The Research Grants Council (RGC) announced today (31 December) the results of the Strategic Public Policy Research (SPPR) 2009/2010 exercise.

In the 2009/2010 exercise, the RGC received a total of 12 research project applications submitted by institutions funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC). After a rigorous international peer-review, the RGC decided to fund four projects with a total amount of $9.3 million (inclusive of on-costs) at Annex. Details of these funded projects are also posted on the RGC's website at http://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/result/result.htm

Commenting on the Scheme, the Chairman of the RGC, Professor Roland Chin, said, "The SPPR 2009/2010 exercise has attracted high quality research proposals and encouraged inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration. A total of four projects have been selected. We are confident that the results of these projects will make substantial impact on the policy matters concerning the development of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta and the promotion of creative industries in Hong Kong."

The Public Policy Research (PPR) Funding Scheme was set up in 2005 following the announcement of the then Chief Executive in his Policy Address. In the 2007/2008 Policy Agenda, the Government decided to extend the PPR scheme for four more years (i.e. from 2008/2009 - 2011/2012) with an annual provision of $20 million. In 2008/2009, the Strategic Public Policy Research (SPPR) Funding Scheme was introduced to support and promote longer-term public policy research projects. In parallel to this new development, the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme will be conducted once a year instead of twice a year.

Ends/Thursday, December 31, 2009