Institutional Development Scheme (IDS) Collaborative Research Grant 2026/27 Exercise
  1. The proposals received in this round of exercise were of a generally high standard, addressing important, interesting and timely research topics with academic novelty and potential societal impact. The Panel was impressed by the thorough preparation of the project teams and their readiness to answer questions raised at the interview.
  1. Feasibility was a major concern across most proposals. Some proposals were overly ambitious in scope and lacked sufficient details on concrete methodology, implementation strategy, collaboration plans and industry partnerships.  Others proposed unachievable objectives and deliverables, while further concerns were raised regarding the low time commitment of project team members and the engagement of experts lacking relevant expertise and experience for the proposed study.
  1. The quality of the applications would be further enhanced if applicants considered the following in their future submissions –
    • provide a clear integration plan that connects the research themes with practical application scenarios;
    • review individual constructs and explicitly develop a coherent theoretical framework for the research study;
    • engage suitable experts and stakeholders from the respective research fields to ensure realistic delivery of the stated research outcomes;
    • explain in detail on how collaboration would be carried out among participating researchers, research groups and institutions; and
    • avoid making presentation slides text-heavy and information-dense.