National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) have invited universities, research centres and institutions to submit joint proposals for Research and Development projects, as per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between institutions.
According to an official of PSF, “The call for Proposals for Joint Research and Development Projects with National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) is open in the priority areas including Green technologies (mainly focusing development of green sources of energy generation which may have industrial implications); Nanotechnology (based on the socioeconomic needs of Pak-China) and Computing sciences (Limited to Augmented/Virtual reality, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing).” About the guidelines for proposal submission, the official informed that Chinese and Pakistani scientists should come to an agreement with each other using their own means of communication and jointly develop and complete their project proposal before submitting it to NSFC and PSF. NSFC and PSF did not match the collaborating partners. Chinese or Pakistani Collaborator or partner should necessarily be identified in each submitted Joint Research Project Proposal submitted individually from any side without a Chinese or Pakistani collaborator or partner would not be processed further. Joint Research and Development Projects must be basic or applied research with strong implications for the development of Industry, Technology, Process, Techniques, Prototype, Commercialization and Innovation, leading to socioeconomic uplift of both countries. “The joint research proposal which will be applied in nature will be financed on priority,” the official added. A project proposal must provide detailed information on the objectives and justification of the year-wise planned joint research work, the methodology to be followed, the composition of each research team and the intended time schedule.
The prescribed Proforma for submission of Joint Research Projects should be duly filled.