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Funding results of Research Impact Fund 2018/19 announced
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The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:

     The Research Grants Council (RGC) announced today (January 8) the funding results of the Research Impact Fund (RIF) 2018/19. Thirty proposals were selected to be awarded some $193 million of funding from the RIF. The list of awarded projects is set out in the Annex.

     The Chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC), Mr Carlson Tong, said, "The objective of the RIF is to encourage local universities to conduct more impactful and translational research projects which may help meet Hong Kong's strategic and societal needs and foster more collaborative efforts with stakeholders beyond academia. A total of $200 million was allocated from the UGC's Central Allocation Vote for the RGC to implement this initial exercise of the RIF. I am delighted at the overwhelming response from our academia. We received 164 preliminary proposals with funding requests amounting to $1,428 million."

     Of the 164 preliminary proposals, 44 were shortlisted for submission of full proposals. After a thorough and detailed assessment process, 30 of them with funding requests totalling $286 million were finally selected for funding. Mandatory matching funds are required from UGC-funded universities/partner(s) for approved projects on a 70 per cent (RGC)/30 per cent (university/partner(s)) basis.

     Mr Tong added, "Implementing the RIF will not only enable Hong Kong to stay competitive in the globalised higher education sector but also strengthen our research and teaching capacity. The UGC will continue to focus on research excellence and at the same time increased emphasis will be placed on realising the impact of our research."

     The Chairman of the RGC, Professor Benjamin Wah, said he was grateful for the support and contribution made by various parties in this new initiative, especially overseas experts who played an important role in the short-listing and selection of projects for funding.

     "I am pleased to see that this new initiative has been implemented successfully. The awarded projects cover a wide range of subject areas such as research and development of drugs, innovative reclamation and building methods, and security and applications of the Internet of Things. I look forward to seeing the results of these research projects contribute to the long-term development and well-being of Hong Kong," Professor Wah said.

     Details of the approved projects have been posted on the RGC website (www.ugc.edu.hk).
 
Ends/Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Issued at HKT 17:40
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