"Natural Science Fund" generally refers to the fund projects established by various countries to encourage the innovation and development of natural science. Famous ones are National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Science Foundation of the United States, Irish Science Foundation, Czech Science Foundation, European Science Foundation, etc. In China, it generally refers to the National Natural Science Foundation. In addition, provinces and regions often set up natural science funds at corresponding levels.

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.