The China Securities Regulatory Commission has published the 2026 topic list and application guidelines for its provincial and ministerial-level research program, seeking external research on priority capital market policy and supervisory issues. The program is framed around improving the inclusiveness and adaptability of capital market institutions during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, with topics covering listed company governance under the new Company Law, mechanisms to align public fund managers with investor interests, innovation in pension finance investment, oversight of accounting firms in capital markets, the effects of artificial intelligence on investor behavior and markets, securities enforcement issues, policies to bring medium and long-term funds into the market, pricing efficiency, and support for listed companies in traditional industries. Applications are to be led by one or two institutions rather than individuals, with eligible lead applicants including think tanks, universities, research institutes, securities and futures firms, advisory and intermediary firms, and institutional investors such as public and private funds, social security funds, enterprise annuities and insurance capital. Research projects will generally run for six to 12 months, with extensions capped at six months. China Securities Regulatory Commission designated the China Securities Finance Research Institute as the organizing and management body, responsible for screening applications, arranging expert reviews, monitoring progress and quality, and overseeing acceptance of completed projects. The guidance states that the research topics do not represent supervisory policy direction and are intended as research reserves only. Applications close on March 31, 2026. After the review process, approved projects will be determined and the selected undertaking institutions will be published on the China Securities Regulatory Commission website.

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