HKU excels in RGC’s latest funding exercise

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The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has achieved outstanding results in competitive peer-reviewed research funding and fellowship schemes for 2024/25 by the Research Grants Council under the University Grants Committee.

HKU participates in four of the six projects funded under the Strategic Topics Grant (STG) scheme and is coordinating two of the projects, securing a funding amount of over HK$ 65 million.

The two STG projects coordinated by HKU researchers are:

Topic 1: Using Artificial Intelligence to Address Imminent Challenges in Health Care

Project Title: Development and Deployment of a Community-based Eye Care Model for Provision of Primary Eye Care Services
Project Coordinator:
Professor Christopher LEUNG Kai-shun, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
Funding amount: HK$ 35.83 million

Topic 2: Striving towards Carbon Neutrality before 2050
Project Title: Cost-Effective Decarbonization for the Power Sector of Hong Kong: Technology Innovation, Demonstrations, and Pathways
Project Coordinator:
Professor Peng GONG, Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science
Funding amount: HK$ 30 million

HKU has maintained the leading position in the General Research Fund (GRF) by securing the highest number of approved projects and the largest share of funding among all local institutions. The 238 HKU projects approved have secured a total funding of HK$237M, amounting to 24% of the overall funding amount allocated this year. Among the five panels, HKU stands first in three - Biology & Medicine, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Physical Sciences, by receiving the highest number of awarded projects.

HKU's young researchers received a total funding of HK$22M with 31 projects awarded under the Early Career Scheme (ECS).

The University's scholars have been honoured under different fellowship schemes. They are:

Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme (HSSPFS)
Professor Cuncun WU
School of Chinese, Faculty of Arts

Professor Wu will be granted extended time-off to focus on research in the fields of humanities and social sciences.

Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS)
Professor Anderson Ho-Cheung SHUM
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Research Fellow Scheme (RFS)
Dr Jasper CHAN Fuk-woo
Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

Professor Carmen WONG Chak-lui
Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

SRFS and RFS provide support and relief of teaching and administrative duties to exceptionally outstanding academics.

Finally, HKU participates in six of the seven projects funded under the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) and is the coordinating institution in three projects.

Professor Max Shen, Vice-President (Research), congratulated the researchers and their research teams. He encouraged HKU members to continue to explore novel ideas and contribute to society.

"Their innovative work through these newly funded projects not only supports the development of HKU but also makes significant impacts to society as a whole," said Professor Shen.

Please click here for RGC's Strategic Topics Grant (STG) funded projects for 2024/25.

More details on HKU's funding results can be found at: https://www.rss.hku.hk/funding/funding-results.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Communication and Public Affairs Office, HKU
Ms Melanie Wan (Tel: 2859 2600 / Email: [email protected])
Ms Jaymee Ng (Tel: 3910 3612 / Email: [email protected])
Mr Kenneth Choi (Tel: 3917 2607 / Email: [email protected])