The Research Grants Council entered its 10th year in 2000, having been established as a semi-autonomous advisory body under the aegis of the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee (UPGC) on 1 January 1991.

Research funds rise more than four-fold
During its first year, the RGC allocated research funds totalling a modest HK$100 million, a figure that climbed more than four-fold to HK$470 million for 2000-2001.
In 10 years, the RGC has funded more than 4,000 research projects across a diversity of subjects, from engineering and the physical sciences to biology and medicine, humanities, social sciences and business studies.
In that timespan, the number of proposals attracted under the Competitive Earmarked Research Grant (CERG) exercise has grown from 206 in 1991 to 1,600 in 2000-2001, an eight-fold increase. And the number of projects awarded funds in the annual CERG exercise, after meticulous international peer scrutiny, has risen from 137 in 1991-1992 to more than 640 in 2000-2001. The organisation of the RGC has seen equally impressive growth; from three subject panels comprising 22 members in 1991, to today's four subject panels with 99 members.

Initiatives help research environment
To better support the ever-developing research environment in Hong Kong, many initiatives have been introduced over the decade. In 1992, on an experimental basis, funds in the context of the CERG exercise were provided for travel to help Hong Kong researchers present their work internationally.
A Co-operative Research Centres Scheme was set up in 1993 to promote collaboration in applied research with industry. Three initial centres, dedicated to textile inspection, open systems technology, and wireless information technology, were followed by another 23.
Having successfully spearheaded links in applied research between universities and industry and with the establishment of the Innovation and Technology Fund, the Council reviewed the operation in 2000 and decided to consolidate its efforts in monitoring the on-going funded projects. For this reason, new funding exercises will not be launched under the scheme.
The formation of joint research schemes with other countries and regions was another initiative, strengthening links between higher education institutions in Hong Kong and counterparts in other parts of the world. The first scheme, between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, was set up in 1991, and was added to with ventures involving Germany, France and, in 1998, with the Mainland.

Transparency and accountability
As funding and the number of on-going research projects grew over the decade, the RGC installed practices to provide greater transparency and accountability.
A move to relay relevant comments of external assessors to unsuccessful grant applicants began in 1992. The initiative proved to be useful in helping applicants to improve their research proposals. From 1997, comments from all external reviewers were fed back anonymously to applicants, whether or not their applications were successful in securing RGC funding. In 1993, a more formal method of project monitoring and assessment was adopted, with one subject panel member assigned to each funded project to track progress and report problems.
The ratings of completed research projects was reviewed in 1997, and a year later the RGC dropped its 'Excellent' category, believing that the outcome of quality research was more appropriate than any ratings given by the Council. From then on, only 'Satisfactory' or 'Unsatisfactory' were used.

Visits to UGC-funded institutions
In 1992, RGC Council members, and subject panel members, started a programme of visits to UGC-funded institutions. The second round of visits began in 1995, and the third round in 1998.
These visits afforded the Council and its subject panels an invaluable opportunity to appreciate the research culture and environment at the institutions.

Retreat reviews progress and looks ahead
To review achievements and consider future directions, RGC members held a retreat in late 1997. Issues identified were further discussed in 1998 and, responding to a request from the Secretary for Education and Manpower, the Council agreed to review its role in advising government on research needs. The move resulted in an important report to government in 2000 on the research needs and priorities of Hong Kong's higher education sector, the first report of its kind.