Collaborative Research Fund
The CRF supports collaborative, multi-disciplinary research and equipment acquisition among Hong Kong universities to foster high-impact, cross-institutional science.
Funder: Hong Kong Research Grants Council
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2027: Preliminary proposal electronic submission deadline via RGC Electronic System (projected) | February 2027: Preliminary proposal hard copy and searchable soft copy submission to UGC Secretariat through Research Offices by 17:00 HKT (projected)
Funding Amounts: HK$2M–$10M per project (CRPG/CREG); HK$2M–$5M per project (YCRG); duration normally up to 3 years
Summary: Supports collaborative, multi-disciplinary research and equipment acquisition among UGC-funded Hong Kong universities, fostering high-impact cross-institutional research.
Description
The Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) is a major funding scheme of the Hong Kong Research Grants Council designed to support high-quality, multi-investigator, and multi-disciplinary research projects. The CRF aims to foster collaboration across disciplines and institutions among UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. It offers three types of grants:
- Collaborative Research Project Grant (CRPG): Supports cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional research projects, providing funding for staff, equipment, and general research expenses.
- Collaborative Research Equipment Grant (CREG): Enables the acquisition of major research facilities or equipment for shared collaborative use.
- Young Collaborative Research Grant (YCRG): Helps early-stage academic staff gain experience in leading collaborative projects.
Proposals are evaluated on academic merit, long-term potential, opportunities for synergy, and project management effectiveness. The CRF is intended to build research capacity, develop areas of research strength, and maximize the impact of collaborative research in Hong Kong.
