Horizon 2020 & EU-China Co-funding Mechanism Booklet Guideline for Chinese Researchers

Horizon 2020 & EU-China Co-funding Mechanism Booklet Guideline for Chinese Researchers Horizon 2020 & EU-China Co-funding Mechanism Booklet Guideline for Chinese Researchers

Table of Contents 1 Horizon 2020: the EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme... 2 2 International cooperation and great advantages to gain for Chinese researchers... 4 2.1 International cooperation... 4 2.2 A programme welcoming Chinese partners: Great advantages to gain. 4 2.3 New work programme 2018-2020... 5 3 Understand the procedure of Horizon 2020... 7 4 EU-China Co-Funding Mechanisms for Horizon 2020... 10 4.1 What is EU-China Co-Funding Mechanisms for Horizon 2020... 10 4.2 How to Apply for the Co-Funding Mechanisms... 11 5 Other Co-funding for Chinese researchers... 12 6 Frequently Asked Questions Horizon 2020... 14 7 Frequently Asked Questions - EU-China Co-funding Mechanism... 19 Annexes... 23 About DragonStar Plus... 23 About Euraxess... 23 Horizon 2020 National Contact Point (NCP) in China... 24 References and Useful Links... 26 Template Basic information of Proposal (CFM)... 30 Template for Proposal (CFM)... 31 i

Preface The European Union (EU) is one of the global leaders in Research, Innovation and Science. In 2014 the EU announced the Horizon 2020 Programme - the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme with nearly 80 billion EUR (i.e. about 650 billion RMB) of funding available over 7 years (2014-2020). Horizon 2020 is open to broad international cooperation and especially encourages Chinese Research and Innovation communities to be actively involved and to participate widely in this new programme. China is one of the EU s key international partners in research and innovation. The first EU-China Science and Technology (S&T) Cooperation Agreement was signed in 1998 providing a political, legal and administrative framework for coordinating and facilitating cooperative S&T activities between European legal entities and international partners. Today, the Sino-European cooperation shows growing dynamism. China and the EU cooperate in multilateral programmes and projects involving many countries which are often designed to tackle major global scientific challenges. Moreover, the EU and Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) recently announced the EU-China Co-Funding Mechanism (CFM) for the Horizon 2020. Under this scheme, 200 million RMB (28 million EUR) will be made available annually by MoST for China-based researchers and companies to participate in EU Horizon 2020 programme. On the European side, the EU Commission plans to provide over 100 million Euros per year to fund European entities in joint projects under Horizon 2020 with Chinese participants. This booklet was developed by Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação (SPI) and Beijing Software Enterprise Advisory Center (BSEAC), consortium partners of DragonStar Plus, a project funded by the EC within Horizon 2020. It provides practical guidance to Chinese researchers in order to explore the manifold opportunities provided by the new EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation - Horizon 2020. Epaminondas Christofilopoulos Coordinator, DragonStar Plus 1

1 Horizon 2020: the EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme that replaces the Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7, 2007 2013). It will run from 2014 to 2020 with a budget of nearly 80 billion EUR and lead to more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market. Horizon 2020 has been designed to deliver results that make a difference in people s lives. Built on three pillars Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership and Societal Challenges it will fund all types of activities, from frontier science to demonstration projects and close-to-market innovations. Horizon 2020 brings all EU-level funding for Research and Innovation under one roof, providing a single set of simplified rules and radically slashes red tape. The overarching goal is a more coherent and simpler programme that is easier to participate, especially for academia, research organisations and small and medium sized enterprises and businesses, from both European and non- European countries. The development of S&T cooperation between the EU and China is best reflected in the growing numbers of participations of Chinese partners in cooperative research projects funded by the EC s 5 th, 6 th and the 7 th Framework Programmes (FP5, FP6, and FP7). China was the third largest non-european participating country in FP7, after Russia and the US, with a total of 462 participations focusing on Health, Environment, Transport, ICT, Food, Agriculture, Fisheries and Biotechnology, Energy, and mobility of researchers. Horizon 2020, like its predecessor FP7, is fully open to international participation in all fields and areas. Chinese researchers, enterprises, research institutions and universities will be able to team up with their European partners to participate in projects under Horizon 2020 and make best use of Europe's excellent 2

opportunities in research and innovation. Through participation in Horizon 2020, Chinese researchers can gain great benefits from access to excellent knowledge, research data and connection to world-leading scientific networks and research teams. Horizon 2020 is built upon three main Pillars: Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership, and Societal Challenges. The programme has been able to integrate funding of research and innovation from independent programmes, allowing innovative projects to be supported from the laboratory to commercial exploitation. 3

2 International cooperation and great advantages to gain for Chinese researchers Horizon 2020 is open to the World. This means that participants from all over the world, regardless of their place of establishment or residence, can participate in most of the calls of Horizon 2020. In many cases, the EU will fund at least partly the participation of the international partners. International cooperation is a cross-cutting priority of Horizon 2020 following the EU's strategy for international cooperation in research and innovation. 2.1 International cooperation The international participation is a key element of Horizon 2020. Horizon 2020, like its predecessor FP7, is fully open to participants from all over countries in the world, including China. Specific targeted international cooperation activities are included in all sections of Horizon 2020 such as Societal Challenges, Enabling and Industrial Technologies and others. Applicants from non-eu countries (or "third country"') are always free to take part in Horizon 2020 programmes even if the call for proposals or topic text do not state this explicitly. Non-EU countries or third countries means any country or territory that is not one of the following: an EU country, or an overseas country or territory linked to an EU country. Some calls require a consortium to include participants based in specific non-eu countries in order to be eligible. If so, this requirement (and the countries concerned) will be specified in the applicable call for proposals and topic description. 2.2 A programme welcoming Chinese partners: Great advantages to gain In Horizon 2020, the EU has upgraded the status of emerging economies (BRIC countries) including China, considering that they have established the critical mass needed to cooperate with the EU on an equal foot. This means that within the general openness of Horizon 2020 Chinese participants will now have to provide their own funding, and only in exceptional cases will receive funding 4

from the EU. However, Chinese participants will be in a position to respond to calls also as Principal Coordinator (leader) and not, as it was in the past, only as participant. For the funding from the Chinese side, please refer the section of EU-China Co-funding Mechanism (CFM) for Horizon 2020. Chinese participation is welcomed in all Calls for Proposals of Horizon 2020. In the 2016/2017 calls, the topics are targeted cooperation with China including Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology, Water, Sustainable Urbanisation, ICT, Space, Aviation, Energy, Health, Transport and Advanced Manufacturing. In these flagged topics, the participation of Chinese partners is strongly encouraged and will bring add value to the proposals. China has become one of the EU's key international partners in research and innovation through the previous Framework Programme, FP7. For Horizon 2020, the EU alongside the Chinese government, set up a Co-funding Mechanism (CFM), available to support Chinese participants in their involvement in Horizon 2020 projects more details can be found in Section 4 of this Booklet. Overall, the international cooperation strategy of Horizon 2020 offers China a more active and balanced approach for cooperation focusing on mutual interest and common benefit. 2.3 New work programme 2018-2020 The work programme 2018-2020 is under preparation with stakeholder consultations and discussions with Member States on priorities, which have been outlined in informal working documents, namely 17 thematic scoping papers and one overarching document. The adoption and publication of the work programme is expected in October 2017. The following list presents the main priorities which have been identified for each part of the work programme for 2018-2020: Future and Emerging Technologies, Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions European research infrastructures (including einfrastructures) 5

LEIT - Information and communication technologies LEIT - Nanotechnologies, Advanced materials, Advanced manufacturing and processing, Biotechnology LEIT Space Access to risk finance Innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises Health, demographic change and wellbeing Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy Secure, clean and efficient energy Smart, green and integrated transport Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials Europe in a changing world inclusive, innovative and reflective Societies Secure societies Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens Spreading excellence and widening participation Science with and for society (SwafS) 6

3 Understand the procedure of Horizon 2020 To apply to Horizon 2020 calls, the eligible person or organisation must be an individual or organisation/institution constituted under the national law of the country where the person or organisation is based, and has the financial capacity to carry out the research tasks set out in the proposal submitted. Step 1 - Find a suitable Call for Proposals The EC publishes these online, on the so called Participant Portal. All the Calls of the Horizon 2020 are available in this portal (https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2 020/search/search_topics.html) and the applicant can search for calls from previous programmes as well (FP7 and CIP). In addition, the applicant can find information about some extra calls in the Other Funding Opportunities section (https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/ot her/index.html) which provides an overview of funding opportunities by funding bodies other than the Commission and its Executive Agencies. From the Participant Portal, it is also possible to search the most appropriate calls according to key words and set filters in the calls list. This makes the search much easier and way more automatic. The National Contact Point is the main structure to provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon 2020 and can also help the applicant to find the most suitable call. For China, the National Contact Point is China-EU Science and Technology Cooperation Promotion Office (CECO, http://www.cstec.org.cn/ceco/index.aspx). Step 2 - Find project partners Most of the EU funded projects are collaborative projects with at least 3 organisations from different EU Member States or Associated countries. Horizon 2020 also aims to enhance EU international research cooperation so there are 7

more opportunities for cooperation with and participation by researchers from non-eu countries, especially China. Through the Participant Portal it is also possible to look for EU or non-eu partners: various partner search services can help the applicant to find organisations that would like to participate in the proposals. Also for this, it is possible to rely on the National Contact Point. Step 3 - Create an account on the portal If the applicant already has a Participant Portal account or so-called ECAS account, then he or she can use it for any future submissions. The applicant only needs one account for any of the Participant Portal secured services. If the applicant does not have an account yet, he or she needs to create it in the website by clicking on the REGISTER option on the top menu on the right. Step 4 - Register the organisation Check first on the Organisation Register page if the organisation is already registered (http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/organisations/regi ster.html). Only if the applicant does not find its organisation there, the applicant should start its registration by clicking on the Register Organisation button. If the applicant wants to participate in a project proposal, the organisation needs to be registered and have a 9-digit Participant Identification Code (PIC) that is the unique identifier of the organisation and will be used as a reference by the EC in any future interactions. Step 5 - Submit the proposal through the Participant Portal Once the applicant has found the right call and the right partners, the applicant must submit a proposal before the deadline. The Participant Portal has clear 8

instructions to guide the applicant through the process. The system is simpler than ever no more paper! All proposals are submitted online. Step 6 - Evaluation by experts Once the deadline has passed, all proposals are evaluated by a panel of independent specialists in their fields. The panel checks each proposal against a list of criteria to see if it should receive funding. Step 7 - Grant agreement Once a proposal passes the evaluation stage (five months duration), applicants are informed about the outcome. The EC then draws up a Grant Agreement with each participant. The Grant Agreement confirms what research and innovation activities will be undertaken, the project duration, budget, rates and costs, the EC's contribution, all rights and obligations and more. The time limit for signing the Grant Agreements is generally three months. 9

4 EU-China Co-Funding Mechanisms for Horizon 2020 4.1 What is EU-China Co-Funding Mechanisms for Horizon 2020 Further to the political agreement reached at the 2 nd EU-China Innovation Cooperation Dialogue and the Summit of 29 th June 2015 and the conclusions of the EU-China Joint Steering Committee on S&T Cooperation of 30 th October 2015, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has announced the first call for proposals under the EU-China Co-Funding Mechanisms (CFM) for Research and Innovation. While Chinese participants are no longer automatically funded through Horizon 2020, the Chinese Government and the EU agreed to set up a Co-Funding Mechanism on research and innovation to support joint projects between European and Chinese universities, research institutions and companies. The CFM will pave the way for deepened cooperation between European and Chinese research and innovation stakeholders by promoting a stronger and more balanced Chinese participation in the Horizon 2020 topics targeting cooperation with China. Under the CFM, up to 200 million RMB (around 28 million EUR), will be made available annually by the MoST on the Chinese side for the benefit of Chinabased entities that will participate in joint projects with European partners under Horizon 2020. The EC expects to continue spending over 100 million Euros per year for the benefit of Europe-based entities in joint projects under H2020 with Chinese participants. MOST has published the first CFM call on 16 December 2015 and the 1 st round of evaluation of the proposals was completed in January 2017 (results are available soon). The CFM will be primarily used for Horizon 2020 topics targeting China but it will also be open to many other areas of Horizon 2020. 10

On the basis of the strategic programming process, including a broad consultation of stakeholders, and the Horizon 2020 Specific Programme, key priorities for 2016-2017 have been identified. In alignment with the Commission s agenda, the Work Programme for 2016-2017 will contribute to the Jobs, Growth and Investment Package helping to strengthen Europe s global competitiveness, create new and sustainable jobs and promote growth. The priority areas to be supported in 2017 mainly cover agriculture (including food), biotechnologies, ICT, space, aviation, energy, health, transport, water resources, energy conservation and emission reductions, advanced manufacturing, new materials, sustainable urbanisation, and exchange of young scientists. Chinese researchers who are interested in these priority sectors could benefit from the CFM as well. 4.2 How to Apply for the Co-Funding Mechanisms On behalf of MoST, the China Science and Technology Exchange Centre (CSTEC, http://www.cstec.org.cn) manages the CFM operation (application, evaluation, grant, etc.). In principle, all Chinese legal organisations are eligible to apply for the co-funding from CSTEC. But before submitting an application to CSTEC, the Horizon 2020 project that a Chinese organisation is involved should be already approved by the EC. In other words, a Grant Agreement of Horizon 2020 with the EC is necessary for the Chinese organisations to submit an application for the co-funding. All the Chinese organisations involved in the same Horizon 2020 project (approved) consortium should work together as a team (the applicant) to submit the application to CSTEC. The applicant should submit two documents: Basic information of the Proposal and the Proposal in Chinese (template in Annex) through the S&T management information system of MoST (http://program.most.gov.cn). CSTEC will review the two documents and invite 11

qualified applicants for an oral defense evaluated by an external group of experts from the same sector (normally 15 minutes of presentation and 10 minutes for Q&A). The applicant should prepare a presentation including the key topics below: - proposal concept - contexts - added-value of international cooperation - objective - technical roadmap - tasks distribution and timeframe - human resource of project team - expected outputs and impacts - risk analysis - budget CSTEC will evaluate and select the proposals for funding based on a number of criteria pre-defined. It is expected that the 1 st round of evaluation results should be announced in February 2017. As this is a new co-funding mechanism between EU and China, the application and evaluation procedure may change in the future. In any case, it is strongly encouraged for the applicant to consult CSTEC before preparing the application. 5 Other Co-funding for Chinese researchers At researchers' level, in order to promote the mobility of researchers between the EU and China, the European Research Council (ERC) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) agreed on the Implementing Arrangement in June 2015 to stimulate excellence-based, bottom-up collaboration in frontier research by facilitating that high-caliber Chinese researchers come to Europe to 12

join ERC-funded research teams. The scheme is targeted at the Chinese researchers who are active holders of the competitive grants of NSFC. Selected researchers will be incorporated in the research teams of the European Principal Investigators who are already supported through the ERC grants and who have expressed an interest in hosting Chinese researchers in their research teams. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) also launched a special CAS-EU Partner Programme. The programme will provide funding to CAS institutes and other CAS entities that are partners of an approved Horizon 2020 project. Potential Chinese participants are encouraged to contact NSFC and CAS to seek support for their participation in Horizon 2020. 13

6 Frequently Asked Questions Horizon 2020 Q: What H2020 has changed from the 7th Framework Programme? A: The new Common Strategic Programme for Research and Innovation combines three different instruments of the last period 2007-2013: the 7th Framework Programme (FP7), the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Horizon 2020 aims to cover the full value chain, from frontier research, to technological development, demonstration, valorisation of results and innovation. Q: How do I register? A: Before being able to sign a grant agreement, you must register via the beneficiary registration tool (http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/organisations/reg ister.html). Registration (and the subsequent validation by the Commission/Agency) may take a while. When submitting a proposal, you should therefore check which documents are needed for registration and register as soon as funding becomes likely. Q: What legal status and financial capacity are needed? A: You must: - Be an individual or organisation/institution constituted under the national law of the country where you are based 14

- Have the financial capacity to carry out the research tasks set out in your proposal. Q: Can the Third countries participate in a proposal and can receive funding? A: The Third industrialized countries (as well as those from China, Russia, India, Brazil and Mexico under the H2020 rules) can participate in a Horizon 2020 project, but they are not automatically eligible for funding, with the following exceptions: - When a funding is foreseen in the Call; - When funding is provided under a bilateral scientific and technological agreement or any other arrangement between the Union and an international organisation or a third country; - When the Commission deems participation of the entity essential for carrying out the action funded through Horizon 2020. Q: May Chinese entities participate in Horizon 2020? A: Yes, Chinese entities may participate in Horizon 2020 actions as entities from any emerging or industrialised third country not associated to H2020, given that the minimum eligibility criteria of the research consortium are fulfilled. Q: How can China be involved in Horizon 2020 projects where there is not a specific mentioning for Chinese interaction in the Call text? A: All calls for proposals under Horizon 2020 are open to Chinese participation, not only the ones where China is mentioned in the text of the Call. Of course 15

minimum requirements (e.g. in terms of number of European partners when appropriate) must be respected. Q: If there is no more funding for Chinese entities available, what is then the benefit for my institution to participate in Horizon 2020? A: Participation in Horizon 2020 offers more than simply money to any participating institution. Horizon 2020 strengthens existing, and offers the creation of, new research and innovation partnerships with Europe. It provides Chinese entities the access to advanced knowledge, data and up-todate technology and allows an upgrade of the research quality of each partner in the consortium. Horizon 2020 contributes to the internationalisation of the Chinese partner institution and allows the establishment of new international partnerships and networks. Individual Chinese researchers can develop their scientific careers, learn advanced knowledge and information and experience an international atmosphere in a laboratory. Finally, Horizon 2020 contributes to the tackling of global challenges and offers solutions to societal challenges that are designated as priorities by Chinese government, such as food security, aging population, environmental, fight against climate change, air pollution, energy security etc. Q: I have completed my registration and my expert profile is valid. When will I be contacted for an assignment? A: All applicants who complete their expert profile are included in the database, but this does not indicate that they will necessarily be contacted for an assignment. You will be contacted directly via email if you are selected to take part in any particular activity. It is therefore important that the email address indicated in 16

your expert profile is current. The selection of experts depends on the needs of the European Commission in relation to the subjects covered by proposals and projects. Q: May I submit a proposal if I have applied to be considered as an Expert? A: If you are contracted as an expert, you will be asked to sign a declaration stating exactly which proposals you have a link with, and which may create a conflict of interest. You are obliged to inform the Commission if you think that you may have a conflict of interest with any proposal you are asked to examine. The European Commission takes all necessary steps in order to avoid any conflicts of interest. While you may not evaluate your own proposal, or of proposals competing with it, you may evaluate proposals which are not competing with yours. The funding body will determine whether or not a conflict of interest exists. Sometimes, the funding body may decide that you may not take part in an evaluation; in this case, your contract will be terminated in accordance with the relevant procedures. Q: Which member of the Consortium is the Project Coordinator? A: It is up to the Consortium to designate the Project Coordinator. Q: Can a Chinese institute be the Principal Investigator of the project? A: Even though Chinese participants could in principle be coordinator of the project, this would, however, not change the rules for funding. A Chinese partner as project coordinator would not be automatically eligible for EU funding and, therefore, could not recover from the European Commission any direct or indirect costs incurring for the contract or project management nor retain part of 17

the grant for this purpose. We encourage Chinese research institutions willing to participate in H2020 proposals to take contact with Chinese funding agencies for seeking support for their project. See: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/horizon-2020-whats-it-china Q: Can a person from a third country apply to be an Expert? A: A person from a third country (i.e. a country that is not a Member State or a country associated to Horizon 2020) is welcome to register their profile in the expert database with a view to assist the European Commission as an expert. Q: Under the rules of H2020-MSCA-ITN is it possible to recruit a candidate from outside the European Union? A: There is no restriction on the nationality of recruited researchers, and candidates from third countries (such as China) are welcome as long as the mobility and eligibility requirements are met. However, some restrictions may apply for a very limited number of countries on the basis of EU sanctions. For further information applicants are advised to consult: http://eeas.europa.eu/cfsp/sanctions/docs/measures_en.pdf 18

7 Frequently Asked Questions - EU-China Cofunding Mechanism Q: What is the Co-Funding Mechanism? A: The Co-Funding Mechanism (CFM) is a joint initiative launched by the Chinese Government and the EU to support joint research and innovation projects between European and Chinese universities, research institutions and companies under the framework of Horizon 2020 in strategic areas of common interest. It was agreed at the 2nd EU-China Innovation Cooperation Dialogue, endorsed by the 17th EU-China Summit of June 2015, and announced in September 2015 at the occasion of the visit of European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas to China. The Implementation Guidelines of CFM were agreed on 30 October 2015 at the 12th EU China Joint Steering Committee Meeting on S&T Cooperation (JSCST) in Beijing co-chaired by the European Commission (EC) Director General for Research and Innovation Robert-Jan Smits and the Chinese Vice-Minister for Science and Technology Cao Jianlin. Through CFM, funds will be provided by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) for China-based participants in Horizon 2020 research and innovation projects including mobility of researchers. Q: What is the scale of fund foreseen under CFM? A: Building on the EU's Horizon 2020 and relevant research and innovation funding programmes on the Chinese side, CFM will mobilise over 500 million EUR from the EU and 1 billion RMB from China during the period from 2016 to 2020. Up to 200 million RMB, or nearly 30 million EUR, will be made available annually by MoST on the Chinese side for the benefit of China-based entities that will participate in joint projects with European partners under Horizon 2020. The EC 19

expects to continue spending over 100 million Euros per year for the benefit of Europe-based entities in joint projects under H2020 with Chinese participants. Q: What is the scale of fund per project? A: In principle, the per-project ceiling of MoST grant under the CFM is 5 Million RMB. The project duration should normally be not more than 3 years. Q: Who can apply for fund under this mechanism? A: For this first CFM Call, Eligibility criteria for Chinese applicants can be found at the website of MoST. The application should be prepared in accordance with the template provided by MoST and submitted through respective institutions. Europe-based entities will apply for Horizon 2020 fund following the rules and procedures of Horizon 2020. The EC and MOST will fund selected applicants according to their respective rules, regulations and practices. MOST funds are solely for use by China-based selected applicants. Q: How do I know if my proposal is successfully evaluated in Horizon 2020? A: The EC will inform coordinators of the Horizon 2020 proposals if their proposals are positively evaluated and then invite China-based applicants in the proposal consortium to apply from MoST for possible co-funding, if need be, following the call for applications to be published by MoST. 20

Q: When will the CFM call be published? A: The first CFM call launched by MoST on 16 December 2015 concerns the China-based entities participating in projects already selected under the Horizon 2020 Work Programmes 2014-15 as well as proposal submitted prior to the deadlines (31 March 2016, 31 July 2016) of the current Work Programme 2016/17. Relevant Horizon 2020 calls are published in the Horizon 2020 Participant Portal, with the most recent Work Programme 2016/17 published on 14 October 2015. Q: Will the CFM target specific priority areas? A: The priority areas to be supported through the 2016 call focus on agriculture (including food), biotechnologies, ICT, space, aviation, energy, health, transport, water resources, energy saving and emission reduction, advanced manufacturing, new materials, sustainable urbanisation, and exchange of young scientists. In practice, all topics under the Horizon 2020 Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies, Societal Challenges (except the Security one), Future and Emerging Technologies, Research Infrastructures and Research and Innovation Staff Exchange as well as the Euratom Nuclear Energy topics are expected to be eligible for the CFM. Q: How to apply for funding under CFM? A: Please visit the website of MOST (EU China Co-Funding Mechanism: http://most.gov.cn/mostinfo/xinxifenlei/fgzc/gfxwj/gfxwj2015/201512/t2015121 6_122975.htm) for details of procedures to submit applications. 21

Q: How is the evaluation organised, and what are the evaluation criteria? A: MOST will evaluate and select the proposals from China-based applicants for funding according to relevant rules. Evaluation will be based on a number of criteria defined by MOST. Q: How would I know if my application for CFM fund is selected or not? A: MOST will complete the evaluation of all applications received in the framework of the CFM from China-based partners in successful Horizon 2020 proposals and notify the China-based applicants ideally within few months after each CFM deadline. 22

Annexes About DragonStar Plus DRAGON-STAR PLUS follows its predecessor (DRAGONSTAR), in its important mandate to provide support services to European and Chinese researchers and policy makers, and Chinese researchers and policy makers, and to offer a flexible platform to facilitate policy discussions between European and Chinese stakeholders. Dragon-STAR PLUS aims at significantly contributing to the ongoing bilateral collaboration activities and policy dialogues. The project will have a positive effect on policy drafting and implementation, on-going research collaboration, reciprocity, member & associated states cooperation (funding agencies), addressing societal challenges, innovation, social- economy and technology. For more information, please visit: http://www.dragon-star.eu About Euraxess EURAXESS (www.euraxess.lu) - Researchers in Motion is a pan-european initiative providing access to a range of information and support services to researchers wishing to pursue their research careers. The EURAXESS portal is composed of four main sections devoted to specific initiatives for researchers: - EURAXESS Jobs is a recruitment tool. - EURAXESS Services is a network of more than 500 Service Centres located in 40 European countries. 23

- EURAXESS Rights provides information regarding the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. - EURAXESS Links is a networking tool for European researchers working outside Europe and non-european researchers wishing to collaborate and/or pursue a research career in Europe. EURAXESS Links China provides various opportunities to facilitate communication between Europe and Chinese research communities (http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/index.cfm/links/eurres/china). Euraxess China (https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/worldwide/china) links researchers in China with Europe by providing free information and events on research funding, research careers and collaboration opportunities. EURAXESS China has been serving all researchers interested in a research career in Europe since 2009. Horizon 2020 National Contact Point (NCP) in China China-EU Science and Technology Cooperation Promotion Office (CECO, http://www.cstec.org.cn/ceco/index.aspx) is the organisation running and coordinating the NCP activities in China. CECO was established in 2001, as a nonprofit organisation specialised in offering consultation services and guidance to Chinese research institutions, enterprises, companies and scientists for the participation in the EU Framework Programmes. Since its creation, CECO has been continuously supported by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the EU DG RTD and has been providing FP support services to numerous European and Chinese researchers to build successful partnerships. CECO is the sole official NCP organisation at national level in China, and has the necessary professional skills, regional coverage and relevant influence in China, to provide services to EU-China S&T cooperation, and also to support the official scientific policy dialogue between EU and China. In addition, the last 3 years CECO has deployed a network of Regional Contact Points (RCPs) inside University 24

or CSTEC regional offices with the scope to provide NCP support services at a regional level. CECO has close partnerships with regional S&T Commissions and Exchange Centers, which are directed by MOST, and are the two large networks in China responsible for the administration of regional S&T resources. CECO is affiliated to China Science and Technology Exchange Centre (CSTEC) of MOST. China Science and Technology Exchange Centre (CSTEC, www.cstec.org.cn) was founded in 1982 upon the approval of the State Council. CSTEC is a legally independent organisation affiliated to the MOST of the People s Republic of China. With expertise in international S&T exchanges, its mandate is to promote interactions between the research and industrial communities in China and their foreign counterparts so as to serve the socio-economic development and enhance the friendly relations between China and countries across the globe. CSTEC has successively established cooperative ties with over 130 organisations and renowned enterprises in more than 30 countries and regions. Thus it has set up a network for collaboration with counterparts from America, Oceania, Europe, Africa, Asia, and in particular the European Union, Japan, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. It continues to play a significant role in facilitating international S&T cooperation and exchanges, the reform and opening-up of China, as well as the construction of the socialist economy. CECO/CSTEC has established 8 RCPs (Regional Contact Points) respectively in Beijing, Heilongjiang, Shaanxi, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Hubei, Shandong and Guangdong and 4 TCPs including the Hunan University of Chinese Medicine as the Health TCP (Thematic Contact Point) and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences as the agricultural TCP, China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy at Huazhong University of S&T as the energy TCP, and CIUC at Tongji University as the urbanisation TCP. A tailor-made training for the RCPs was organised and delivered by CSTEC and its European partners. 25

References and Useful Links Ask an Expert: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/experts/ Calls for Proposals: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h20 20/index.html CAS-EU Partner Programme http://www.bic.cas.cn/tzgg/201501/t20150106_4295030.html http://www.dragon-star.eu/call/cas-eu-partner-programme/ http://www.cas.cn/sygz/201511/t20151117_4465324.shtml http://www.cas.cn/yw/201701/t20170104_4587072.shtml Delegation of the European Union to China: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/china/eu_china/research_innovation/index_ en.htm EU-China Co-Funding Mechanism http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/funding/reference _docs.html 26

http://www.most.gov.cn/mostinfo/xinxifenlei/fgzc/gfxwj/gfxwj2015/201512/t20 151216_122975.htm EU-China Science and Technology Cooperation Promotion Office (CECO) http://www.cstec.org.cn/ceco/en/index.aspx Horizon 2020 http://ec.europa.eu/horizon2020 Horizon 2020 budget allocation: http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/pdf/press/fact_sheet_on_horizon20 20_budget.pdf Horizon 2020 roadmaps: http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/pdf/policy/annex roadmaps sep-2014.pdf HORIZON 2020 in brief, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission, 2014 HORIZON 2020 - A practical guide for China, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission, 2014 27

Mobility of researchers scheme between the European Research Council (ERC) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab38/info51450.htm More Q&A: https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/support/faq.html http://www.apre.it/ricerca-europea/horizon-2020/faq-on-horizon-2020/faq/ National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the FCT https://www.fct.pt/apoios/protocolos/nsfc/2015/index.phtml.en NWO-NSFC Co-operation https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/funding/nwo-nsfc-co-operation Regional Contact Points: http://www.dragon-star.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/china-rcp-contact- May-2014.pdf Research & Innovation Participant Portal, European Commission http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/home.html 28

The rules for participation for third countries: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/wp/2014_2015/anne xes/h2020-wp1415-annex-a-countries-rules_en.pdf 29

Template Basic information of Proposal (CFM) 30

Template for Proposal (CFM) 31

Developed by: Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação (SPI) Beijing Software Enterprise Advisory Center (BSEAC) January 2017 www.dragon-star.eu DRAGON-STAR DRAGON STAR Plus Project @DragonStarEU DragonStar 龙星 dragonstar+ Wechat 54