General Research Fund
The Hong Kong RGC General Research Fund supports high-quality basic and applied research across all disciplines at UGC-funded universities, emphasizing academic excellence and societal impact.
Funder: Hong Kong Research Grants Council
Due Dates (Anticipated): August 2026 (application window opens) | October 2026 (full application deadline) | April 2027 (proposal updates)
Funding Amounts: Up to HK$2 million per project; minimum HK$150,000 (Biology & Medicine, Engineering, Physical Sciences) or HK$100,000 (Business, Humanities & Social Sciences); typically 2–3 years.
Summary: Supports basic and applied research of academic merit and impact at Hong Kong UGC-funded universities.
Key Information: All dates are projected; eligibility is restricted to full-time academic staff at UGC-funded institutions.
Description
The General Research Fund (GRF) aims to supplement the internal research support of Hong Kong universities by providing competitive funding for projects led by researchers who have demonstrated, or show the potential for, research excellence. The scheme supports both basic research, which advances the frontiers of knowledge, and applied research, which addresses specific functional needs and societal benefit in the short to medium term. The GRF emphasizes academic quality, originality, feasibility, and the qualifications of the investigators, as well as the potential for social, cultural, or economic application.
