Notice on Soliciting Topics for Major Projects of the 2020 National Social Science Fund

To the Social Science Work Offices (Planning Offices) of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government; the Social Science Planning Office of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps; the Research Bureau of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; the Research Department of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance); the Department of Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education; the National Education Science Planning Office; the National Art Science Planning Office; and the Military Social Science Planning Office:

各省、自治区、直辖市社科工作办 (规划办)，新疆生产建设兵团社科规划办，中国社科院科研局，中央党校（国家行政学院）科研部，教育部社科司，全国教育科学规划办、全国艺术科学规划办、全军社科规划办：

In order to prepare for the bidding and tendering of major projects of the 2020 National Social Science Fund, and to extensively listen to the opinions and suggestions of experts and scholars in the social sciences, the following notice is hereby issued regarding the public solicitation of topics:

为做好2020年度国家社科基金重大项目招投标工作，广泛听取社科界专家学者的意见和建议，现就公开征集选题的有关事项通知如下：

1. Content of the solicitation. This topic solicitation focuses on the major work arrangements of the Party and the state and the decision-making needs of practical departments; on accelerating the construction of a philosophical and social science system with Chinese characteristics, including its disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system; on promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture; and on proposing, from different disciplines and fields, a batch of applied and interdisciplinary topics with significant decision-making reference value and practical guiding significance, as well as a batch of basic topics with major academic innovation value and cultural inheritance significance.

1.征集内容。本次选题征集重点围绕党和国家重大工作部署和实际部门决策需求，围绕加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学学科体系、学术体系、话语体系，推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展，从不同学科、不同领域提出一批具有重要决策参考价值和实践指导意义的应用类和跨学科类选题，一批具有重大学术创新价值和文化传承意义的基础类选题。

2. Basic requirements. When drafting major project topics, one must adhere to the correct political orientation, have clear research objectives, distinct problem awareness, substantial academic weight, and strong innovative value, reflecting the principles of limited scale and highlighting key points. The wording of topics should be scientific, rigorous, standardized, and concise, generally without subtitles (reference may be made to projects established in previous years' major projects). Topics should avoid duplication with already established Marxist theoretical research and development projects, National Social Science Fund major projects, various special projects of the National Social Science Fund (such as research special projects on niche "lost disciplines" and national histories), major humanities and social science projects of the Ministry of Education, and other national-level major projects. Topics identical or similar in content to those previously provided shall not be recommended again.

2.基本要求。拟定重大项目选题要坚持正确政治导向，具有明确的研究目标、鲜明的问题意识、厚重的学术分量和较强的创新价值，体现有限规模和突出重点的原则。选题文字表述要科学、严谨、规范、简洁，一般不加副标题（可参阅历年重大项目立项课题）。选题应避免与已立项的马克思主义理论研究和建设工程项目、国家社科基金重大项目、国家社科基金各类专项(如冷门“绝学”和国别史等研究专项)、教育部人文社会科学重大攻关项目以及其他国家级重大项目重复。凡以前提供过的内容相同或相近的选题此次一律不再推荐。

3. Solicitation targets and number of topics. The solicitation is mainly directed at units such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, key universities directly under the Ministry of Education, the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), provincial-level academies of social sciences and party schools, provincial-level key universities and key research bases, and key military system universities and research institutions. Each key university directly under the Ministry of Education shall submit 8-12 topics; each research institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and each provincial-level key research unit shall submit 3-5 topics.

3.征集对象和选题数量。主要面向中国社科院、教育部直属重点高校、中央党校（国家行政学院）、省级社科院和党校、省属重点高校和重点研究基地、军队系统重点院校和研究机构等单位征集。教育部直属重点高校每个单位报送选题8-12个，中国社科院各研究所、省级重点科研单位每个单位报送选题3-5个。

4. Generation and submission of topics. Units submitting topics shall, based on their own research strengths and characteristics, organize experts and scholars to conduct thorough argumentation and refinement, and have the academic committee of each unit sign a recommendation opinion to ensure the scientific nature and standardization of the topics. Well-known experts and scholars are encouraged to propose substantial and valuable major project topics based on long-term academic accumulation, rich prior achievements, and personal academic insights. All types of topics must fill in the newly revised "National Social Science Fund Major Project Topic Recommendation Form," including a written explanation of about 3,000 characters, focusing on the academic basis, background, research status, research content, and main ideas of the recommended topic.

4.选题的产生和报送。选题报送单位要结合自身研究优势和特色，组织专家学者进行充分论证和提炼，并由各单位学术委员会签署推荐意见，确保选题的科学性和规范性。鼓励知名专家学者依托长期学术积累、丰富前期成果和个人学术创见提出有分量、有价值的重大项目选题。各类选题须填写新修订的《国家社科基金重大项目选题推荐表》，含3000字左右的文字说明，重点就推荐选题的学术依据、提出背景、研究现状、研究内容及主要思路等方面进行论述。

5. Selection and adoption of topics. Our office will organize relevant field experts and scholars to conduct anonymous evaluation of the solicited topics, and based on expert voting recommendations, select some topics to be included in the scope of bidding for 2020 major projects. The topic drafters and recommending units of topics formally included in the bidding scope shall commit to agreeing to open bidding and fair competition for the proposed topics, with no intellectual property disputes.

5.选题的遴选和采用。我办将组织相关领域专家学者对征集选题进行匿名评议，根据专家投票推荐情况遴选部分选题列入2020年度重大项目招标范围。凡被正式列入招标范围的选题拟定人和推荐单位，承诺同意对所拟选题进行公开招标、公平竞争，不存在知识产权争议。

6. Submission time and specific arrangements. Starting from 2020, major projects of the National Social Science Fund will implement online topic solicitation through the National Social Science Fund Scientific Research Innovation Service Management Platform. The solicitation system will be open from January 10 to March 5. During this period, topic recommenders can log in to the official website of the National Social Science Work Office, enter the "Topic Solicitation" module of the "Social Science Fund Scientific Research Innovation Service Management Platform," submit a registration application with real-name information, and after review and approval by the responsible unit, log in to the system to upload the topic recommendation form and the recommendation opinion of the academic committee (those with existing platform accounts need not register again). After the deadline, the system will automatically close, and no further topic recommendations will be accepted. Responsible units and local social science management departments, as well as entrusted management agencies in Beijing, shall conduct tiered review and control of reported topics, selecting the best from within established quotas and preferring quality over quantity. Responsible units shall strengthen the organization, guidance, and service work for online topic recommendations within their units, providing necessary technical support to ensure that topic recommenders within the unit successfully submit online recommendation materials within the specified time.

6.报送时间和具体安排。国家社科基金重大项目自2020年起通过国家社科基金科研创新服务管理平台实行网上选题征集。征集系统将于1月10日至3月5日开放,在此期间选题推荐人可登陆全国社科工作办官方网站,进入“社科基金科研创新服务管理平台”的“选题征集”模块，以实名信息提交注册申请，待责任单位审核通过后即可登录系统，按规定要求上传选题推荐表和学术委员会推荐意见（已有平台账号者无需再次注册）。逾期系统自动关闭，不再受理选题推荐。责任单位和各地社科管理部门及在京委托管理机构逐级对上报选题进行审核把关，在既定指标内优中选优、宁缺毋滥。责任单位要加强本单位网上选题推荐的组织指导和服务工作，提供必要的技术支持，确保本单位选题推荐人在规定时间内顺利提交网上推荐材料。

The "Topic Solicitation System" on the homepage of the National Social Science Fund Scientific Research Innovation Service Management Platform is the sole online platform for this topic solicitation. The online topic recommendation methods and process management shall be based on this system. For technical issues related to the topic solicitation system, please consult technical personnel: landline: 400-800-1636, email: support@e-plugger.com.

国家社科基金科研创新服务管理平台主页“选题征集系统”为本次选题征集的唯一网络平台，网络选题推荐办法及流程管理以该系统为准。有关选题征集系统及技术问题请咨询技术人员,座机:400-800-1636，电子信箱：support@e-plugger.com。

National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences

全国哲学社会科学工作办公室

January 9, 2020

2020 年1月9日