Theme-based Research Scheme 2026/27 (Sixteenth Round) Funding Results
Theme / Project Title Participating
UGC-funded
Universities# 		Approved
Budget*
(HK$ million) 		Funding from the RGC*
(HK$ million)
Proposals with Five-Year Budget
Theme 1:  Understanding, Preventing and Treating Diseases
Microbiota in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Mechanistic Investigation and Clinical Applications CUHK, HKU, HKBU 61.878 55.691
Next-Generation Orthopaedic Implants: R&D and Clinical Translation with Multi-functional Properties of Fixation, Regeneration, and AI-based Therapy Monitoring CUHK, CityU, PolyU, HKBU 56.969 49.425
Theme 2:  Developing a Sustainable Environment
Preparation of Novel Unconventional Cu-based Catalysts for CO₂ Conversion towards Scalable Production of Value-added Chemicals CityU, CUHK, PolyU, HKUST, HKU 47.604   39.644
Intelligent Artificial Photosynthesis PolyU, CityU, HKU, CUHK 58.696   48.827
Theme 3: Enhancing Hong Kong's Strategic Position as a Regional and International Business Centre
Managing AI risk for businesses in Hong Kong PolyU, CUHK 12.957   10.839
Theme 4: Advancing Emerging Research and Innovations Important to Hong Kong
SynapseCity: AI-Driven Urban Emergency Response and Rescue CityU, HKUST, CUHK 61.878   55.691
3D-Integrated Power Delivery Technology for Advanced AI Chip Modules HKU, CityU, HKUST, CUHK 57.756   49.883
Total (Seven projects) 357.738 310.000
Exploratory Proposal with One-Year Budget
Theme 4: Advancing Emerging Research and Innovations Important to Hong Kong
Development and Assessment of Human Capacities for Productive Human-AI Interaction HKU, HKUST, EdUHK - 10.000
Total (One project) - 10.000
#






 CityU: City University of Hong Kong
CUHK: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
EdUHK: The Education University of Hong Kong
HKBU: Hong Kong Baptist University
HKU: The University of Hong Kong
HKUST: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
PolyU: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
*



 Inclusive of indirect costs / on-costs. The RGC’s funding allocation for the seven projects with five-year budget in TRS 2026/27 is $310 million. The remaining $48 million of the approved budget will be matched by the universities concerned. For the exploratory project, the RGC’s funding allocation is $10 million and the university matching is subject to a revised one-year budget plan to be submitted by the project team which requires approval from the relevant Committee.