General Research Fund
The General Research Fund supports innovative university-based basic and applied research in Hong Kong to advance scientific knowledge and address societal needs.
Funder: Hong Kong Research Grants Council
Due Dates (Anticipated): August 2026 (Application start) | October 2026 (Full application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to HK$2 million per project; typical range HK$100,000–2,000,000 depending on discipline; project duration usually 1–3 years.
Summary: Supports outstanding university-based basic and applied research to advance knowledge and address specific societal needs.
Description
The General Research Fund (GRF) is a flagship competitive funding scheme administered by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council. It is designed to supplement universities’ own research support and empower researchers who have achieved, or have the potential to achieve, excellence. The GRF supports both basic research—aimed at advancing the frontiers of knowledge—and applied research, which seeks to address specific functional or societal needs in the short to medium term. Proposals are evaluated for academic quality, originality, feasibility, and potential impact.
