Call for proposals between the NSFC (China) and the AEI (Spain) to fund joint research projects

The Research State Agency of Spain (AEI) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) plan to launch a pilot call in 2026 to fund joint research projects between research groups in Spain and China.

This call follows up on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between both institutions on 9 September 2024.

Spanish research groups will be funded through a call entitled “Proyectos de investigación internacionales (INT)”, which will be published at the same time as the opening of the application submission period in April.

The reference document will be the corresponding INT call text, with which Spanish applicants must comply. In the attached guide (Guide CN_ES_Joint_Call_2026 Final clean.pdf), you will find a non-binding summary of relevant information for the research groups who wish to apply to this call.

Link: Aplicación de solicitud

SDIC: https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/p1/3381/2824/121525.html

NSFC-AEI: https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/p1/4199/121518.html

Schedule for Publication in April 2026.

Thematic Area Thematic Area (AEI)
Agricultural and agri-food sciences “Ciencias agrarias y agroalimentarias (CAA)” – AEI AREA 17
  • Expected number of projects to be funded: 5
  • Project duration: 3 years
  • Expected funding per project
  Max. Direct Costs IC TOTAL
AEI Grant 140.000 € 25% (35.000 €) 175.000 €
NSFC Grant 1.200.000 YUAN 30% (Direct Cost - Equipment Purchase)

(1) Additional € 30.000 (direct costs) per Spanish group can be granted if the work plan includes substantial experimental tasks

Información adicional: int.solicitud@aei.gob.es bilat@aei.gob.es

NSFC website: https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/