In 1996, the Research Grants Council (RGC) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) joined together to promote research collaboration between Hong Kong and Germany by providing researchers in the two locations with travel grants for duration periods of one and two years. The RGC and the DAAD bear no responsibility for the manner in which the exchange/visit is conducted.

This scheme offers much flexibility to the applicants because there is no ceiling in terms of the number of applications that can be submitted by all eight UGC-funded universities. In addition, an applicant may apply as a Principal Investigator (PI) in an exercise and may also apply as a participating member of another project in the same exercise.

The RGC funds granted to the Hong Kong PI can be used to support the research visits of the research postgraduate students to partner institutions, thus enabling them to obtain valuable training and experience from overseas practices. The annual budget for the exercise is capped at HK$1.2 million. The amount of the grant per project per year is set at HK$45,000 for those involving travel of research postgraduate students and HK$30,000 per year for those not involving students' travels. Additional funding support from Hong Kong and German institutions/companies to individual grant recipient is most welcome.

Hong Kong applicants must meet the application requirements for the RGC General Research Fund (GRF).

The assessment criteria are as follows:

1. the academic merits of the proposed research;
2. the possible synergies, expected benefits, and prospects for long-term collaboration; and
3. training opportunities for young researchers and research postgraduate students through the proposed exchanges.

The RGC and the DAAD will jointly select applications to be supported. Only applications that have been agreed upon by both sides will be considered for funding.

Hong Kong and the German applicants are required to submit applications in parallel:

• Hong Kong applicants are required to submit their applications to the RGC through the research offices of their respective universities. Direct submission to the RGC will not be accepted;
• German applicants are required to submit their applications directly to the DAAD. Details relating to the application procedures are available on the DAAD homepage; and
• applications must be received on or before the specified deadline. Hong Kong applicants are reminded to check with the research offices of their respective universities regarding internal closing dates. Late submissions will not be accepted.

It is the responsibility of Hong Kong and German applicants to ensure that their respective applications contain sufficient and consistent information for evaluation. The RGC will not seek or accept supplementary information/revision after the application deadline. The DAAD will also verify the applications of the Hong Kong applications from the RGC. Applications containing inconsistent information may lead to disqualification. Any applications whose proposals are found to exceed allowable page limits or contain excessive attachments will also be disqualified.

To view the call circular, please click here.

To download the application form, please click here.