The Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange

What The Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange does

The Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange (財團法人蔣經國國際學術交流基金會) is a non-profit grant-making foundation established in 1989 in Taipei, Taiwan, to honor the late President Chiang Ching-kuo and promote Chinese Studies research and international scholarly exchange. The Foundation operates a multi-region grant and fellowship program covering research grants (US$10,000–US$29,000), scholar grants (US$12,000–US$35,000), doctoral and dissertation fellowships, conference grants (€15,000–€24,000), database grants (€102,000), and postdoctoral fellowships (€26,000–€52,000), serving academic scholars, doctoral students, and universities across more than 35 countries.

The Foundation does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its core "products" are funding programs, academic camps for young scholars, digital scholarly resources in Chinese Studies, and the planned CCK Library—a presidential library and archives described as the ROC's first of its kind. Distribution runs through a centralized online grant application portal (application.cckf.org.tw), an American Regional Office in McLean, Virginia, and four overseas sinological centers hosted at Charles University (Prague), the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tübingen University (Germany), and a US-based center, supported by five regional advisory committees (Domestic, Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Emerging).

The Foundation is funded by an endowment rather than commercial revenue, is governed by a Board of Directors of 15–21 members with three supervisors, and is currently led by President/Executive Director Professor Chun-i Chen (appointed May 2023), with Yih-yuan Li as Chairman and Miaw-fen Lu as Vice-President. Marketing and outreach are conducted through a bilingual (English/Chinese) website, academic conferences, annual reports, an RSS news feed, and partner-institution networks.

Name

The Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange

Legal name

財團法人蔣經國國際學術交流基金會

Website

https://cckf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation is a non-profit, endowment-funded foundation established in 1989 that supports Chinese Studies research and international scholarly exchange through grants, fellowships, academic camps, and four overseas sinological centers serving scholars and institutions in over 35 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Grants and Scholarly Exchange

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAH

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYEDAIAOAH

Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Scholarships, Funding & Financial Aid for International Study

SECONDARYBPAGAKAI

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYEDAIAOAF

Government-Sponsored Scholarships & Exchange Funding

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Scholarships, Funding & Financial Aid for International Study

Keywords

• Academic research grants
• Scholarly exchange programs
• Chinese studies fellowships
• Non-profit foundation
• Doctoral dissertation funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Taipei

HQ country

Taiwan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Foundation is a non-profit grant-making organization that funds international scholarly exchange in Chinese Studies through research grants (US$10,000-$29,000), scholar grants (US$12,000-$35,000), doctoral fellowships, postdoctoral fellowships (€26,000-€52,000), conference grants (€15,000-€24,000), database grants (€102,000), and publication subsidies. It operates four overseas sinological centers at partner universities and supports academic camps for cross-strait and global young-scholar interaction.

Product overview

The Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange is a grant-making foundation that operates as a unified platform supporting Chinese Studies research globally. Its core offerings include: Grants and Fellowships for research projects, scholar support, publication subsidies, and doctoral/dissertation fellowships; an Academic Camps Program facilitating intellectual exchange among young scholars worldwide and across the Taiwan Strait; Overseas Centers in Hong Kong, Czech Republic, Germany, and the USA; Resources in Chinese Studies providing comprehensive digital collections; and plans for the CCK Library—a presidential library and archives. The foundation does not operate as a software product company but rather as a funding and scholarly exchange organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grants and Fellowships Program A consolidated funding program offering research grants (US$10,000-US$29,000), scholar grants (US$12,000-US$35,000), postdoctoral fellowships (€26,000-€52,000), doctoral and dissertation fellowships, conference grants (€15,000-€24,000), database grants (€102,000), and publication subsidies for academic researchers and institutions engaged in Chinese Studies worldwide.
• Academic Camps Program Structured programs offering intellectual stimulation and new perspectives for young scholars through worldwide and Cross-Strait (Taiwan-Mainland China) academic camps. Examples include the Manchu and Qing History Camp (2011) and the First Cross-Strait History and Culture Camp on Ba-Shu Culture (2011).
• Overseas Sinological Centers Four internationally-distributed sinological research and exchange centers hosted at partner universities: the International Sinological Centre at Charles University (Prague, 1989), the Asia-Pacific Centre for Chinese Studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (2006), the European Research Center on Contemporary Taiwan (CCKF-ERCCT) at Tübingen University (2014), and a US-based overseas center, providing regional support and resources for Chinese Studies research across three continents.
• Resources in Chinese Studies Comprehensive digital collections and scholarly resources including databases, libraries, and research materials benefiting scholars of Chinese Studies worldwide. The Foundation offers dedicated database grants of €102,000 to support the development of these resources.
• CCK Library (Chiang Ching-kuo Library) Planned presidential library and archives featuring digital collections, positioned to become the Republic of China's first presidential library. Aimed at serving the international Chinese Studies academic community through digitized archival materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 35 countries reached through regional grant programs
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, moderate and core.

• International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Leiden UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2025Director Philippe Peycam expressed interest in exploring potential collaborations to promote Sinology research in Southeast Asia and Africa. No formal agreement announced yet as of December 2025.
• National Committee on U.S.-China RelationsmoderateGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Collaborative program supporting the Professional Fellows Program, facilitating exchange between American and Chinese professionals. Foundation promotes application deadlines to qualified scholars.
• Tang Prize FoundationmoderateGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Hosted lecture by 2016 Tang Prize Sinology Laureate Professor William Theodore de Bary, promoting the prestigious award and Confucian intellectual history research.
• Tübingen University (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Established the European Research Center on Contemporary Taiwan (CCKF-ERCCT) at Tübingen University to promote research on contemporary Taiwan studies in Europe.
• China Association for Promotion of CulturemoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Co-sponsored the 2011 Manchu and Qing History Camp, supporting academic training programs for scholars in Chinese historical studies.
• Sichuan University and Institute of History and Philology at Academia SinicamoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Co-sponsored the First Cross-Strait History and Culture Camp on Ba-Shu Culture, facilitating academic exchange between Mainland China, Taiwan, and international scholars.
• China Soong Ching Ling FoundationmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Bilateral foundation cooperation through delegation visits, supporting cross-strait academic exchange and scholarly collaboration.
• The Chinese University of Hong KongcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Established the Asia-Pacific Centre for Chinese Studies at CUHK, one of four overseas centers supporting Chinese Studies research and scholarly exchange in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Asia New Zealand FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2005Inter-foundation delegation visit promoting academic and cultural exchange between Taiwan and New Zealand.
• Princeton UniversitymoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Co-sponsored the International Conference on 'New Perspectives on Chinese Culture and Society' at Princeton University, supporting academic exchange between international scholars.
• Charles University (Czech Republic)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Partnership for the establishment of the CCK-ISC (International Sinological Centre) at Charles University in Prague. The center serves as the Foundation's primary overseas sinological hub in Europe, facilitating research and academic exchange in Chinese Studies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES/Fulbright): Administers the Fulbright Scholar Program, providing international academic exchange grants worldwide. Comparable as a broader incumbent in international scholarly exchange and fellowship administration.
• Tang Prize Foundation: Taiwan-based foundation awarding the prestigious Tang Prize (including a Sinology category won by CCKF's late Honorary Director Cho-yun Hsu). Operates as a related incumbent in Chinese Studies recognition and scholarly exchange in Taiwan.
• The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation: One of the largest US philanthropic foundations funding humanities scholarship, including area studies and international scholarly exchange. Operates as a broader incumbent in the academic grantmaking space with overlapping but wider scope.

Direct peers

• Henry Luce Foundation: Major US-based private foundation that funds scholarly programs, including the Luce/ACLS Program in Chinese Studies. Directly comparable model: endowment-funded grantmaking supporting academic research and international scholarly exchange.
• Harvard-Yenching Institute: Endowed institute supporting scholarship in Asian Studies with international fellowship programs and research collaborations. Directly comparable as a Chinese/Asian Studies grantmaking institution with endowed funding and scholarly exchange mission.
• Korea Foundation: Government-affiliated Korean foundation supporting Korean Studies research and academic exchange globally. Directly comparable analogous country-based scholarly grantmaking foundation with overseas programs and fellowship offerings.
• Social Science Research Council (SSRC): Non-profit that funds scholarly research and international academic exchange across social sciences, including area studies programs with China-related components. Comparable as a peer institution distributing grants to scholars globally.
• Japan Foundation: Government-affiliated Japanese foundation supporting international scholarly exchange and cultural studies with focus on Japanese Studies. Closely parallel model: state-linked international scholarly grantmaking foundation with overseas centers and fellowship programs.
• American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS): Administers fellowship and grant programs (including the Luce/ACLS Program in Chinese Studies) that support scholars in humanities and social sciences. Directly comparable as a scholarly grantmaking institution serving academic researchers.

Emerging players

• Association for Asian Studies (AAS): Largest professional society for Asian Studies scholars globally, providing grants and supporting scholarly exchange. Comparable as a peer institution in the Chinese Studies ecosystem with overlapping scholar constituencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chiang-ching-kuo-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange