Under an intergovernmental
agreement: what a project looks like.
An intergovernmental S&T cooperation project is a programme a state runs under a bilateral or multilateral
science agreement: government-led, using joint research, researcher exchange and shared facilities to address
common agendas such as health, environment, artificial intelligence and renewable energy. At the level where
it is executed, it becomes a set of fundable guide directions. For 2026 the Ministry of Science and Technology
published two batches of guide directions for the Intergovernmental International Science and Technology
Innovation Cooperation special programme — late 2025 and mid-2026 — 26 directions in total, some
386 projects to be supported, and RMB 904 million of central funding. The six cases below take one example of
each cooperation form.
26directionstwo joint R&D
batches combined
~386projectsto be supported
210 + 176
RMB 904mcentral funding
492.5 + 411.4
22partnerscountries / organisations
incl. BRICS, GEO
CASE 01 · Spain · Joint research
China–Spain intergovernmental cooperation (CHINEKA)
Under the China–Spain memorandum on key-field S&T cooperation and the CHINEKA joint funding
conditions, six fields are open: sustainable cities; manufacturing including smart manufacturing;
biomedicine and health; clean technology; modern agriculture; advanced materials. The hard clause is
procedural — both sides apply simultaneously, a unilateral application is void, and the Spanish
consortium must include at least one company.
Up to 20RMB 60m2–3 years
CASE 02 · New Zealand · Joint research
China–New Zealand intergovernmental S&T cooperation
Under the China–New Zealand S&T Cooperation Roadmap 2023–2027 the scope is deliberately
narrow: health and biomedicine; and environmental science covering clean and renewable energy for climate
adaptation or mitigation, and low-emission, smart and efficient aquaculture. The deliverables are itemised
— at least two co-authored papers, at least 15 person-visits in total, and at least two international
academic events of 50+ participants during the project.
6 projectsRMB 10.8m3 years
CASE 03 · 11 European countries · Joint laboratory
China–Europe joint laboratory programme
A joint laboratory is a mechanism for consolidating existing ties: only laboratories established before
1 January 2025 are eligible, and the application must attach the hosting institutions' agreement on
co-building the lab. Eleven countries are covered — the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece,
Belgium (Wallonia and Brussels), Norway, the Netherlands, Ireland and Cyprus — across 13 fields from
environment, health and agriculture to aerospace, marine technology and smart cities. Naming follows a fixed
pattern: China (Europe) + country + field + joint laboratory.
15 projectsRMB 30m3 years
CASE 04 · Belarus · Flagship
China–Belarus industry–academia flagship
For flagship projects the test is industrialisation, not publication: nine directions — intelligent
heavy machinery and transport equipment, high-performance new materials, advanced lasers and laser
manufacturing, industrial internet and smart factories, smart agriculture and food technology,
biopharmaceuticals and high-end medical devices, new energy and system integration, energy saving and the
circular economy, and advanced spacecraft design and application. Demonstration lines are expected in the
two sides' mines, plants and farms, with the aim of setting up joint ventures or industrial technology
centres.
Up to 10RMB 50m3 years
CASE 05 · Netherlands · Industrial R&D
China–Netherlands joint R&D
Two separate agreements, two tracks: next-generation battery technology (materials development and
scale-up preparation, cell design, production equipment and processing) and circular chemistry and
materials (circular plastics, bio-based materials, carbon capture and utilisation). The threshold is
technical maturity — projects must sit at TRL 4–7; the Dutch side is led by a company, the
Chinese team must include a company, and no single institution may request more than 70% of the total
budget.
Up to 6RMB 9.6m2–3 years
CASE 06 · France · Researcher exchange
China–France young scientist exchange
Researcher exchange is the lightest channel, and the one that comes first: it funds one Chinese researcher
for six to eight weeks in France, in climate change and carbon neutrality, environment and biodiversity,
ageing, or theoretical chemistry — RMB 80,000 each, 18 places. It does not require joint outputs; it
builds the relationship first. Joint research guides generally require a stable basis of cooperation
between the two sides, and visits like these are where that basis comes from.
18 placesRMB 1.44m6–8 weeks each
The directions above are excerpted from the public texts of the Ministry of Science and Technology's two 2026
guide batches for the Intergovernmental International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation special
programme (joint R&D) and the first-batch researcher exchange guide. Project approval rests with the
Ministry's formal funding notices. This firm does not take part in drafting the guides and makes no commitment
regarding outcomes. The cases illustrate common structures of intergovernmental S&T cooperation only; there
is no affiliation, cooperation or endorsement relationship with this firm. Our cross-border business is
undertaken through commercial contracts for technology trade and international technology transfer services.
