The objective of the program is to fund short-term scientific missions (1 to 3 months) with a view of fostering sustained collaboration between Chinese and Quebec researchers who have already conducted research with significant results in the areas of Geology and Climate Change or Optics-Photonics. The program is offered in partnership between the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). This opportunity is opened to both Quebec and Chinese researchers, though only Quebec researcher can submit an application through FRQNT. Chinese researchers should visit NSFC website for more information on the application process (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab434/info68684.htm). The following information only applies to Quebec researchers.

For Quebec applicants, the program is open to researchers who:

• are Canadian citizens or permanent residents (holding a permanent resident card);
• are resident of the province of Quebec;
• are working in the research areas targeted in the program in a Quebec college or university.
• have received a letter of invitation from a Chinese researcher holding a faculty position in a university or an affiliated research institute that has been registered by NSFC as an eligible host institution;
• hold one of the following status: university researchers (CHU et CHUN), college researchers (CHC) or institutional researchers (CE). For a definition of the status, consult the Common General Rules.

For Chinese applicants, the program is open to researchers who:

• are Chinese citizens holding a faculty position in a university or affiliated research institute that has been registered by NSFC as eligible;
• are working in the research areas targeted in the program.
• are current or former grantees of an NSFC research project.

Submission of application

Each side of the team (Quebec and China) must nominate one Principal Investigator who will be responsible to submit the application.

The form

• The link to access the form for Quebec researchers is available in the Toolbox section of the FRQNT website.
• The link to access the form for the Chinese researchers is available here: (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab434/info68684.htm). The Principal Investigator in China must upload the Chinese proposal to the NSFC application system (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab434/info68684.htm) with the English application form submitted to FRQNT by the Quebec partner.

The CVs

• Each Quebec team member has to upload a complete Canadian Common CV (FRQNT style) to the application form. All the documents must be joined into a single PDF document and deposited by this link: https://cloud.frq.gouv.qc.ca/u/d/7a4ca85e4d/.
• Each Chinese team member has to upload an English CV using the CV template available in the Toolbox.

Eligible expenses

The Quebec part of the project budget can only be used for one or more of the following cost categories as described in the FRQ Common General Rules:

• Compensation, training and professional fees
• Travel and subsistence costs for Quebec researchers going to China and Chinese researchers going to Quebec
• Computer supplies, telecommunications and data banks
• Dissemination of research outcomes, reproduction, publishing, reprography or translation

The Chinese part of the project budget should comply with NSFC's regulations on budget use (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab434/info68684.htm).

Application timeline

Evaluation procedure

The procedure is divided in two steps:

STEP 1

The FRQNT and the NSFC will have each of the applications peer-reviewed by external experts.

STEP 2

The FRQNT and the NSFC will nominate a joint scientific evaluation committee. This committee will compare the applications and establish a ranking separating them in three categories:

• Proposal with the highest score: to be funded with the highest priority to the extent that the budget allows it
• Proposals with a score above the scientific excellence cut-off point: to be funded if the budget allows it (reserve list)
• Proposals with a score below the scientific excellence cut-off point: not to be funded

Evaluation criteria

The following selection criteria will be used for the evaluation process:

• Quality of research track record of Quebec and Chinese scientists
• Complementarities of the scientist's methodologies, subject-specific competencies and collaboration
• Exchange project added-value, if scientific collaboration already exists
• Scientific merit of the mission and potential benefits
• Justification for the mission
• Realism of the duration of the mission

Integrity of the evaluation process

The FRQNT and NSFC Board of directors are not involved in the scientific evaluation of funding applications, and at no time may researchers, students or institutional authorities make contact with the evaluation committee chairperson or members. The agencies have the right to withdraw an application from competition if there is any attempt to lobby the committee or sway the evaluation process.

Every person recruited to sit on an evaluation committee must comply with standard rules of confidentiality regarding the application packages, committee makeup, deliberations and recommendations. The evaluation committee chairperson, members and outside experts are required to disclose any conflicts of interest and must sign a written statement in this regard. For Quebec reviewers, refer to the FRQ Common General Rules.

The applicants shall address the intellectual property rights resulting from research conducted under the FRQNT-NSFC Bilateral Team Exchange Program, on a case by case basis, by taking into account the intellectual contribution of each participant to the research. For Quebec applicants, the management of their intellectual property rights shall be conducted in accordance with the FRQ Common General Rules and in accordance with the affiliated institutions' internal policy on intellectual property. For Chinese applicants, the management of their intellectual property rights shall be conducted in accordance with the NSFC Regulations on International (regional) Joint Research Program and in accordance with the affiliated institutions' internal policy on intellectual property.

The Program provides financial support (round-trip transportation and daily allowance) for one researcher. A maximum of four (4) individual grants per year will be offered in partnership between the FRQNT and NSFC to Quebec researchers.

The FRQNT will pay the round-trip transportation of Quebec researchers (up to CAD $ 2,500). These amounts can be revised anytime by the FRQNT. The NSFC will pay Quebec researchers an allowance as per local standards (22,500 RMB per month). This amount can be revised anytime by the NSFC.

The NSFC will pay the round-trip transportation of Chinese researchers (up to 12,000 yuan RMB). These amounts can be revised anytime by the NSFC. The FRQNT will pay Chinese researchers an allowance as per local standards (CAD $2 ,500 per month). This amount can be revised anytime by the FRQNT.

Travel and health insurances for the researchers for the duration of the mission will not be covered by the FRQNT or NSFC.

In no event shall the FRQNT and NSFC be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, incidental and consequential damages for personal injury or wrongful death) resulting from an accident while the researcher is in China.

In accepting the grant, applicants agree to comply with all the terms and conditions stipulated in the call and the general regulation of funding agencies that support them. It is the responsibility of the candidate to be aware of these terms and conditions.

Besides the clauses specific to their funding organization, in accepting the grant, the team will:

• submit to FRQNT and NSFC a final research report. FRQNT and NSFC will contact their respective awardees to inform them on the form it has to take.
• mention in any report, article or communication the funding organization supporting the project (FRQNT and NSFC).

For the NSFC

ZHANG Jiawei
Program Manager
Division of American and Oceanian Programs
Bureau of International Cooperation
National Natural Science Foundation of China
83 Shuangqing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, China
Phone: 86-10-6232-9053
zhangjiawei@nsfc.gov.cn

For the FRQNT

Laurence Martin Gosselin
Program Manager and International Partnerships
FRQNT
140, Grande Allée Est, office 450
Québec (Québec), Canada, G1R 5M8
Phone:  (418) 643-8560 extension 3455
laurence.martingosselin@frq.gouv.qc.ca