Notification of application for Key Program of Shenzhen Fundamental Research 2025"Next-Generation Information and Computing Technology (First Batch)"
The Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission has initiated the application for Key Program of Shenzhen Fundamental Research 2025 "Next-Generation Information and Computing Technology (First Batch)"
I. Collection Fields
Focusing on the development needs of Shenzhen's "20+8" industrial clusters, Key Program Topics of Shenzhen Fundamental Research 2025 have opened the first batch of applications in the field of "New Generation Information and Computing Technology." This batch of projects adopts a combination of "specified topics" and "custom topics." "Specified topics" refer to research content explicitly outlined in the application guidelines, while "custom topics" allow project leaders to propose their own research content within the scope of the guidelines, based on Shenzhen's industrial development needs and their own professional expertise.
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II.Funding Intensity and Method
Funding Intensity: Up to 24 key projects will be approved in this batch. Each key project will receive funding support of no more than RMB 3 million (subject to the amount specified in the application guidelines) and shall not exceed the requested project amount. Project leaders should apply for individual key projects.
Support Method: Funding will be provided upfront, with funds disbursed in batches according to the project plan.
Project Duration: The research period for projects is three years.
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III.Eligibility Requirements
(I) Applicant:
Each project shall have one leader, who must be a full-time employee of our university, undertake substantive tasks in the project research, have experience in undertaking basic research projects, and hold a senior professional title. Postdoctoral researchers and individuals currently pursuing graduate degrees are not eligible to apply as project leaders for this project.
(II) Project Team Members (including the Project Leader):
1. The core project team shall consist of no more than five members (including the project leader), all of whom must be full-time employees of our university, with at least 60% being full-time researchers at our university. If a team member’s affiliated institution is not our university, that institution shall be regarded as a collaborative unit, and the individual shall be considered a member of the collaborative unit.
2. At least 50% (inclusive) of the project team members (who must be full-time employees, excluding trainees or students) shall be full-time employees of our university and must have continuously paid social insurance in Shenzhen for one year or more (as of October 2025). The list of project team members in all application materials (including the application form, feasibility study report, social insurance payment certificates, etc.) must be consistent.
3. Our university shall undertake the majority of the project’s research and development tasks, and the proportion of financial support funds allocated to our university shall be greater than that allocated to collaborative units. For collaborative units that are higher education institutions or research institutions outside Shenzhen, they may participate in the allocation of financial support funds, but the total amount allocated to such units shall not exceed 20% of the project’s total financial support. For collaborative units outside Shenzhen that are enterprises, healthcare institutions, social organizations, or other entities, they shall not participate in the allocation of financial support funds but may freely participate in the allocation of self-raised funds. Financial support funds allocated to collaborative units outside Shenzhen may be used for direct costs (excluding equipment costs) and indirect costs related to the project. Our university shall assume primary responsibility for project implementation and management, guiding and supervising collaborative units outside Shenzhen to use and manage Shenzhen municipal financial funds (including funds transferred outside the city) in compliance with relevant regulations on the management of Shenzhen science and technology research and development funds (including negative lists). In cases where financial support funds must be returned in accordance with laws, regulations, policies, or contract provisions, the lead unit shall be responsible for refunding the full amount to be returned.
4. The number of collaborative units shall not exceed one. The application form must include the name of the collaborative unit, and a collaboration agreement shall be provided, clearly defining the main tasks undertaken by each party, the allocation of funds, intellectual property ownership, and other important matters.
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IV. Application Materials
(I) Applicants shall log in to the Shenzhen Science and Technology Business Management System (https://sticapply.sz.gov.cn/) to complete the application form online. If you do not have a registered account for the system, please send your full name, type of identification document, identification document number, email address, and mobile number to xuyaqing@cuhk.edu.cn to open an account.
(II) Project team members (including the project leader) must first be included in the Research Personnel Database or Expert Database before filling out the project application. Those already in the database must ensure that their information is up to date.
For foreign nationals to be included in the database, they must first undergo real-name verification at an administrative service hall for logging into the Guangdong Unified Identity Authentication Platform. Foreign nationals holding a Permanent Residence ID Card for Foreigners can register an account by searching for the Guangdong Government Services Website on a computer, clicking "Log In" in the upper right corner, selecting the account and password method to log in or register, entering the account registration portal of the Provincial Unified Identity Authentication Platform, filling in personal information, and submitting the registration. They can then verify their identity by scanning a QR code or using WeChat on a mobile phone to scan the YueXianQian QR code for facial recognition to create an account. Those holding a passport or foreign identification documents must personally bring their real-name verification materials to any real-name verification window in Guangdong Province to upgrade to Level 5 L3 through window verification.
(III) The following supporting documents must be uploaded to the system (copies must bear an official seal):
1. Original collaboration agreement (if there are collaborating units), stamped with the official seals of both the lead unit and the collaborating unit(s).
2. Copies of labor contracts between key project team members and the employing unit (stamped by the employing unit or its human resources department).
3. A commitment letter confirming that 50% or more of the project team members are full-time employees of the lead unit, along with copies of social insurance payment certificates in Shenzhen for one consecutive year or more (as of October 2025). These must be provided strictly in the order of the project team member list in the application. For personnel from overseas or higher education institutions in Shenzhen established in accordance with national standards and approval procedures who have not paid social insurance in Shenzhen, the lead unit shall provide relevant documentation confirming that the individual has worked full-time in Shenzhen for one year or more.
4. Original commitment letter for self-raised funds (if enterprises are involved). The total amount of self-raised funds in the commitment letter must match the amount reported in the application and must not be less than the applied financial support funds.
5. Original project commitment letter.
6. For projects requiring scientific and technological ethics review or involving scientific and technological security, provide copies of approval or filing documents as required by national laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines, initial review approval from the ethics review committee, or ethics review opinions for application use.
7. Copies of the applicant’s senior professional title certificate, and materials demonstrating representative research achievements and academic level over the past three years (e.g., papers, monographs, patents, high-level talent certificates, award certificates, etc.).
8. Optional: Original feasibility study report for the project (optional).
9. Optional: Copies of qualification materials such as intellectual property certificates (including patents and software copyrights, with validity periods ending after the project application deadline), novelty search reports, inspection reports, award certificates, etc. (optional).
V. Important Notes
1. The expected outcomes in the application should be formulated based on the actual project circumstances. Avoid overstatement to prevent failure in meeting acceptance criteria during the project review.
2. Regulation on Limited Submissions:
a. Applicants (Project Leaders) whose affiliated institutions are universities, research institutes, or healthcare institutions may apply for only one Key Program project in the same year. Applicants (Project Leaders) who have applied in the same year as the project leader for the Shenzhen Natural Science Foundation Youth Program (Category A or B), General Program, or Key Program are ineligible to apply as the project leader for the Key Program.
b. The total number of Shenzhen municipal science and technology plan projects (excluding platform, post-subsidy programs, and projects for which a closure application has been submitted and accepted) for which the key project members (including the project leader) are applying (including as project leader and key member) and currently undertaking (including as project leader and key member) must not exceed three.
c. Applicants (Project Leaders) who were awarded Key Basic Research Programs in 2024 are ineligible to apply.
d. The proposed Key Program must not duplicate projects already funded by national, provincial, or municipal science and technology plans or Natural Science Foundation programs.
3. Intellectual Property
Published papers should be related to the research content of this project. The first author or corresponding author must be a project team member, and the affiliated unit must be the project lead unit or a collaborating unit. Patent content should be related to the contracted research, and the project lead unit or collaborating unit should be the patentee.
4. The applying institution, key project members (including the project leader), and other members must not be subject to disciplinary measures restricting their eligibility to apply for financial support projects. They must not be listed on the overdue project closure application list or the overdue refund list. Project team members must not be listed on the failed project closure list.
5. Applicants are prohibited from using intermediary agencies for the application process.
6. The same project must not be submitted multiple times or to multiple programs. If the project proposal is based on previous projects funded by municipal science and technology plans or other organizations (such as the Ministry of Science and Technology, National Natural Science Foundation, Provincial Department of Science and Technology, etc.), the application must clearly explain the differences, similarities, and the relationship of inheritance and development between the new and previous projects.
7. For projects involving scientific and technological ethics and safety (e.g., artificial intelligence, clinical research, biology, information technology, ecology, etc.), the applying unit must comply with relevant national laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines. If a scientific and technological ethics review is required by regulation, the applying unit must provide the relevant review and approval documents that meet national legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements. Research projects initiated by applicants from healthcare institutions that require filing in the National Medical Research Registration and Filing Information System must be duly registered and filed promptly after the project is approved.
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VI. Application Deadline
1.? For Annexes 5, 6, and 7: Please have each school/college collect them uniformly and submit them to the Research Administration Office for stamping by November 25, 2025. The stamped documents will be returned to the project leaders for uploading to the system.
2. Relevant ethics applications must be sent to the respective committee's email address by November 25, 2025.
3. The internal university deadline for online submission of the application form and attachments is 12:00 noon on December 3, 2025.
4. For stamping the signature and seal page of the hardcopy project application (Project leaders can print this page after submitting the application online and passing the preliminary review by the Research Administration Office): Please have each school/college collect them uniformly and submit them to the Research Administration Office by 17:00 on December 5, 2025. The stamped pages will be returned to the project leaders for uploading to the system.
No hardcopy materials are required at the application stage. If approved, submission methods will be notified separately. All materials requiring official stamps must be submitted by the schools/colleges strictly according to the above deadlines. The Research Administration Office will not process late submissions.
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Contact Person: Xu Yaqing
Email:xuyaqing@cuhk.edu.cn
Tel:23515209
Annex 1 Application Guide.docx
Annex3-1 Aoolication Form Template.docx
Annex 3-2 Application Report.docx
Annex 3-3 Application Form Guideline.pdf
Annex 4 Key points of formal review.doc
Annex 5 The letter of integrity.docx
Annex 6 Acknowledegement Form.docx
