Analysis of population health projects funded by Joint Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China between 2015 and 2019

BACKGROUND: The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) is a vital source of support for scientific research in China and abroad. Among the 18 categories programs managed by the NSFC, the Joint Fund, which looks to develop innovation in basic Chinese research, has drawn particular interest from scientists and researchers. This study set out to review the distribution of funding from the Joint Fund in recent years to provide potential applicants with a useful point of reference. METHODS: Guidebooks and annual reports published from 2015 to 2019 were accessed on the NSFC website and the relevant data from the Joint Fund were obtained. The data were analyzed to identify any trends or patterns in funding distribution. RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2019, the NSFC’s Joint Fund awarded a total of 46 million Chinese yuan (CNY) to 354 projects in 29 areas within the field of population health. The funding recipients, who were aged between 30 and 66 years old, came from 47 host institutions. Among the successful applicants, 225 were in senior level positions, 129 were in deputy senior level positions, and 19 were in medium-grade professional positions. Collaboration between institutions was a common feature of funding applications. CONCLUSIONS: By analyzing the distribution of funding from the Joint Fund, we identified a number of common features of successful funding applications, which may help to inform future funding applications.