The Research Matching Grant Scheme (RMGS) was introduced by the Hong Kong Government in August 2019 with a $3-billion provision in order to achieve the following objectives:
Commencing to operate from 1 August 2019, RMGS will continue accepting applications until the $3-billion provision is fully exhausted.
Under the RMGS, the eight UGC-funded universities (including their self-financing arms/units) and the 13 local self-financing degree-awarding institutions are included. There is no restriction on academic disciplines, while the RMGS only applies to research-related purposes.
Donations and matching grants under the RMGS may be used for, but not limited to, the following research expenditure:
Donations and research grants/research contracts from non-government or non-public sectors secured by the universities/institutions during the operation period of RMGS will be eligible for matching. Double matching or double subsidisation is prohibited. Projects that have secured public/government funds (e.g the Innovation and Technology Fund, research grants from the UGC and the RGC , the Research Impact Fund, etc.), and donations/research grants/research contracts already matched with public funds within Hong Kong under other matching schemes (e.g. the Eighth Matching Grant Scheme) are not eligible for matching grants under the 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 conditions of application for the RMGS are stipulated as follows:
To view the Operation Guide, please click here.
To download the application form, please click here.