AbstractThe National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) is an institution under the State Council of the People's Republic of China (PRC), but it functions independently. It was established in February 1986. The science foundation system has a long history in many other countries, but is still fairly new in China. It is a product of China's reform and open policies.This gives an introduction to, and analysis of the first three years' work of the NSFC in its task of guiding, co-ordinating and supporting basic research by the effective use of a fund for science.