The Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office (PICO) announced today (March 7) the results of the Strategic Public Policy Research (SPPR) Funding Scheme 2021-22.

     PICO received 23 applications for the SPPR Funding Scheme 2021-22. On the advice of the Assessment Panel, PICO has supported two projects with total funding of about $8 million. One of the projects seeks to establish a long-term policy framework to encourage Hong Kong residents to utilise healthcare services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, while the other looks into ways to reduce per capita water consumption for domestic households with a view to facilitating the formulation of a sustainable water supply strategy.
 
      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. Applications to the SPPR Funding Scheme are invited once a year and assessed by an independent Assessment Panel which comprises experienced academics. Each application is considered on its merits and the strategic relevance to public policy development in Hong Kong. The Assessment Panel will also take into account comments of outside reviewers who are academics and experts during the assessment process. A declaration of interests system is in place to ensure that the assessments are fair and impartial.

     Details of the funded projects have been uploaded to PICO's website (www.pico.gov.hk/en/PRFS/sppr-granted.html).

Ends/Monday, March 7, 2022
Issued at HKT 17:00

NNNN