanghai registration and the co-funder's financial commitment before entering a batch, since these conditions gate eligibility under the management measures.