Funder: Hong Kong Research Grants Council
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2027 (Electronic preliminary proposals) | February 2027 (Hard and soft copies)
Funding Amounts: HK$2 million–HK$5 million per project, normally up to three years
Summary: Supports early-stage academics leading collaborative, interdisciplinary group research and developing research talent in Hong Kong.
Key Information: The Project Coordinator and at least half of Co-Principal Investigators must meet all YCRG employment and early-career requirements.
Description
The Young Collaborative Research Grant (YCRG), administered by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) under its Collaborative Research Fund (CRF), helps early-stage academic staff gain first-hand experience leading and managing collaborative research. It prepares researchers to compete for larger collaborative awards later in their careers. The scheme supports creative, high-quality, multi-investigator and multidisciplinary work across disciplines and institutions.
YCRG accepts group research proposals only, not standalone equipment proposals. Teams must pursue interdisciplinary goals that cannot be achieved through individual project components in isolation. Research should primarily take place in Hong Kong and train local research talent. Priorities include genuine collaboration, capacity building, long-term research strength, and effective governance and project management. Eligible YCRG applications receive assessment under normal-track CRF followed by an additional selection opportunity under the Y-track.
