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Results of Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (1st round) announced

The Research Grants Council (RGC) announced today (January 11) the results of the first round of Public Policy Research Funding Scheme.

In the first round of the Scheme, the RGC received a total of 73 research project applications submitted by institutions funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC). After rigorous peer-review, the RGC decided to fund 12 projects with a total amount of $7.3 million. Details of these funded projects are posted on the RGC's website at - http://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funded_research/funding_results/ppr1.html

Commenting on the Scheme, the Chairman of the RGC, Prof Roland Chin, said, "The first round of the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme has attracted many high quality research proposals. The Council has applied the same high RGC standard in the selection process which involved vigorous peer-review by international experts in the respective fields.

"The 12 projects supported cover a wide spectrum of public policy research areas, such as social mobility, heath care, urban renewal, energy policy and community work. I am confident that this new initiative will promote public policy research interests in the higher education sector, train research students to engage themselves in public policy career, and enhance the public policy research capability of Hong Kong to serve our society."

The Scheme will be held twice a year. Another 66 applications received in the 2nd round are now being processed and the results will be announced in June this year.

In January 2005, the then Chief Executive in his Policy Address stated that "We will continue to reinforce the policy research capability within the Government. We will allocate, for each of the next three years, an additional $20 million to the University Grants Committee, which will in turn task its Research Grants Council with promoting public policy research in higher education institutions." An amount of $20 million has thus been designated to the RGC annually for three consecutive financial years from 2005 to 2008.

Established in 1991, the RGC is a semi-autonomous advisory body operating under the aegis of the UGC. As an agency supporting academic research in higher education institutions, the RGC is responsible for supporting and fostering research in all disciplines taught in the institutions so that Hong Kong is at the forefront of higher education and knowledge development.

Ends/Wednesday, January 11, 2006

For enquiries on this press release, please contact Mr Anthony Chan, Assistant Secretary General (Research) of the UGC Secretariat at 2844 9916.