Public Call for the Joint Research Program of Scientists from Serbia and China

The Joint Research Program for Scientists from the Republic of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China supports collaborative research projects led by researchers from Serbia and China. The programme provides up to €400,000 per project—€200,000 from Serbia’s Science Fund and €200,000 from China’s National Natural Science Foundation—for projects lasting up to 36 months.

What Is the Serbia-China Joint Research Program?

The Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia has launched a public call for project proposals under the Joint Research Program for scientists from Serbia and China.

The programme is designed to strengthen international scientific cooperation, promote research excellence and support the development of new knowledge and technologies.

Researchers from both countries can establish collaborative teams, define their research agendas and work with relevant scientific research organisations in Serbia, China and internationally.

What Does the Program Support?

The programme supports both fundamental and applied research.

Eligible research areas include:

Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Engineering and Technology
Biotechnical Sciences
Biomedical Sciences
Artificial Intelligence

Projects should demonstrate meaningful scientific cooperation between researchers from Serbia and China.

How Much Funding Is Available?

The total programme budget is €4 million.

Each approved project can receive up to €400,000 in total funding:

€200,000 from the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia
€200,000 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China

Projects can run for a maximum of three years, or 36 months.

Key Objectives of the Program

The Serbia-China research programme aims to:

Develop new scientific knowledge.
Support technological innovation.
Facilitate knowledge transfer.
Promote technology transfer.
Strengthen cooperation between Serbian and Chinese researchers.
Build long-term international research partnerships.
Increase the visibility of participating research organisations.
Support the institutional development of research organisations.
Improve the scientific and practical relevance of research.

Who Is Eligible?

The call is intended for researchers and scientific research organisations from the Republic of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China working together on joint research projects.

Applicants should form appropriate international research teams and collaborate with relevant scientific research organisations.

Because the programme is specifically structured as a Serbia-China joint research initiative, proposals should demonstrate substantive participation from researchers in both countries.

Why Does This Funding Matter?

International research collaboration can accelerate scientific discovery by combining expertise, infrastructure, data and research perspectives from different countries.

This programme provides a framework for Serbian and Chinese researchers to work together on both fundamental scientific questions and applied challenges.

Potential long-term benefits include:

Stronger Serbia-China research networks.
Joint development of scientific and technological solutions.
Greater knowledge and technology exchange.
Increased international research visibility.
New opportunities for researchers and institutions.
Potential commercialisation and practical application of research outcomes.

How the Program Works

Step 1: Identify a Research Area

Researchers should identify a research problem that fits within one of the programme’s eligible fields.

Step 2: Build a Serbia-China Research Team

Develop a collaborative team involving appropriate researchers and scientific research organisations from Serbia and China.

Step 3: Develop the Joint Research Agenda

Partners can jointly define the research questions, methodology, activities and expected outcomes.

The proposal should clearly explain why international collaboration is important for achieving the project’s objectives.

Step 4: Prepare the Research Proposal

The proposal should establish:

The scientific problem being addressed.
Research objectives.
Methodology and work plan.
Roles of Serbian and Chinese researchers.
Expected scientific or technological outcomes.
Knowledge and technology-transfer potential.
Collaboration and internationalisation benefits.
Project budget and duration.

Step 5: Develop the Budget

The maximum total funding request is €400,000 per project, divided equally between the Serbian and Chinese funding components.

Step 6: Submit the Joint Proposal

Researchers should follow the submission procedures and requirements established under the public call by the relevant Serbian and Chinese funding bodies.

Tips for a Strong Proposal

Demonstrate genuine collaboration: Clearly define what researchers from each country will contribute.
Explain the scientific value: Show why the research is important and how it advances existing knowledge.
Highlight joint benefits: Explain how both Serbia and China will benefit from the collaboration.
Connect research to outcomes: Identify potential scientific, technological or societal applications.
Build a complementary team: Select partners whose expertise, facilities or experience strengthen the project.
Keep the budget justified: Link major costs directly to planned research activities.
Include knowledge transfer: Explain how findings, methods or technologies will be shared between participating institutions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Submitting a project without meaningful Serbia-China collaboration.
Failing to establish clear roles for both research teams.
Proposing research outside the eligible scientific fields.
Providing a weak justification for international cooperation.
Requesting costs that are not clearly connected to project activities.
Using vague research objectives or expected outcomes.
Overlooking knowledge and technology-transfer opportunities.

Key Program Details

Programme: Joint Research Program for Scientists from Serbia and China
Funding bodies: Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia and National Natural Science Foundation of China
Countries: Serbia and China
Total programme budget: €4,000,000
Maximum per project: €400,000
Serbian contribution: Up to €200,000
Chinese contribution: Up to €200,000
Maximum duration: 36 months
Research types: Fundamental and applied research
Eligible fields: Natural sciences and mathematics, engineering and technology, biotechnical sciences, biomedical sciences, and artificial intelligence
Main purpose: Joint research, scientific excellence, knowledge transfer and international cooperation

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding can each project receive?

Each approved project can receive up to €400,000, consisting of €200,000 from the Serbian Science Fund and €200,000 from China’s National Natural Science Foundation.

How long can projects last?

Projects can have a maximum duration of 36 months, equivalent to three years.

Which research areas are supported?

The programme supports Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Engineering and Technology, Biotechnical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, and Artificial Intelligence.

Does the programme support fundamental research?

Yes. Both fundamental and applied research are supported.

Who is the programme intended for?

The programme is designed for researchers from Serbia and China working collaboratively with relevant scientific research organisations.

What are the main objectives of the programme?

The programme aims to develop new knowledge and technologies, facilitate knowledge and technology transfer, strengthen international research cooperation and increase the visibility and development of participating research organisations.

Can researchers define their own research agenda?

Yes. The programme allows researchers to define their research agendas and form collaborative teams, provided the proposed research fits the programme’s eligible areas and requirements.

Conclusion

The Serbia-China Joint Research Program provides substantial funding for collaborative scientific research between the two countries. With up to €400,000 per project for a maximum of three years, the programme offers researchers an opportunity to develop new knowledge and technologies while strengthening international partnerships, knowledge transfer and research excellence.