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New Policy Explained: What Changes Have Been Made to the 2026 National Natural Science Foundation of China Application and Completion Policies?

　　Recently, in accordance with the arrangements for the administration of funding under the National Natural Science Foundation of China (hereinafter referred to as the “Science Fund”), a notice has been issued regarding matters related to the submission of applications and the final reporting of projects for the 2026 fiscal year.

　　

 

　　Image source: National Natural Science Foundation of China

　　If you continue to rely on the 2025 application experience and approach when preparing your 2026 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) project, you may encounter discrepancies in policy alignment, thereby affecting both the application process and the efficiency of project completion. The 2026 NSFC policies governing applications and final reports have been adjusted at several key stages. This article provides guidance that better aligns with the new requirements, helping to ensure a smooth and efficient application and completion process.

　　Project Application: Matters Concerning the Applicant and Key Participants

　　Change 1: Project Funding Management Approach

　　(1) Regarding the scope of application of the lump-sum system:

　　

 

　　Image source: National Natural Science Foundation of China

　　In 2026, the system will be restructured to include Youth Science Fund projects (divided into Categories A, B, and C) and pilot Basic Research Projects for Young Students, while the lump-sum funding mechanism for the Excellent Young Scientists Fund and the National Outstanding Youth Science Fund will be discontinued.

　　(II) Budget Requirements for Partner Organizations:

　　For new collaborative research institutions established in 2026, the division of responsibilities and the cooperation agreement (contract) shall be determined through consultation. When transferring funds, each party shall prepare its own budget, which will then be consolidated by the applicant into a master budget for submission.

　　(3) Scope of Budget Review:

　　In 2026, the budget review requirement for the “Continuation Funding Program for Outstanding Research Groups (formerly Basic Science Centers)” was eliminated.

　　Original Policy Text

　　The funding management approach for National Natural Science Foundation projects is divided into two models: the lump-sum system and the budgetary system. Starting in 2026, the Youth Science Fund projects (Categories A, B, and C) and the pilot‑established Basic Research Projects for Young Students will adopt the lump-sum system, under which applicants are not required to prepare a project budget at the time of application. All other project types will follow the budgetary system; applicants must, in accordance with the “Fund Management Measures” and relevant regulations, and guided by the fundamental principles of “goal relevance, policy compliance, and economic rationality,” carefully and truthfully prepare their project budgets based on the actual research needs of the project. Rigorous review of budgets will be conducted for major national scientific instrument development projects and major projects. For applications involving collaborative research institutions, both the applicant and the participating researchers from the collaborating institution shall jointly determine the division of research tasks and, in consultation with their respective institutions, draft a collaborative research agreement (contract). In cases where funds for collaborative research are transferred as mutually agreed upon, the project applicant and the participating researchers shall each prepare separate project budgets corresponding to their respective research responsibilities, subject to approval by their respective institutions.

　　Change No. 2: Standards for Reporting Individual Contributions

　　In 2026, it will be explicitly required that when reporting research outcomes, the order of authors (inventors) must not be altered; authors must accurately indicate their own names and contributions. Falsely designating oneself as the first author or corresponding author, or exaggerating one’s individual contributions, is strictly prohibited. The scope of data collection will be expanded to include all types of project applicants and key members of related project teams.

　　Original Policy Text

　　Applicants shall use the information system to invite principal investigators to complete their personal CVs online and upload the system‑generated PDF files of these CVs. For representative papers listed in the CV, applicants must submit full‑text PDF versions of publicly published works; for representative monographs, they should upload scanned PDF copies of the book’s cover, abstract, table of contents, copyright page, and other relevant pages.

　　When completing applications and reporting research outcomes such as papers, applicants and principal investigators shall, in accordance with the actual circumstances at the time of publication, accurately and properly list all authors (including inventors or contributors) and maintain the correct order of authorship; they must not alter the sequence of authors. For representative publications listed in personal CVs, applicants must also truthfully indicate their own authorship and contributions, refraining from falsely designating themselves as first author or corresponding author, from modifying the intended meaning of the author order, and from exaggerating their individual contributions. The scope of collecting information on individual contributions to representative works applies to applicants for all types of projects, as well as to core members of Innovation Research Group Projects and Excellence Research Group Projects.

　　Change No. 3: Several new detailed provisions have been added, including those related to professional titles and AI usage.

　　(1) Application Amendment:

　　The structural framework of the 2026 General Program and Young Scientists Fund Project (Category C) application forms has been optimized; please download the latest version and complete it.

　　Original Policy Text

　　For applications submitted in 2026 for the General Program, the Young Scientists Fund Program (Category C), the Regional Science Fund Program, the Key Project, the Young Scientists Fund Program (Category B), the Young Scientists Fund Program (Category A), the Innovative Research Group Program, the Outstanding Research Group Program, the Key International (Regional) Cooperation Research Program, the Collaborative Innovation Research Team Program, the National Major Scientific Instrument Development Program, the Joint Fund Program, and the Major Project, the research duration will be automatically generated by the information system based on the project type and cannot be modified by the applicant.

　　To reduce the administrative burden on researchers and enhance the quality of applications, the structural framework of the 2026 General Program and Young Scientists Fund (Category C) application forms has been revised. Applicants are required to download and complete the latest version of the application form through the information system.

　 　(II) Professional Title Entry:

　　The valid appointment title must be accurately completed (for internally appointed titles, the appointing institution must possess the requisite review qualifications), and the affiliated institution is responsible for verification.

　　Original Policy Text

　　Applicants and key participants shall truthfully and accurately declare their valid professional titles held at the host institution or the collaborating research institution. (If the title is an internal appointment, the appointing institution must possess the relevant authority to confer such titles.) The submission of false title information is strictly prohibited. The host institution shall verify the title information of applicants and key participants to ensure compliance with the aforementioned requirements.

　 　(3) AI Usage Guidelines:

　　Generative AI may be used to track research developments and organize references, but its outputs must be manually verified for accuracy, with full disclosure of usage and proper attribution as required. The direct use of AI-generated proposals or unverified content is strictly prohibited.

　　Original Policy Text

　　When preparing their application, applicants who rely on generative artificial intelligence technologies to track research developments and collect and organize references must have the authenticity and accuracy of AI‑generated information and references manually verified. Applicants shall assume responsibility for the content they use, provide a complete and truthful disclosure of its usage, and label such content in accordance with relevant national regulations, including the Measures for the Labeling of AI‑Generated Synthetic Content and the Guidelines on Responsible Research Conduct (2023). Labeling methods may include, but are not limited to, adding appropriate textual notices at appropriate locations at the beginning and end of the text. Applicants must not submit applications containing content directly generated by generative AI, nor may they use unverified AI‑generated material.

　　(4) Pre-Submission Service:

　　Applicants for the Outstanding Research Group Program may submit a preliminary application between March 11 and 13, 2026. The National Natural Science Foundation of China will provide a pre‑submission inquiry service to verify compliance with the joint limits on the number of projects that can be concurrently supported under national science and technology programs.

　　(5) Similarity Alert:

　　Prior to submitting the project application, applicants shall carefully review the notice regarding similarity in the content of the application and obtain the consent of all principal investigators and collaborating research institutions for the entire set of application materials.

　　02 Core Changes in Project Closure

　　Change 1: Matters Concerning the Project Leader

　　The basis for preparing budgets under the budgetary and lump-sum systems has been refined; departments responsible for new asset management have been brought into the clearance process; December 31 has been designated as the cut‑off date for final accounts; and expenditure reporting has been standardized. For consolidated final accounts involving multiple entities, transfers of funds are subject to specific restrictions; when surplus exceeds 30%, the underlying reasons and plans for its utilization must be explained; and the wording used in final‑account titles has been simplified.

　　Original Policy Text

　　In 2026, the project principal shall, in accordance with the “Fund Management Measures” and relevant regulations, as well as the specific requirements set forth in the “Instructions for Preparing the Final Accounts of National Natural Science Foundation Projects under the Budgetary or Lump-Sum Funding Systems,” promptly reconcile accounts and assets in coordination with the research, finance, and asset management departments, prepare the final accounts accurately, and ensure that the financial inflows, outflows, and balances are reflected truthfully and comprehensively. Expenditure amounts must be reported strictly in line with the final‑account closing date—December 31, unless otherwise specified in the project guidelines—and any expenditures incurred after the closing date shall be recorded under the surplus funds section. Discrepancies between the final‑account data and the actual expenditure amounts are prohibited. For projects jointly undertaken by multiple institutions involving fund transfers, both the project principal and the participating researchers from the collaborating institutions shall each prepare their own final accounts; after review by their respective institutions, these shall be consolidated by the project principal. For projects with a surplus‑funds ratio exceeding 30%, the project principal shall provide a detailed explanation of the factors contributing to the surplus and outline a plan for the subsequent use of these funds.

　　03 Project Progress Report, Annual Management Report, and Regulations on Lump-Sum Funding Management

　　Change 1: Filing of Regulations on Lump-Sum Management

　　In 2026, for newly approved entities that were not yet registered in 2025, the deadline for new registration will be extended to the end of June, and the deadline for amended registration will be extended to the end of the year. The name of the required documentation has been refined to “Internal Management Regulations,” and additional regulatory measures have been introduced, including orders to make corrections and the establishment of credibility‑evaluation records.

　　Original Policy Text

　　In accordance with the Measures for the Administration of Funds and other relevant provisions, host institutions adopting the lump-sum funding system must formulate internal management regulations for such funding and file them with the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Host institutions that were first approved to implement the lump-sum system in 2025 but have not yet completed filing shall submit their internally developed lump-sum management regulations to the National Natural Science Foundation of China for record by the end of June 2026. For those that have previously filed but have since revised their regulations, they must resubmit the updated regulations to the Foundation for record before the end of the year in which the revised regulations were issued. Host institutions that fail to file or fail to file in a timely manner may, depending on the circumstances, be subject to corrective measures, inclusion in the host institution’s credibility evaluation dossier, and other appropriate actions by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

　 　04 Other Precautions

　　

 

　　Image source: National Natural Science Foundation of China

　　2026

　　(1) The application, project progress report, and final/achievement report shall not contain any content listed in the State Regulations on the Confidentiality of Science and Technology as falling within the scope of state scientific and technological secrets; nor shall they include any classified or sensitive information that violates regulations on scientific and technological confidentiality and security.

　　(2) It is prohibited to use application forms, project progress reports, or final/achievement reports directly generated by generative artificial intelligence, nor to rely on unverified generated content.

　　(3) The authorship, order of authors, and contributions attributed to research outputs such as papers, books, and patents in the application, project progress report, and final/achievement report shall be truthful and accurate.

　　(4) For research outcomes (including patents), both the project principal investigator and all participants shall accurately acknowledge funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and cite the corresponding project approval number. When the National Natural Science Foundation serves as the primary funding source or plays a major role in supporting the research, it shall be listed first in the acknowledgments.

　　(5) The Guidelines are scheduled to be published on the National Natural Science Foundation of China website in mid-January 2026.

　　(6) It is recommended that paper-based materials, such as final reports and outcome reports, be printed on both sides and bound.

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