1 the future of research in hong kong the future of research in hong kong november 2008 research...

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The Future of Research in Hong KongThe Future of Research in Hong Kong

November 2008

Research Grants CouncilResearch Grants Council

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Create, disseminate, and transfer knowledge

Develop talents – research students

Research informs teaching

Create impact: driven by curiosity

Create impact: driven by applications

Put HK on the map as a center of excellence

Our Research ObjectivesOur Research Objectives

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The Government provides funding for academic

research to the 8 tertiary institutions mainly

through the University Grants CommitteeUniversity Grants Committee (UGC)

and its Research Grants CouncilResearch Grants Council (RGC)

This constitutes the major source of research

funding for the tertiary institutions, making up

about 82%82% of the total research expenditure of

UGC-funded institutions

Funding for Academic ResearchFunding for Academic Research

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UGC provides three main sources:• The Research (R) Portion of Block Grants Allocation

(HK$2.0 billion per year)

• Funding for Research Postgraduate Students

(HK$1.3 billion per year)• The RGC grants

(HK$0.65 billion per year)

The UGC-funded institutions are spending over HK$5 billion on research per year

Funding for Academic ResearchFunding for Academic Research

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Source of Funding

Amount

(HK$M)

UGC 3,870.8

RGC 538.4

Other Gov Funds

323.9

HK Private Funds

595.1

Non-HK 82.7

Total 5,410.9

71%

10%

6%

11%2%

UGC

RGC

Other GovernmentFunds

HK Private Funds

Non-HK

Research Expenditure of 8 InstitutionsResearch Expenditure of 8 Institutions

2006 / 2007

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Established 1 January 1991

To advise the Government, through the UGC, on the academic research needs of UGC-fundedUGC-funded higher education institutions

To review research proposals and monitor the outcome of such projectsprojects

Disburses HK$600M per annum, on competitive-competitive-based peer reviewbased peer review


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Council MembersCouncil Members (appointed by EDB)• Local academics (9)

• Local lay members (3)

• External academics (10)

RReview Panelseview Panels (appointed by RGC Chair)

• Physical Sciences

• Engineering

• Biology & Medicine

• Humanities, Social Sciences & Business Studies

• Panel Chairs (4), local (95), external (48) members


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423.3468.3 510.8 543.3 577.9

505.9 505.9605.9 612.1

656

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

HK$ (million)

1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09

Year


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General Research FundGeneral Research Fund (GRF)• Small Scale, individual projects (2-3 years)• HK$300K to HK$1.5M per project

Collaborative Research FundCollaborative Research Fund (CRF) • Medium Scale, team projects (3-5 years)• HK$3M - HK$8M per project

Areas of ExcellenceAreas of Excellence (AoE) • Large Scale, longer-term team projects (5-8 years)• HK$30M to HK$76M per project• Administered by the UGC

Joint Research Funding SchemesJoint Research Funding Schemes• RGC-NSFC• France, Germany and UK

Research Funding SchemesResearch Funding Schemes

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Humanities, Social Sciences & Business

20%

Biology & Medicine

32%

Physical Sciences16%

Engineering32%

$164M$83M

2002008 / 20098 / 2009Total: HK$514M

$101M $166M

GRF Research Fund AllocationGRF Research Fund Allocation

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Future DevelopmentsFuture Developments

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Financial Secretary Announcement 27 February 2008

• HK$18 billionHK$18 billion Research Endowment Fund (REF)

• New 800800 Research Postgraduate (RPg) Places

Competitive-based Allocation to UGC institutions

REF Implementation Plan

• A Trust for the management of the REF

• Investment income to replace RGC recurrent grant and

to support specific theme-based academic research

Research Endowment FundResearch Endowment Fund

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Earmarked:Earmarked: Up to HK$4 billion REF (income: HK$200M)

Unspent Earmarked Fund:Unspent Earmarked Fund: Redeploy to support other UGC / RGC research projects, or to generate additional REF income

Objectives:Objectives:

• For long-term interest of Hong Kong

• Broad areas: Existing strength & new initiatives

• Potential important breakthrough

Theme-based Research (1)Theme-based Research (1)

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Determination of ThemesDetermination of Themes

• Steering Committee to be appointed by EDB

• Members from higher education, Government and community

• To consult, recommend, set priority and review

• A small number of themes

Non-UGC:Non-UGC: Not to overlap with ITC and other agencies

Theme-based Research (2)Theme-based Research (2)

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Additional 800 RPgAdditional 800 RPg

RGC Fellowships:RGC Fellowships: By RGC through worldwide recruitment / competition

Allocation to Institutions: Allocation to Institutions: By UGC based on past RGC grant records

Allocation to AoE:Allocation to AoE: By UGC to new and sustained AoE projects

RGC Fellowship SchemeRGC Fellowship Scheme

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Prestigious Fellowship Scheme:Prestigious Fellowship Scheme: To attract the best and brightest PhD students globally to Hong Kong

Objectives:Objectives:• Improve quality and increase quantity of PhD students

• Diversify and internationalize PhD population

• Raise global awareness of HK as a key research hub

Eligibility:Eligibility: Applicants from local, Mainland and overseas

Stipend:Stipend: High stipend with travel grants for 3 years

Schedule:Schedule: 135 Fellowships each year from 2010 / 2011

RGC Fellowship SchemeRGC Fellowship Scheme

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Continue our momentum

Continue our hi-quality research as individual PI

Longer-term, larger-scale, higher-impact projects

Train more research manpower

Take our research to the community

Integrate research with our undergraduate education

Contribute to government, enterprises & community

Our ResponsibilityOur Responsibility

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The Future of Research in Hong KongThe Future of Research in Hong Kong

Questions and Answers

Your views are appreciated


1 the future of research in hong kong the future of research in hong kong november 2008 research...

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