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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$600M per annum, on competitive-competitive-based peer reviewbased peer review
Research Grants CouncilResearch Grants Council
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Council MembersCouncil Members (appointed by EDB)• Local academics (9)
• Local lay members (3)
• External academics (10)
RReview Panelseview Panels (appointed by RGC Chair)
• Physical Sciences
• Engineering
• Biology & Medicine
• Humanities, Social Sciences & Business Studies
• Panel Chairs (4), local (95), external (48) members
Research Grants CouncilResearch Grants Council
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423.3468.3 510.8 543.3 577.9
505.9 505.9605.9 612.1
656
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
HK$ (million)
1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09
Year
Research Grants CouncilResearch Grants Council
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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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Research Grants CouncilResearch Grants Council
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
Research Grants CouncilResearch Grants Council