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Germany/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme
The Research Grants Council (RGC) announced today (Monday) that 25 research proposals have been awarded grants totalling HK$1 million under the Germany/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme.
Designed to encourage collaborative research between scholars in Hong Kong and Germany, the Germany/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme is a pilot scheme introduced by the RGC and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in June 1996.
"The response to the pilot scheme has been very encouraging". Prof Ping Ko. Chairman of the RGC said.
There were 104 applications covering a wide range of subjects seeking more than HK$10 million.
Under the Scheme, applications must be submitted jointly by a full-time academic staff member from a University Grants Committee-funded institution in Hong Kong and a similarly qualified academic from a university or research institution in Germany.
A joint selection committee comprising six members, three from Hong Kong and three from Germany, selected 25 out of the 104 research proposals for funding support. "The quality of the research proposals was generally very high", Prof Ko said.
Those funded cover such disciplines as molecular biology, biochemistry, physical sciences, environmental conservation, information engineering, language, education and religion, the subjects of which are of relevance to Hong Kong and Germany.
The grants provide the researchers with return air passages, accommodation and subsistence allowance to enable them to visit their research partners to discuss or conduct research projects.
The RGC and the DAAD have agreed to continue with the Scheme next year with at least the same level of funding.
The RGC also operates a joint research scheme with the UK which has been running since 1991.