The National Natural Science Foundation supports basic research and applied basic research of natural science facing the whole country. In accordance with the work orientation of "creating a research environment conducive to innovation and promoting original innovation" and the evaluation principle of "relying on experts, promoting democracy, selecting the best support, and being fair and reasonable", priority is given to supporting basic research with important scientific significance or important application prospects, especially research that conforms to the international scientific development trend, is strategic, forward-looking, basic and explores new scientific and technological fields, as well as research that meets the long-term needs of China's socialist modernization.
The projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation are divided into three levels:
I. general items, including:
(1) Free application projects are the main part of the work funded by the National Natural Science Foundation, accounting for more than 80% of the total funds of general funded projects. Centralized acceptance and review once a year;
(2) The project of Youth Science Fund is the same as the free application project in terms of topic selection and application procedures, but the applicant must be at least years old.
Young scientists under the age of 35, who have obtained doctoral degrees (or have intermediate titles or above), can independently carry out research work, have active academic thoughts and have pioneering and innovative spirit;
(3) The regional science fund project is a fund specially established to support the scientific research work of research institutions and institutions of higher learning affiliated to remote, ethnic minorities and areas with weak scientific foundation.
Two, key projects, mainly aimed at the key scientific problems in the development of disciplines in China and new growth points in disciplines, to carry out in-depth research.
Three, major projects, mainly for some major scientific and technological problems in China's science and technology, national economy and social development, the organization of interdisciplinary, cross-unit, cross-departmental joint research, which belongs to the directional research topic.