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The following is issued on behalf of The Research Grants Council:

The Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) announced today (Tuesday) their joint decisions on the allocation of funds under the NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme for the exercise 1999-2000.

The joint scheme is aimed at encouraging collaboration between researchers in Hong Kong and the Mainland in the areas of Information Technology, Life Sciences, New Materials Science, Chinese Medicine and Management Science.

A total of about HK$15 million was awarded as projects grants to fund 14 projects selected jointly by the NSFC and the RGC for support after a process of detailed evaluation under the Joint Research Scheme. The funded projects cover research into microchip technology, the interaction between waves and the marine environment, the effect of Chinese medical compounds on cells, studies of gene function, application of DNA-based detection and the supply chain structure and information dynamics in management science etc.

The agreement to establish a joint research scheme with an annual funding of about HK$15 million was reached between the NSFC and the RGC in November 1998. The annual contributions of the RGC and the NSFC are HK$10 million and RMB 5 million respectively. The scheme is being run on a pilot basis initially for three years, and supports actual research expenses in addition to travel and subsistence costs.

In the first exercise this year, a total of 229 initial proposals were received. After two rounds of short-listing and evaluation, the NSFC and the RGC agreed to support 14 projects. To finalize the selection of projects, an RGC delegation travelled to Beijing and attended a joint selection committee meeting with the NSFC on November 12, 1999.

Professor Kenneth Young, Chairman of the RGC, said 'I am very pleased to see that this Scheme, the first such collaborative scheme between the RGC and a Mainland partner, has got off to a fine start. I am grateful for the co-operation from the NSFC in developing this Scheme which provides a good channel for Hong Kong and Mainland researchers to come together and work on research areas of common interest. This is very much in line with the efforts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to strengthen ties with the Mainland."

The NSFC and the RGC have also agreed on the application procedures in respect of the coming exercise in 2000-2001. The call circular for the exercise was issued by both sides today, and all initial proposals must be submitted to the RGC on or before January 15, 2000.

End/Tuesday, November 30, 1999

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