The eighth Spain-China joint call opens under the CHINEKA International Program, promoted by the CDTI E.P.E. and China's DIC MOST, aimed at financing projects in 10 priority sectors: Sustainable cities, renewable technologies/water, climate change/mobility, circular economy, smart manufacturing, biomedicine, modern agriculture, advanced materials, applied science to cultural heritage and marine sciences.

Main features:

• Projects oriented to the market, for civil purposes and development of innovative products, processes or services.
• Duration from 2 to 3 years (24 to 36 months).
• Minimum consortium formed by a Spanish company and an independent Chinese entity.
• On the part of the People's Republic of China, both companies and other knowledge-generating bodies (universities, research and technology centres, hospitals, etc.) can participate. ).
• As far as Spain is concerned, at least one company must participate which, optionally, can collaborate with other research bodies (universities, IPOs, innovation and technology centres) that can be subcontracted in the budget through external collaboration or as members of the self-financing consortium.
• Balanced budget (no partner or country can exceed 70% of the global budget, with a maximum imbalance of 30-70%).
• Minimum eligible budget of the Spanish part equal to or greater than 175,000 euros.
• Requisito de presentar un Consortium Agreement y un Application Form firmados en inglés.

Key deadlines:

• Opening: October 30, 2026.
• Common International Phase: Limit in China (MOST) on November 30, 2026 (16:00 local time); limit in Spain (CDTI) on January 15, 2027 (14:00 CET).
• Notification of eligibility: January 29, 2027.
• National Phase (Spain): Presentation of complete projects until February 26, 2027.
• Resolution and concession: September of 2027.

Funding:

Up to a maximum of 25 proposals can be funded if they exceed the evaluation processes of both CDTI Innovation and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (MOST).
System of non-exchange of funds (each agency finances participants from their country):

• Spain: The main funding for Spanish participation in these projects will be made through the research and development project (IDI) funding line. Possibility of FEDER grants through INNOGLOBAL FEDER 2027 for eligible regions.
• China: DIC MOST public grant of up to RMB 3 million per project

Procedure for submitting proposals:

First Stage - Common International Phase

• In China, joint R&D&I proposals must be submitted to DIC MOST, the deadline for submission being applicable to Chinese IPs (principal investigators), on 30 November 2026 (16:00 local time). Proposals submitted unilaterally will not be accepted. In China, participants will be required to submit a formal application with the funding. Proposal and other required documents (complete proposals) to the DIC MOST in Chinese.
• En España, los participantes deberán presentar una solicitud formal de proyecto internacional de I+D (CHINEKA) a través de la página web de CDTI E.P.E. (https://sede.cdti.gob.es/) within the time limit applicable to Spanish applicants, 15 January 2027 (14:00 CET). Proposals submitted unilaterally will not be considered.

For the international application phase, participants must submit in the CDTI and in MOST, the corresponding applications accompanied by the following mandatory international documentation (in English), common to all partners: "Application form" and consortium agreement sealed and signed by all partners. In addition, the additional documentation that determines each funding agency and is included in the text of the call.

Once the eligibility of the proposal has been verified by the CDTI, the Spanish entity (each of them, in case there are several in the consortium) will receive a notification through the electronic platform GPPCDTI in which it is invited to submit the application for national funding for its proposal. There will therefore be a request for national funding for each of the Spanish companies in the consortium.

Second Stage - National Level

En España sólo se aceptarán aquellas propuestas que tengan la elegibilidad positiva por parte del CDTI E.P.E. and DIC MOST. Eligible proposals must submit the CDTI funding application with a deadline of February 26, 2027.

Evaluation of proposals:

Each national agency, the CDTI in Spain and MOST in China, will carry out the evaluation of the proposals received, based on consensual criteria (specified in the text of the joint call) and following the same methodology.

Once the evaluation process is completed, bilateral commissions will be convened to agree on the final joint resolution indicating the projects eligible for funding within the framework of the present call.

More information:
Consult contact points in the text of the call.

CDTI
Department of External Technological Action
Tfno. : +34 91 581 56 07
E-mail: china@cdti.es
http://www.cdti.es/

China (DIC MOST)
Division of European Affairs, MOST
Joint Call Manager
Phone: 86-10-58881357
E-mail: sophie1117@126.com
Website: https://service.most.gov.cn/