Call for Proposals – RGC Areas of Excellence Scheme 2023/24 (Eleventh Round) & Theme-based Research Scheme 2023/24 (Thirteenth Round)

Name: Call for Proposals – RGC Areas of Excellence Scheme 2023/24 (Eleventh Round) & Theme-based Research Scheme 2023/24 (Thirteenth Round)
Start: 2022-07-27
End: 2022-09-12

2022 年 7 月 27 日至 2022 年 9 月 12 日

RGC is now inviting preliminary proposals for the Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme and the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS). To enhance Hong Kong’s competitive advantages and better integration into the overall national development, the RGC has recently completed a review on themes and grand challenge topics of the TRS. Two new topics, namely “Quantum Technology” and “Integrated Circuits” have been added to Theme 4 “Advancing Emerging Research and Innovations Important to Hong Kong” in the current exercise.

AoE
The AoE Scheme aims to support both basic and applied research of high academic merit. The scope of a proposal should be broad and long term, and at the same time sufficiently focused. Research collaboration is one of the core requirements. Both inter-institutional collaboration projects and inter-disciplinary projects within the same university are encouraged. There are no pre-determined themes or topics.

Starting from the 2022/23 exercise, the AoE Scheme was repositioned to primarily fund major projects outside the four themes and grand challenge topics of the TRS, including but not limited to inter-disciplinary projects involving collaboration with / among humanities and social sciences disciplines. Repositioning of the AoE Scheme will not change the objectives and the selection criteria of both schemes.

TRS
The TRS aims to focus academic research efforts of the UGC-funded universities on themes of strategic importance to the long-term development of Hong Kong. Collaboration amongst different universities and multiple disciplines is encouraged. Proposal should be sought to address one of the listed topics under the following four themes provided by the RGC:

Understanding Diseases and Disease Prevention (renamed from “Promoting Good Health”);
Developing a Sustainable Environment;
Enhancing Hong Kong’s Strategic Position as a Regional and International Business Centre; and
Advancing Emerging Research and Innovations Important to Hong Kong.

Please click HERE for the list of the 20 grand challenge topics under the four themes.

Project Duration
Up to 5 years

Funding Amount
Not exceeding $75 million (or $15 million per year for up to 5 years), excluding on-costs and PC allowance. [With reference to the past exercises, the typical funding per TRS project is in the range of $10 million to $50 million, inclusive of on-costs and PC allowance.]

Points to Note

Transfer of Proposals Between AoE and TRS Schemes

the transfer arrangement between the AoE Scheme and the TRS will continue in the 2023/24 exercise. If the RGC finds that a TRS preliminary proposal does not fall under the themes and grand challenge topics of the TRS, the RGC will transfer the proposal directly to the AoE Scheme exercise. Similarly, an AoE proposal will be transferred to the TRS exercise directly if it falls under the themes and grand challenge topics of the TRS. The decision of the RGC will be final. There is no need for the applicant to fill in another application form in case of transfer.
an applicant is only allowed to submit one application in the capacity of Project Coordinator (PC) under either the AoE Scheme or the TRS in the same exercise. A single application form will be used for the two schemes. The applicant should explain in the application why the proposal fits the scheme chosen and consent to the transfer arrangement.

Exploratory Option
There is an “Exploratory Option” under the two schemes. The objective of the “Exploratory Option” is to allow the RGC to invest into high-risk (i.e. not fulfilling all assessment criteria especially on readiness of preliminary data and the team’s credentials) yet potentially ground-breaking and highly-original research. The exploratory projects will be given one-year budget on pro rata basis and a duration of one year to yield preliminary results. There is no need for the applicants to specify the exploratory nature of their proposals for research under such category.

General information and guidelines to applicants for preparing and submitting preliminary proposals are set out in the Guidance Documents attached to the RGC’s Call Circular.

Application Procedure

Interested applicants should submit the Indication of Intention [HKUST will not have internal shortlisting] and the Preliminary Proposal to RO (a template can be found HERE).

Deadlines