The Affective Computing and Advanced Intelligent Machines Anhui Provincial Critical Laboratory relies on three first-level discipline doctoral programs (Computer Science and Technology, Information and Communication Engineering, Software Engineering), three postdoctoral research stations (Computer Science and Technology, Information and Communication Engineering, Software Engineering), and two key disciplines in Anhui Province (Computer Application Technology, Signal and Information Processing), is guided by advanced intelligence. It focuses on affective computing as its core characteristic, uses advanced intelligent machines as its carrier, and highlights emotionally intelligent robots. The laboratory systematically researches affective computing and advanced intelligent machines. Adhering to an "open, mobile, joint, competitive" operating mechanism, the laboratory aims to leverage the role of the provincial critical laboratory fully, further, strengthen domestic and international academic exchanges and cooperation, promote academic research and communication, consolidate related research achievements, and enhance the openness of laboratory research. The laboratory has established the "Independent Innovation Project." Here are the details regarding this year's application:

I. Funding Scope and Conditions

1.1 The project research should align with the research direction of the critical laboratory and meet the construction and development needs of the laboratory.

1.2 Priority will be given to projects within the field of affective computing and advanced intelligent machines with significant academic significance and central application value, as well as researchers who have undertaken "open topics" from the fundamental laboratory and achieved notable results. Additionally, industry backbone enterprises in Anhui Province are encouraged to apply.

The following individuals cannot apply as the principal investigator: full-time graduate students (including current students), retired scientific researchers, researchers currently undertaking open fund projects of the laboratory, or those applying for or undertaking other central government basic scientific research business fee support projects within the same year (except for young teacher scientific innovation startup projects).Internal participants in the project should be involved in at least three central government basic scientific research business fee support projects.

For external applicants, the project team must include a laboratory member as the second applicant, who will act as the internal project leader and financial approver. The first applicant of the project must be at most 40 years old (born after January 1, 1984), and external personnel should generally be intermediate-level or above researchers from leading enterprises in their industry.

1.3 Non-critical laboratory researchers applying for the project must hold an intermediate title (inclusive) or higher or have obtained a doctoral degree. Applicants should have a solid research foundation and work accumulation and must obtain consent from their affiliated unit or department. The application procedures must be complete, and all materials must be provided.

II. Key Funding Research Directions

2.1 The development topics mainly focus on affective computing, natural language understanding, and text sentiment analysis, cognition and affective computing of audiovisual information, wearable computing and emotional communication (embedded and mobile computing), and passive sensing and affective computing.

2.2 For detailed content of each research direction, see the "2024 Affective Computing and Advanced Intelligent Machines Anhui Provincial Critical Laboratory Independent Innovation Project Application Guide" (see Attachment 1).

III. Application and Approval

3.1 Applicants should carefully fill out the "2024 Affective Computing and Advanced Intelligent Machines Anhui Provincial Critical Laboratory Independent Innovation Project Application Form" (from no on referred to as "Application Form," see Attachment 2) according to the format specified in the application guide released by the critical laboratory.

3.2 The applicant's unit should sign and seal the application form with the unit leader's signature. Three copies of the application form should be sent mailed to the critical laboratory before the acceptance deadline (postmark date为准). The application deadline is specified in the application guide.

3.3 The critical laboratory will review the project applications for qualifications and submit qualified materials to experts in the relevant field for preliminary examination.

3.4 The critical laboratory will submit projects that pass the preliminary examination to the academic committee for evaluation and determine the funded projects. All applicants will be notified of the evaluation results.

3.5 After project approval, the project undertaker should revise the project design according to the evaluation opinions and fill out the project plan task (contract) book with the designated project collaborator of the critical laboratory to formally establish the project at the critical laboratory.

IV. Project Management

4.1 The project acceptance period is two years, with a funding amount of at least 50,000 yuan per project.

1.2All funds for this project are non-transferable. The funds must be executed before September 30 of the year the funds are allocated. Sixty percent of the project funds will be disbursed in the first year, and the remaining forty percent will be disbursed after the project passes the mid-term inspection in the next year. The acceptance period for the project is two years. The project team of external applicants must include a fixed laboratory member as the second applicant, serving as the internal project leader and financial approver, assisting the applicant in handling financial reporting and transfer procedures.

4.3 The Affective Computing and Advanced Intelligent Machines Anhui Provincial Critical Laboratory is responsible for implementing and managing the "Independent Innovation Project." Management includes:

(1) Verifying and implementing project funding;

(2) Checking the progress and quality of the project;

(3) Project acceptance;

(4) Reporting scientific research results to relevant departments.

4.4 During the implementation of the project, the project leader must submit an annual progress report to the critical laboratory. The critical laboratory will review the report and provide evaluation opinions to determine whether to continue funding.

4.5 Within two months after the project's completion, the project leader must carefully fill out the "Affective Computing and Advanced Intelligent Machines Anhui Provincial Critical Laboratory Independent Innovation Project Summary Report." The report should include a work summary, project completion status, results directory, software source code, and paper directory. After the project collaborators review and sign the report, the critical laboratory will accept it, and the project completion status will be reported to the researcher's unit. Those who fail to submit the summary report as required will be disqualified from applying for future external projects of the critical laboratory and will be notified of their work unit. Projects with outstanding results will be given priority in applying for external projects of the critical laboratory in the following year.

4.6 The achievements of the project (papers, awards, patent applications, technology transfers, etc.) will be shared between the project leader's unit and the critical laboratory. When publishing documents or declaring rewards, etc., it must be noted that they are "supported by the Central University Basic Scientific Research Business Fee Special Funds" and include the project number. In English, it should be indicated as supported by "the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (Grant No. XXXXXXXXX)". Additionally, the authors' units should include "Affective Computing and Advanced Intelligent Machines Anhui Provincial Critical Laboratory, Hefei, Anhui 230601", and in English, "Anhui Province Critical Laboratory of Affective Computing & Advanced Intelligent Machines, Anhui, P.R. China", and send a copy of the achievements to the critical laboratory for archiving.

4.7 If there are significant changes in the research plan during the project, any changes must be approved by the critical laboratory before implementation.

4.8 The critical laboratory reserves the right to recover the funded expenses if academic misconduct such as fraud or plagiarism is discovered. If damage is caused to the reputation of the critical laboratory, the critical laboratory has the right to pursue legal responsibility.

V. Fund Management

5.1 Project funds are special funds invested by the Affective Computing and Advanced Intelligent Machines Anhui Provincial Critical Laboratory for the "Independent Innovation Project." During specific use, funds must be executed according to the project budget and approved according to prescribed procedures.

5.2 The use of project funds must comply with national fiscal policies and regulations of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

5.3 Project funds will be allocated annually based on the execution and progress of the project.

5.4 After the project is concluded, surplus funds and equipment, software, original experimental records, and other related archives purchased with "Independent Innovation Project" funds will belong to the critical laboratory.

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