General Research Fund
The General Research Fund from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council supports high-quality basic and applied research across all disciplines at UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong.
Funder: Hong Kong Research Grants Council
Due Dates: October 30, 2026 (Application Deadline) | April 15, 2027 (Update of Proposals)
Funding Amounts: Up to HK$2 million per project; minimum HK$150,000 (STEM/medicine/engineering/physical sciences) or HK$100,000 (business/humanities/social sciences); typical duration 2–3 years.
Summary: Supports outstanding researchers at Hong Kong universities for basic and applied research across all disciplines.
Key Information: Applications must be submitted via the UGC electronic system; only full-time academic staff at UGC-funded universities are eligible as PI.
Description
The General Research Fund (GRF), administered by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council, is the principal competitive grant supporting researchers at UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. The GRF provides funding for both basic and applied research projects, aiming to advance knowledge, foster academic innovation, and support research with potential social, cultural, or economic impact. The scheme is open to all disciplines and is designed to supplement universities' internal research resources by enabling researchers who have demonstrated excellence or strong potential to pursue high-quality research.
