On August 24, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) announced the results of its centralized received applications in 2023.

The number of approved projects for the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) reached a new high, with 278 projects receiving funding of a total of 163.38 million yuan.

Up to now, the University has received funding for various projects in 2023, including 113 General Program projects, 137 Young Scientists Fund projects, eight Key Program projects, four National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars projects, seven Excellent Young Scientists Fund projects, and one Innovative Research Group project (approved for the first time), with an overall funding rate of 26%.

The funding for the Innovative Research Group project from the Department of Earth Sciences, led by Yan ZHENG, Chair Professor of the School of Environmental Science and Engineering at SUSTech, is the first approved innovative research group project of the University and the first in Shenzhen. The project has been approved with a funding of 10 million yuan.

In 2023, the types of fund projects approved by the University cover all 16 NSFC project types.

Compared with last year, the total number of projects approved by the NSFC increased by 18, and the total funding increased by 11.35 million yuan. Overall, SUSTech ranks first in Guangdong Province for its funding rate. Additionally, the number of key projects approved by the University has increased significantly.

In the pre-defense phase of key projects, the Office of Research and related departments organized senior experts from the University to provide guidance and suggestions for the applicants; as a result, eight projects were approved.

SUSTech attaches great importance to the NSFC program, as it is an important foundation for cultivating scientific research teams and improving the level of scientific research at the University.