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:

1. incentivise the private sector to strengthen financial support for research and development (R&D);
2. diversify research funding sources of the higher education sector;
3. encourage collaboration between industries and the higher education sector in R&D; and
4. increase the social impact of the research conducted by the higher education sector.

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:

1. purchase of major research equipment;
2. purchase of research-related/technology licence(s);
3. expenses for patent applications (for research purpose only);
4. staff costs of research personnel charged solely for the research initiative/project/activity under the RMGS;
5. set-up costs for research facilities (including rental, operation and maintenance expenses, while government matching grants are not applicable to capital works of UGC-funded universities);
6. provision of support for researchers'/students' research activities monitored by universities/institutions; and
7. provision of research fellowships/research awards.

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:

1. applications are processed in cycles on quarterly basis (except the first cycle from 1 August to 30 September 2019).
2. applications and corresponding documents (please refer to the Operation Guide) within each quarter should be submitted to the UGC Secretariat by 5:00 p.m. on the 7th day of the first month of the next quarter (i.e. 7 January, 7 April, 7 July or 7 October), or by 12:00 noon of the next working day should the 7th day of the first month of the next quarter (i.e. 7 January, 7 April, 7 July or 7 October) be a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday. Late application will not be entertained.
3. upon receipt of the applications, the UGC Secretariat will determine and advise the universities/institutions concerned of the allocations of matching grants based on the information submitted, normally by the second month of the quarter concerned (i.e. February, May, August or November). Please refer to the Operation Guide for the matching formula.
4. applications are accepted throughout the operation period of RMGS while the available funds last.

To view the Operation Guide, please click here.

To download the application form, please click here.