The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong Collaborative Research Scheme (CRS) aims to support larger-scale collaborative research across disciplines and / or across universities in the Mainland and Hong Kong, with a view to enhancing research output and impact on both sides. It will initially operate on a three-year pilot basis.

The NSFC / RGC CRS supports collaborative research proposals jointly submitted by the Mainland and the Hong Kong researchers. The six focus areas include Information Technology; Life Science; New Materials Science; Marine and Environmental Science; Medicine; and Management Science.

The Scheme aims to support research projects with duration of four years. For Hong Kong applicants, the grants sought for each project should not exceed HK$3.6 million (exclusive of on-costs). Around ten projects will be supported.

The eligibility requirements of the Hong Kong applicants for NSFC / RGC CRS are the same as those for NSFC / RGC Joint Research Scheme (JRS). 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 CRS in the same funding exercise.

The Hong Kong PC should meet fully the requirements for applying for the RGC General Research Fund (GRF). A Hong Kong PI of an on-going NSFC / RGC JRS research project is not allowed to submit a new application in the capacity of PC in the current NSFC / RGC CRS exercise unless both collaborative partners have submitted their completion reports of the project to the RGC and the NSFC before the application deadline. Nevertheless, he / she could participate in a new NSFC / RGC CRS proposal if not in the capacity as a PC. Moreover, applicants should refer to the relevant requirements of the NSFC and ensure their eligibility as Hong Kong PC will be accepted by the NSFC.

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

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

The main factors for consideration are (i) the scientific merits and innovation of the proposal; (ii) the opportunities for effective synergism among the participating researchers, research groups and universities and the extent to which existing strengths of the Mainland and Hong Kong may complement each other; and (iii) the long-term goal of the proposal and its impacts to the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Balance of different disciplines may be taken into consideration when the scientific aspects of two proposals are considered being equal.

Parallel submissions of both applications by the Hong Kong and the Mainland applicants before the respective deadlines are required. Hong Kong applicants are reminded to check with their universities for internal closing dates. Mainland applications are to be submitted to the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the NSFC. Detailed information regarding application procedures of the NSFC is available at https://www.nsfc.gov.cn. Hong Kong applications should be submitted to the RGC through the Research Offices of the respective universities by 5:00 pm of 5 March 2025. Hong Kong applicants are also required to submit to the RGC two hard copies and a soft copy of the proposals submitted by their Mainland partners to the NSFC by the same deadline.