Open for application now! Please refer to call circular.
What Is It?
Strategic Topics Grant (STG) is set up to support collaborative research in specific areas which can help Hong Kong overcome imminent challenges and capture emerging opportunities.
What Makes It Special?
There are five strategic topics under the STG. They are as follows:
Using Advanced Technology to Address Health Care Challenges
Striving towards Carbon Neutrality before 2050
Establishing Hong Kong as the Leading Integrated Circuits, and Opto-electronics Innovation and Technology Hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
Managing the Socio-economic Dimensions of Public Health Challenges
Innovative and Environmental-friendly Construction Technologies and Materials
The maximum duration of a project is five years. The ceiling of project cost per project to be awarded by the RGC is $40 million (excluding on-costs). The requirement of 10% matching funding from participating universities is applied.
Who Is Eligible?
Those who are eligible for the RGC General Research Fund may submit application under the STG. Each applicant can submit one application as Project Coordinator in each round of the STG exercise.
Assessment Criteria
The assessment criteria are as follows:
the academic merit;
the long-term goal of the proposal and its potential to help Hong Kong overcome imminent challenges and capture emerging opportunities under the strategic topics;
credentials of the project team;
existence of a clear strategy; and
sound structure for an excellent research project.
Application Procedures
The preliminary proposal should be submitted to the UGC Secretariat through the research offices of the coordinating universities by 5:00 pm on 9 September 2024. Project teams of the shortlisted preliminary proposals will be invited by end-2024 to submit full proposals. Project teams of further shortlisted proposals will be invited for selection interview scheduled for late May 2025.
