The first round of Research Matching Grant Scheme (RMGS), introduced in 2019, was successfully completed in 2024. In the light of the fruitful outcome, the Government decided to launch a new round of RMGS in 2025 for a period of four years with a total commitment of $1.5 billion, in order to achieve the following objectives:
The new round of RMGS will operate from 1 May 2025 until 30 April 2029 tentatively to fully allocate the $1.5-billion provision of research matching grants.
The new round of RMGS covers the eight UGC-funded universities (including their self-financing arms/ units) and the 13 local self-financing degree-awarding institutions. There is no restriction on academic disciplines, while the new round of RMGS only applies to research-related purposes.
Donations and matching grants under the new round of RMGS may be used for, but not limited to, the following research expenditure:
Donations and research grants/ research contracts from non-governmental/ non-public sectors secured by the universities/ institutions during the operation period of the new round of RMGS (i.e. from 1 May 2025 onwards) are eligible for matching. There should be no “double matching” or “double subsidies”. Projects having secured various public/ government funds from local/ non-local authorities (e.g. the Innovation and Technology Fund, research grants from the UGC and the RGC, etc.), and donations/ research grants/ research contracts already matched with public funds under other schemes (e.g. the Eighth Matching Grant Scheme, the first round of RMGS) are not eligible for matching grants under the new round of RMGS. Universities/ Institutions are obliged to declare that there is no double matching or double subsidisation by completing an undertaking proforma, which must be submitted together with the applications. The UGC Secretariat reserves the final right to determine whether a donation/ research grant/ research contract is eligible for matching.
The arrangements of application for the new round of RMGS are stipulated as follows:
Year | Processing cycles |
---|---|
2025 | First cycle: 1 May – 31 October 2025 |
Second cycle (if applicable): 1 November – 31 December 2025 | |
2026 | First cycle: 1 January – 30 April 2026+ |
Second cycle: 1 May – 31 October 2026 | |
Third cycle (if applicable): 1 November – 31 December 2026 | |
2027 | First cycle: 1 January – 30 April 2027+ |
Second cycle: 1 May – 31 October 2027 | |
Third cycle (if applicable): 1 November – 31 December 2027 | |
2028 (-2029) | First cycle: 1 January – 30 April 2028+ |
Second cycle: 1 May – 31 October 2028 | |
Third cycle (if applicable): 1 November – 31 December 2028 (And finally if applicable: 1 January – 30 April 2029) |
+Also to cover the last two months of the previous year if applicable
To view the Operation Guide for details of the new round of RMGS, please click here.
To download the application form for the new round of RMGS, please click here.