Dear Faculty Members,

Established in February 2024, the Institute of International Civil Aviation of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and COMAC aims to fully implement national strategies for building a manufacturing powerhouse and a transportation powerhouse, deepen university-enterprise collaboration, and develop an innovative, open, collaborative and high-sharing international exchange platform for civil aviation. One of the core missions of the Institute is to conduct research projects that help enhance the international competitiveness of domestic commercial aircraft and strengthen China’s voice and influence in the global civil aviation sector.

For the first batch of joint projects in 2025, we received 14 applications and approved 9 projects, with an average funding level of approximately RMB 400,000. To better organise the special research projects of the Institute of International Civil Aviation in 2026, we hereby launch the preliminary proposal collection for both targeted and open research topics.

1. Proposal Guidelines

Projects this year combine COMAC-customised topics and open topics. Customised topics will be put forward by relevant demand departments of COMAC. Applicants may bid for these topics under the “Mission-Oriented Recruitment” mechanism. Customised topics for 2026 are expected to be released in May.

Open topics may be proposed independently by SJTU research teams. Research themes shall focus on the industrialisation, large-scale deployment and serial development of domestic commercial aircraft, the global market expansion of home-grown commercial aircraft, improvement of international competitiveness, and the design of financial and policy frameworks tailored for domestic commercial aircraft.

2. Eligibility Criteria

        1. Applicants shall be full-time faculty or researchers employed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

        2. Applicants shall be capable of conducting independent research and leading teams of faculty and students to carry out research and practical work.

        3. Applicants shall have solid theoretical foundations in the proposed research field. Research should target scientific questions, address technical bottlenecks and cutting-edge technological trends, with clearly defined, pioneering and innovative research objectives.

        4. Applicants shall not hold formal employment with overseas institutions.

3. Submission of Preliminary Proposals for Open Topics

Applicants shall contact the institute’s internal coordinators, complete the Preliminary Proposal Form for 2026 SJTU-COMAC Open Joint Research Projects, and submit the document by email to luluzhai@sjtu.edu.cn or iica@sjtu.edu.cn.

The submission deadline is 17:00, 10 April 2026.

Internal Contacts

Zhai Lulu, Tel: 13661758733, Email: luluzhai@sjtu.edu.cn Zhao Shuangyuan, Tel: 18019195532, Email: iica@sjtu.edu.cn