Such personnel can apply for general projects and youth science fund projects after consulting with the supporting units registered with the Natural Science Foundation of China and obtaining the consent of the supporting units, and may not apply for other types of projects.

In the early 1980s, the National Natural Science Foundation was put forward by 89 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in a letter to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, with the aim of promoting the reform of China's science and technology system and changing the allocation of scientific research funds.