Co-funding Mechanism on Joint Laboratories with the Chinese Academy of Sciences – Youth Seed Fund
Call Circular for Applications

Purpose

The Research Grants Council (RGC) is inviting 22 accredited joint laboratories established between the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities to submit applications for the Youth Seed Fund (YSF).

Objectives

The YSF aims to support young researchers of accredited joint laboratories for academic exchanges and research collaboration in order to enhance their engagement in international exchanges and strengthen the global influence of joint laboratories. The following activities can be supported under the YSF -

1. visiting international renowned universities or research institutions abroad;
2. participating in international academic conferences abroad; and
3. organising conferences, workshops or other academic exchange events in Hong Kong.

The YSF would help cultivate and groom young research talents of the 22 accredited joint laboratories by supporting and facilitating their going on international exchanges and organisation of relevant conferences and workshops. By offering such support, the YSF can enable young researchers to obtain valuable training and experience from overseas practices, expand their network for scientific and innovation collaboration and strengthen the global influence of joint laboratories in major research initiatives.

Details of the Scheme

Details of the YSF are set out as follows -

Eligibility	Team members of 22 accredited joint laboratories ; have full-time appointment with teaching and research activities (excluding part-time or honorary appointments) in university proper1; and hold a substantiation track / tenure track position2 on a fulltime basis in an UGC-funded university, with not exceeding three years of full-time academic job as an Associate Professor or career equivalent (including those at a lower rank); or not exceeding 12 years of post-doctoral or equivalent terminal qualifications; whichever is shorter3.
Funding Ceiling	Maximum HK$360,000 for each eligible joint laboratory Maximum HK$45,000 for travel grants for each programme / visit Maximum HK$150,000 for conference / workshop grants for organising each conference / workshop / academic exchange event in Hong Kong
Funding Coverage	Travel grants cover air passage(s) and accommodation costs directly related to the proposed academic exchanges / visits. The travel grants do not cover expenditure on equipment, consumables or other related expenses, as well as insurance. The conference / workshop grants cover travel and accommodation costs of guest speakers and the direct organisation costs; e.g. reservation of meeting venue, production of conference / workshop materials, etc. Expenditure on meals is not covered by the grant. No administrative fees can be claimed.
Funding mode	Funding will be disbursed annually according to the approved budget.
Selection Process	RGC and CAS will conduct independent expert reviews on applications based on: possible synergies, expected benefits and prospects for longer-term collaboration with the proposed international renowned universities / research institutions; and opportunities for training of young researchers through the proposed exchanges. RGC and CAS will make recommendations on supported applications individually. Only applications which are jointly supported by both sides will be considered for funding.
Monitoring and Assessment	Applicants will be required to submit: relevant financial statement together with any unspent balance to the RGC within six months after the expiry of the approved funding period; and completion report to the RGC within 12 months after the expiry of approved funding period. The completion report should include information on whether the exchange program has expanded the collaborative network, enhanced the academic standards and global influence of the joint laboratories.
Programme Duration	Three years (from January 2026 to December 2028)
Application Deadline	31 July 2025
Application Deadline	The RGC and the CAS will announce the selection results in Q4 2025

¹ Schools/arms of continuing education and professional training and other analogous outfits are excluded. The salary of the staff member should be wholly funded by the university proper. Staff members who are receiving income from paid appointments outside the university proper or who is supported by external research grants are excluded.

²For academic staff not in substantiation track / tenure track, the PI and/or team members must meet the following requirement: (i) is a newly appointed academic staff member who has formally entered into a contract of service with the submitting university on or before the submission deadline and his/her appointment would take effect on or before 1 October of the same year; or (ii) is an academic staff member employed on a fixed term contract at the time of funding award (usually in December of the year or January of the next year) and throughout the whole YSF period.

³ The same eligibility criteria are currently adopted by the RGC Young Collaborative Research Grant.

All enquiries should be directed to the Research Offices of respective universities in the first instance who, if in doubt, will contact the UGC Secretariat.