Shenzhen International Science and Technology Cooperation Project

Shenzhen International Science and Technology Cooperation Project

Supports Shanghai teams with international peers through STIC cooperation funding for joint research exchanges.

The Shenzhen International Science and Technology Cooperation Project is a grant programme administered by the Shenzhen Science, Technology and Innovation Commission (STIC) to support cross-border R&D partnerships between organisations based in Shenzhen and international counterparts. The programme funds activity across Shenzhen's strategic and future industries, including new-generation information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, green and low-carbon energy, biomedicine, the digital economy, new materials, marine economy, synthetic biology, aerospace, and quantum information. Three sub-tracks are available: independent cooperation projects (joint R&D), event exchange projects (international conferences and workshops), and personnel exchange projects (researcher mobility).

Each sub-track is capped at CNY 1,000,000 per award, with government support covering no more than 50 percent of eligible Chinese-side costs — the remainder must be met through matching funds from the applicant or partner. Eligible applicants are enterprises, universities, research institutions, and other innovation entities registered in Shenzhen that have established a partnership with an international collaborator. The most recently confirmed cycle (2024) closed on 2 February 2024 via the Shenzhen S&T Management System portal.

The programme operates on an annual call cycle. Organisations with active international research partnerships or plans to establish joint R&D with Shenzhen-based counterparts should monitor STIC announcements for the next call window. Applications require documentation of the international partnership and a co-financing commitment to satisfy the matching-funds condition.