Natural science funds can be divided into general projects, key projects, major projects, major research plans, national science funds for outstanding young scholars, overseas, Hong Kong and Macao young scholars cooperative research funds, innovative research group science funds, national basic science talent training funds, special projects, co-funded projects and international (regional) cooperation and exchange projects. Some fund categories can be further refined through subcategory descriptions and comments. All these types of funding have their own emphasis and complement each other, and * * * together constitute the current natural science fund funding system.
Key projects are another important level in the funding system of the National Natural Science Foundation, which mainly support scientific and technological workers to grasp the forefront of world science in combination with national needs and carry out in-depth and systematic innovative research in important research fields or new disciplines with good foundation and accumulation in China. The overall layout of key projects is basically in accordance with the five-year plan, and the research fields for accepting applications are determined every year, and guidelines are issued to guide applications; The application of key projects should reflect the principle of limited objectives, limited scale and prominent focus, attach importance to cross-cutting and infiltration, and make use of the conditions of existing important scientific bases. Under normal circumstances, it shall be undertaken by one unit, and there shall be no more than two cooperative research units when necessary. The research period is generally 4 years (unless otherwise specified).