Call Circular

National Natural Science Foundation of China/
Research Grants Council (RGC) Joint Research Scheme
2024/25 Exercise

Invitation for Applications


    Aim

    The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme (JRS) aims to promote collaboration between researchers / research teams in the Mainland and Hong Kong on the basis of complementing existing strengths of both sides. The scheme supports research proposals jointly submitted by the Mainland and the Hong Kong researchers. It also offers up to two conference grants to sponsor conferences held in Hong Kong. The six focus areas include Information Technology, Life Science, New Materials Science, Marine and Environmental Science, Medicine, and Management Science.

    2.   The RGC has reserved an amount of HK$60 million for the Hong Kong applicants in the NSFC / RGC JRS 2024/25 exercise. Around 50 projects will be supported. The operational details (including eligibility, funding, application procedures, selection procedures, etc.) of the research grants and conference grants are set out in the ensuing paragraphs.


    A. Research Grants

    Eligibility

    3.   Each Mainland or Hong Kong applicant is only allowed to submit one application in the capacity of either the Principal Investigator (PI) under NSFC / RGC JRS or the Project Coordinator (PC) under NSFC / RGC Collaborative Research Scheme (CRS) (which is open for applications till 1 March 2024) in the same funding exercise.

    4.   The Hong Kong PI should meet fully the requirements for applying for the RGC General Research Fund (GRF). Please refer to paragraph 3 in Section 1 of GRF 2024/25 “Scheme Overview and Guidance Notes (GRF2)” on the RGC website: https://www.ugc.edu.hk/doc/eng/rgc/form/GRF2.pdf. A Hong Kong PI of an on-going NSFC / RGC JRS research project or a Hong Kong PC of an ongoing NSFC / RGC CRS project is not allowed to submit a new application for research grant in the capacity of PI in the current NSFC / RGC JRS exercise unless both collaborative partners have submitted their completion reports of the project to the NSFC and the RGC before the preliminary application deadline. Nevertheless, he / she could participate in a new NSFC / RGC JRS research proposal if not in the capacity as a PI. Moreover, applicants should refer to the relevant requirements of the NSFC and ensure their eligibility as Hong Kong PI will be accepted by the NSFC.

    5.   A joint proposal submitted by a Mainland PI affiliated with a Mainland institution which is established and operated by the same University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded university of the Hong Kong PI will not be considered as a valid collaboration. Such application will be disqualified. Examples of invalid collaborations include but are not limited to the following -

    UGC-funded University of Hong Kong PI Mainland Institution of Mainland PI
    Hong Kong Baptist University Beijing Normal University - Hong Kong Baptist University United International College
    The University of Hong Kong The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation
    The Chinese University of Hong Kong The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)
    City University of Hong Kong City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan)

    6.   Mainland applicants should check with the NSFC for their eligibility requirements.

    7.   Researchers outside the Mainland and Hong Kong may participate as members of the Mainland or the Hong Kong research team.


    Funding

    8.   The scheme aims to support research projects with duration of four years. For Hong Kong applicants, the grant sought for each project should not exceed HK$1.25 million (exclusive of on-costs). For Mainland applicants, the maximum funding amount per project is RMB1 million (exclusive of on-costs).

    9.   The RGC funding will provide support for:

    • salary of research support staff hired by the Hong Kong researchers;
    • equipment in Hong Kong;
    • general expenses, including consumables that are directly related to
    • the research work;
    • expenses for receiving the Mainland collaborators in Hong Kong;
    • passage for Hong Kong researchers and research postgraduate
    • students to visit collaborators in the Mainland; and
    • grants for Hong Kong researchers and research postgraduate
    • students to attend international conferences.

    10.   The NSFC funding will provide support for:

    • research expenditure;
    • expenses for receiving Hong Kong collaborators in the Mainland;
    • passage for the Mainland researchers to visit collaborators in Hong Kong; and
    • other expenses allowed by the NSFC.

    11.   The Mainland and the Hong Kong partners of the supported projects will receive funding from the NSFC and the RGC separately, and the grants can only be used in the Mainland and Hong Kong respectively.


    How to apply

    12.   Parallel submissions of both applications by the Mainland and the Hong Kong applicants are required. While applications must be submitted before the deadlines as outlined below, Hong Kong applicants should check with their universities for internal closing dates. Late submissions will not be processed.

    13.   Hong Kong applications should be submitted to the RGC through respective universities. Mainland applications are to be submitted to the Office of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Affairs of the NSFC. Detailed information on application procedures of the NSFC is available on the NSFC website: http://www.nsfc.gov.cn.

    14.   It is the obligation of both the Mainland and the Hong Kong applicants to ensure that their respective applications contain sufficient and consistent information for evaluation. Incomplete submission (such as those lacking substantial data / information for evaluation) or inconsistent / inaccurate information would lead to disqualification of applications. The project period of both sides should have the same start and end dates. All proposals funded in the 2024/25 exercise should commence on 1 January 2025.

    15.   Hong Kong applicants should submit a hard copy and a soft copy (with size up to 2 MB per proposal) of their preliminary proposals through the Research Offices of their universities to the RGC by 5:00 pm of 26 January 2024. . They are also required to submit to the RGC a hard copy and a soft copy of the proposals submitted by their Mainland partners to the NSFC by 5 February 2024 the latest. The application to be submitted to the RGC should be prepared in accordance with the “Preliminary Proposal Application Form for Research Grants” (NSFC / RGC 1a (Dec 23)) and should be jointly signed by the collaborators of both places. Each preliminary proposal should be confined to three A4 size sheets, i.e. six sides including all attachments and references (but excluding the university’s Statement on Submission and Curriculum Vitae (CV) of applicants). In order to ensure consistency and fairness to all applicants, applicants must complete the applications in the following standard RGC format. Failure to comply with the application format and / or the allowable page will lead to disqualification of the proposal.

      Font : Times New Roman
      Font Size : 12 point
      Margin : 2.5 cm all round
      Spacing : Single-line spacing

    16.   After initial screening, the NSFC and the RGC will jointly work out a mutually agreed shortlist of which full proposals will be invited. The RGC will notify the shortlisted Hong Kong applicants in April / May 2024 for submission of full proposals.

    17.   The deadline for submission of full proposals to the RGC will be in June / July 2024. Shortlisted Hong Kong applicants will be invited through their respective universities to submit two hard copies and a soft copy (with size up to 5 MB per proposal) of full proposals using the specified form “NSFC / RGC Joint Research Scheme Full Proposal Application Form”. Each full proposal must be accompanied by an agreement of collaboration between the Mainland and the Hong Kong applicants.


    Selection

    18.   The main factors for consideration are (i) the scientific merits of the proposal; (ii) the extent to which the existing strengths of each side may complement each other in a proposal; and (iii) opportunities for training young researchers. Balance of different disciplines may be taken into consideration when the scientific aspects of two proposals are considered being equal.

    19.   The NSFC and the RGC will arrange to assess the research proposals received in accordance with their respective peer-review procedures. A Joint Selection Committee, comprising representatives from the NSFC and the RGC, will conduct a final assessment on the applications. The Joint Selection Committee will only fund proposals which have been supported by both sides.


    Announcement of Results

    20.  The results of the final selection will be announced in October / November 2024. The results will also be published on the RGC website.


    Monitoring and Assessment

    21.   Hong Kong PIs of funded research projects are required to submit midterm and completion reports through their universities to the RGC for monitoring and assessment. The reports will be evaluated in part by the level of collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong teams involved, and the PIs are required to show tangible evidence of collaboration via the research output in their mid-term / completion reports. Details of reporting requirements will be provided to the successful applicants in the announcement of funding results.


    Conditions

    22.   The NSFC and the RGC will not be responsible for any expenditure incurred by the project in excess of the approved funding.

    23.   Neither the NSFC nor the RGC will provide any insurance cover in connection with the project or allow the use of the grant for insurance cover. Applicants should make their own arrangements. The NSFC and the RGC will not accept any responsibility arising in any way from the visits and the activities undertaken by the researchers.

    24.   As a matter of policy, the RGC does not claim any intellectual property rights arising from the projects it funds. Researchers, their collaborators and the universities concerned should make their own prior arrangements with regard to the ownership of such rights.

    25.   Funded projects may be selected by the NSFC and the RGC to present their progress during a site visit. Selected projects will be separately notified of the date and logistic requirements in advance.


    B. Conference proposals

    Eligibility

    26.   Either the Hong Kong PI or a Co-Investigator in the Hong Kong team should meet fully the requirements for applying for the RGC Early Career Scheme (ECS). Please refer to paragraph 3 in Section 1 of ECS 2024/25 “Scheme Overview and Guidance Notes (ECS2)” on the RGC website: https://www.ugc.edu.hk/doc/eng/rgc/form/ECS2.pdf. A Hong Kong PI of an ongoing NSFC / RGC JRS conference project is not allowed to submit a new application unless the Hong Kong PI has submitted the completion report of the last approved conference project to the RGC before the application deadline. Nevertheless, he / she could participate in a new NSFC / RGC JRS conference proposal if not in the capacity as a PI. Each PI can only submit one conference proposal in each exercise.

    27.   The Hong Kong PI should collaborate with a Mainland Co-organiser who should meet the eligibility requirements as “young scientists” specified by the NSFC. Enquiries regarding NSFC’s requirements should be made to the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the NSFC via email at hmt@nsfc.gov.cn.


    Funding

    28.   The scheme aims to facilitate the Mainland and Hong Kong young researchers of similar fields to develop new collaboration through dissemination of their recent and unpublished research work. Two conferences, one in science disciplines (viz. Biology and Medicine, Engineering and Physical Sciences disciplines) and one in non-science disciplines (viz Humanities and Social Sciences and Business Studies disciplines) to be held in Hong Kong, will be selected for funding.

    29.   The RGC funding will provide support for a two or three-day conference to be held in Hong Kong. The conference / workshop should take place between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025 inclusive. The maximum amount of RGC grant per conference is HK$250,000.

    30.   The RGC grant covers travel, accommodation and subsistence costs of guest speakers from the Mainland to Hong Kong, and the direct organising costs, e.g. reservation of meeting venue, production of conference / workshop materials etc. Expenditure on meals is not covered by the grant. Awardees are requested to publicize the conference to young researchers within and outside the host university with a view to encouraging wide participation.


    How to apply

    31.   For each conference, there should be a Hong Kong PI and a Co-organiser from the Mainland. The Hong Kong PI is responsible for the overall coordination of the event, and the Mainland Co-organiser assists in drawing up the main programme, e.g. suggestion on guest speaker(s) to be invited. The conference may comprise sessions where the Mainland and local guest speakers present on-going research work, local postdoctoral fellows and postgraduate research students post up their current work, and / or interested local parties attend hands-on sessions to acquire new techniques.

    32.   It is the obligation of both the Mainland and the Hong Kong applicants to ensure that their applications contain sufficient and consistent information for evaluation. Incomplete submission (such as those lacking substantial data / information for evaluation) or inconsistent / inaccurate information would lead to disqualification of applications.

    33.   Applications should be submitted through the Research Offices of their universities to the RGC by 5:00 pm of 26 January 2024. Applicants should check with the Research Offices of respective universities for internal deadlines. For each application please submit a soft copy (with size up to 2MB per application) and two hard copies of:

    • (a) the application form which should be prepared in accordance with the “Conference Proposal Application Form” (NSFC / RGC 1c (Dec 23)) and should be jointly signed by the collaborators of both places;
    • (b) a half-page summary of each guest speaker (i.e. both Mainland and Hong Kong) on his / her presentation at the proposed conference, the current understanding in the field on the topic he / she will be speaking on, and the latest research findings and their significance; and
    • (c) one A4 page (with a maximum of 400 words) CV for each guest speaker with information on name, academic qualifications, previous academic position(s) held (with date(s)) and present position (state if applicant is a visiting academic from overseas), previous relevant research work, publication records including the five most representative publications in the recent five years and five representative publications beyond the recent five (ten at maximum) years, and others including research-related prizes and awards, brief description of experience in consultancies, service as a referee in evaluating other grant applications, patents, PhD theses supervised, etc.

    34.   Hong Kong applicants may refer to the template enclosed at the Appendix to the application form in preparing their CVs.


    Selection

    35.   The main factors for consideration include the research standing of the Main and Co-organisers and that of the guest speakers, the degree of intra- and inter-institutional participation by Mainland and local researchers and students, and the prospects for new / longer-term research collaboration between Mainland and Hong Kong researchers.

    36.   The RGC will select the conference proposals to be supported in accordance with its assessment mechanism.


    Announcement of Results

    37.   The results of the selection of conference proposals will be announced in April / May 2024. The results will also be published on the RGC website.


    Monitoring and Assessment

    38.   Hong Kong PIs of funded conferences are required to submit completion reports to the RGC through the university within six months of the conclusion of the event for monitoring and assessment. Details of reporting requirements will be provided to the successful applicants in the announcement of funding results.


    Conditions

    39.   Participants (including guest speakers) of the conferences should include both Mainland and Hong Kong researchers. Hong Kong PIs should ensure that at least 50% of the participants (including guest speakers) from Hong Kong are at Assistant Professor rank in UGC-funded universities while 50% of the participants (including guest speakers) from the Mainland should meet the eligibility requirements as “young scientists” specified by the NSFC. Enquiry regarding the NSFC requirements should be made to the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the NSFC via email to hmt@nsfc.gov.cn.

    40.   The RGC will not be responsible for any expenditure incurred by the project in excess of the approved funding.

    41.   Neither the NSFC nor the RGC will provide any insurance cover in connection with the conference or allow the use of the grant for insurance cover. Applicants should make their own arrangements. The NSFC and the RGC will not accept any responsibility arising in any way from the visits and the activities undertaken by the researchers.

    42.   The NSFC and the RGC may send representatives to attend funded conferences as observers. Selected conferences will be separately notified of the date and logistic requirements in advance.


    Enquiries

    43.   All enquiries should be directed to Research Offices of respective universities in the first instance. Their contact details are as follows:

    Mr Winaf Fan
    City University of Hong Kong
    83 Tat Chee Avenue
    Kowloon Tong, Kowloon

    Tel: 3442 7547
    Fax: 3442 0136

    Mr Ivan Lau
    Hong Kong Baptist University
    Kowloon Tong
    Kowloon

    Tel: 3411 7751
    Fax: 3411 5525

    Ms Connie Lam
    Lingnan University
    8 Castle Peak Road
    Tuen Mun, New Territories

    Tel: 2616 7683
    Fax: 2591 9618

    Ms Vivien Zhang
    The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Shatin
    New Territories

    Tel: 3943 4770
    Fax: 3942 0993

    Ms Clara Fong
    The Education University of Hong Kong
    10 Lo Ping Road
    Tai Po, New Territories

    Tel: 2948 7700
    Fax: 2948 7697

    Miss Claudia Yiu
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Hung Hom
    Kowloon

    Tel: 3400 3630
    Fax: 2355 7651

    Ms Catherine Leung
    The Hong Kong University of Science
    and Technology
    Clear Water Bay, Kowloon

    Tel: 2358 6946
    Fax: 2358 1541

    Miss Kay Ling
    The University of Hong Kong
    Pokfulam Road
    Hong Kong

    Tel: 2859 1181
    Fax: 2803 0558

     

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    UGC Secretariat
    5 December 2023