Other External Funding

Besides the Research Grants Council (RGC), HKMU staff may seek funding from other external bodies for their R&D projects. All funding applications should have been approved by the University before they are submitted to any external bodies. Guidelines and related documents are as follows:

	Research Projects with Non-RGC External Funding Obtained Through Submission of Applications or Biddings	Research Projects with External Funding Obtained Through Contracts with or Donations from External Parties
	Guidelines	Guidelines
Appendix I	Flowchart of Handling Procedures	Flowchart of Handling Procedures
Appendix II	Assessment Criteria
Appendix III	Proposal Review Form
Appendix IV	Endorsement by Dean: Research Proposal to Apply for Non-RGC External Funding
Appendix V	Endorsement by Dean: Participating in a Research Project Led by an Organization to Apply for Non-RGC External Funding
Appendix VI		Necessary Contents of a Contract
Appendix VII		Donation Form
Appendix VIII		Donation In-kind Report Form
Appendix IX		Due Diligence for Acceptance of Donations
Appendix X		Progress Report Form
Appendix XI		Completion Report Form

Beat Drugs Fund

The Beat Drugs Fund aims to promote and support worthwhile anti-drug projects which can help address the problem of drug abuse, particularly amongst the young, and to promote community-wide efforts and programmes against drug abuse in Hong Kong.

Call for applications*: once a year, usually in August

Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme (CCFS)

The CCFS is dedicated to support sustainable and holistic conservation efforts in Hong Kong’s rural countryside, covering a wide spectrum of areas on different levels ranging from the natural environment / habitats, non-graded built heritage to cultural and historic assets, etc.

Call for applications*: all year round with two cutoff dates, usually in April and October

Construction Industry Council (CIC) Research and Technology Development Fund

The CIC Research and Technology Development Fund provides financial support for research projects which can benefit the Hong Kong construction industry through practical application of the research outcomes, covering the areas of (i) construction safety and health; (ii) construction productivity; (iii) environment and sustainability; (iv) construction procurement; and (v) Building Information Modelling (BIM).

Call for applications*: once a year

Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF)

The objectives of the ECF are to promote individual behavioural and life style changes to achieve sustainable development, and develop or introduce innovative technologies and practices to improve our environment and conserve resources. The key funding schemes are Community Waste Reduction, Environmental Education and Community Action and Environmental Research, Technology Demonstration and Conference.

Call for applications*: once a year, usually in June for Environmental RTDC; twice a year for Community Waste Reduction / EE&CA projects

Funding Programme of Research Projects on Equal Opportunities

This funding programme encourages innovative research projects working towards the elimination of discrimination falling within the scope of the four anti-discrimination ordinances and promoting the principles of these ordinances.

Call for applications*: every 3 to 4 years

Green Tech Fund (GTF)

The GTF was set up by the Government to provide better and more focused funding support for the R&D and application of decarbonisation and green technologies, so as to expedite low-carbon transformation and enhance environmental protection in Hong Kong.

Call for applications*: twice a year

Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF)

The HMRF aims to build research capacity and to encourage, facilitate and support health and medical research to inform health policies, improve population health, strengthen the health system, enhance healthcare practices, advance standard and quality of care and promote clinical excellence, through generation and application of evidence-based scientific knowledge derived from local research in health and medicine.

Call for applications*: once a year, usually in December

Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC)

The project grant of the HKADC is open to all arts practitioners and organisations. Its support covers a wide range of activities including performances, exhibitions, publications, education programmes, creation, critical reviews and archival work.

Call for applications*: all year round with two cutoff dates, usually in June and December

Hong Kong Scholars Program

The Program aims at effectively pooling talent and research resource of Hong Kong and the Mainland to train outstanding postdoctoral fellows. Selected “Hong Kong Scholars” (i.e. the postdoctoral fellows) will come to Hong Kong to commence postdoctoral research work under professors at various universities in Hong Kong. This Program will help professors of Hong Kong solicit high quality PhD graduates from leading universities on the Mainland, thus promoting academic and scientific exchanges and collaboration between the two places.

Call for applications*: once a year, usually in November / December

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Funding Scheme

The objective of the ICH Funding Scheme is to support citizens and organisations in Hong Kong in carrying out projects with a view to achieving the following aims: 1) to strengthen the safeguarding, research, education, promotion and transmission of local ICH items; 2) to support the transmission of ICH by local bearers and bearer organisations; 3) to engage the community's participation in safeguarding ICH; and 4) to enhance public awareness and understanding of ICH and boost their respect for ICH.

Call for applications*: once a year for partnership projects / community-driven projects

Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF)

The ITF aims to increase the added value, productivity and competitiveness of Hong Kong economic activities. Through the ITF, Hong Kong companies could be encouraged and assisted to upgrade their technological level and introduce innovative ideas to their businesses. There are different programmes under the ITF, part of them focus on research and development taken part by universities and local research institutions.

Call for applications*: once a year

Innovation and Technology Fund for Better Living (FBL)

The FBL is a scheme for funding innovation and technology projects which will make people’s daily living more convenient, comfortable and safer, or address the needs of specific community groups. Projects should be able to benefit the public at large or specific groups, be in line with government policies, and involve the innovative application of technologies. Project themes include daily living, education, environment, health, safety, transport, etc. which can benefit the community.

Call for applications*: all year round

Marine Conservation Enhancement Fund (MCEF) and Fisheries Enhancement Fund (FEF)

The MCEF and FEF are established by Castle Peak Power Company Limited, The Hongkong Electric Company, Limited and Hong Kong LNG Terminal Limited. The MCEF covers the areas of marine conservation; habitat restoration and rehabilitation; as well as education and ecotourism. The FEF covers the areas of fisheries resources enhancement; sustainable development of the fishing industry; and fisheries-related education and tourism.

Call for applications*: twice a year, usually in March and October

Ocean Park Conservation Fund

The Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong solicits projects on threatened wildlife in Asia, particularly on the Foundation’s focal species, the giant panda and the Chinese white dolphin, as well as other threatened wildlife and their habitats throughout Asia. Study outcomes must contribute to successful conservation and could entail the development of conservation action plans and/or social science-based conservation programmes.

Call for applications*: once a year, usually in December

Public Policy Research (PPR) Funding Scheme and Strategic Public Policy Research (SPPR) Funding Scheme

The PPR Funding Scheme, together with the SPPResearch Funding Scheme, aim to promote public policy research and evidence-based research to facilitate public policy discussion. There are seven major themes for the PPR Funding Scheme, namely (i) land and housing; (ii) economic development; (iii) livelihood issues; (iv) application of innovation and technology; (v) youth development; (vi) environmental protection; and (vii) political development and governance with 21 indicative research areas. Applicants may also submit their own research areas for consideration by the Assessment Panel. Specifically, the SPPR Funding Scheme aims to support longer-term public policy research on strategic themes, build up research capacity, and facilitate collaboration among institutions/think tanks on the strategic themes.

Call for applications*: all year round for PPR, once a year and normally in the second quarter of the year for SPPR

Quality Education Fund (QEF)

The QEF provides a channel for worthwhile projects from the school education sector to be funded. It mainly caters for non-profit making initiatives within the ambit of basic education, i.e. kindergarten, primary, secondary and special education. The QEF funds a wide range of projects that promote quality education in schools. Funding is mainly directed, but not restricted, to the following categories of projects: (i) promoting effective learning; (ii) promoting all-round education; (iii) implementing school-based management; (iv) exploring education issues; and (v) application of information technology.

Call for applications*: all year round

Research and Development Projects of Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR)

The vision of SCOLAR is to enable the people of Hong Kong, in particular, students and the workforce, to be bi-literate and tri-lingual for better learning and better life. Its ‘Research and Development Projects’ aims at generating new knowledge or filling gaps for pedagogical applications and supporting the implementation of various initiatives on language learning and teaching in local schools.

Call for applications*: every 3 years

S K Yee Medical Foundation

This charitable trust was established by the late General S.K. Yee in November 1983. Applications are invited from registered institutions and associations for support of projects which meet any of the following objectives: 1) to establish medical services for the poor and sick and provide equipment and apparatus for such services; 2) to provide medical education; 3) to acquire and/or construct maintain and/or alter any buildings or works necessary or convenient for the above-mentioned objectives or any of them; and 4) to assist, promote, establish, contribute, manage, control or support any charitable institutions or associations providing medical services for the poor and sick.

Call for applications*: once a year, usually in December

Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme (SRFS)

The HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (HKJCCT) have agreed to each inject HK$150 million, i.e. HK$300 million in total, into the Arts and Sport Development Fund (Sports Portion), with the entire sum earmarked for the Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme (SRFS). The SRFS aims to enhance the competitiveness of athletes and help them better prepare upcoming sports events.

Call for applications*: all year round

The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust

The Trust provides funding support to heritage-related projects and activities for the promotion of the objectives of the Trust to preserve and conserve the human heritage of Hong Kong.

Call for applications*: once a year, usually in July

國家自然科學獎

國家自然科學獎授予在數學、物理學、化學、天文學、地球科學、生命科學等基礎研究和資訊、材料、工程技術等領域的應用基礎研究中，闡明自然現象、特徵和規律、做出重大科學發現的公民。國家自然科學獎在香港特區的推薦及提名工作，由京港學術交流中心及香港研究資助局分別協助對候選項目進行初步形式審查及內容評審，教育局根據這兩個機構的意見及香港特區所獲推薦名額確定最後推薦及提名項目並提交獎勵辦。

Call for applications*: no fixed schedule

國家重點研發計劃

國家重點研發計劃針對事關國計民生的重大社會公益性研究，以及事關產業核心競爭力、整體自主創新能力和國家安全的重大科學技術問題，突破國民經濟和社會發展主要領域的技術瓶頸。

Call for applications*: no fixed schedule

* This is according to previous calls for applications and the information available of the relevant funding bodies. Kindly note that the dates are subject to change by the relevant funding bodies without prior notice. Please visit the website of the funding for the most updated information or contact ORA if you need any assistance.