Cooperation between Turkey and China on Artificial Intelligence Projects in Medicine and Agriculture

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) signed an agreement to support joint research projects in the fields of artificial intelligence in cancer diagnosis, medical imaging, and also sustainable agriculture.

Joint Call for Research Projects in 2025

The two research institutions, TÜBİTAK and NSFC, have published a joint call for scientific collaborations in 2025. This call aims to strengthen cooperation between researchers from both countries in three main areas.

Focus on Cancer Immunotherapy with the Help of Artificial Intelligence

The first area of cooperation is research in the field of cancer immunotherapy and clinical translational studies. Researchers from Turkey and China will work on developing new treatment methods in the field of oncology by utilizing big data and artificial intelligence. These projects will focus on producing drugs, vaccines, and antibodies that, by enhancing the immune system’s performance, help suppress the growth of cancer cells and eliminate them.

Progress in Medical Imaging with Advanced Technologies

The second area of cooperation includes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonic medicine. The main goal in this area is to use artificial intelligence technologies to obtain more accurate and three-dimensional images of the human body's structures. Projects for developing MRI technologies and other advanced imaging methods carried out by scientists from both countries will be supported under this program.

Cooperation Toward Green and Sustainable Agriculture

The third area of cooperation is dedicated to green and sustainable agriculture. Turkey has already been active in reducing the environmental impacts of food systems within the framework of the European Union Green Deal. Now, with this new cooperation, researchers from Turkey and China will also participate in projects aimed at combating climate change, preserving biodiversity, and ensuring food security.

"The goal of this cooperation is to support projects that contribute to sustainable development and public health and that are at a high level of scientific and technological excellence."

Conditions and How to Submit a Project

Turkish researchers who wish to participate in this call must find a research partner from China and define the project jointly. One-sided project submissions will not be accepted. The deadline for submitting proposals is May 30, at 23:59, and applications must be submitted via the TÜBİTAK electronic application system.

Project Budget Cap and Duration

The maximum budget set for approved projects by TÜBİTAK is 3 million lira for Turkish researchers and around 5 million yuan (approximately 5 million lira) for Chinese researchers. In total, financial support is planned for 8 selected projects. Each project can last for a maximum of 36 months, and the total duration of international travel for Turkish researchers per year must not exceed 60 days.

How Projects Will Be Evaluated

Submitted projects will be evaluated based on criteria such as scientific and technological excellence, research methodology, project management, the importance of international collaboration, and impact level . Additionally, all costs related to travel, accommodation, and per diem will be covered by the sending country according to its internal regulations.