18
HKUST 2014-2015
Annual Report
HKUST’s research excellence and relevance was recognized locally and
internationally through top-level funding support and assessment, with
knowledge transfer enabling partnerships and pathways to accelerate
innovation in Hong Kong and beyond
RESEARCH
DEVELOPMENT
HKUST achieved outstanding ratings in the Hong Kong
University Grants Committee’s Research Assessment Exercise
2014 (RAE 2014), an assessment carried out to the most
rigorous international standards. RAE 2014 covered the six-
year period from October 2007 to September 2013, with the
objective of assessing the research quality of UGC-funded
institutions, encouraging world-class research and powering
excellence. The University had attained an outstanding result,
with world-leading (four stars) and internationally excellent
(three stars) levels for 70% of its research submissions, the
highest among all other local institutions.
DRIVING DISCOVERY
In 2014-15, HKUST continued to actively pursue research
funding, securing total research awards of more than
$521.8 million, including the Research Grants Council
(RGC), government and government-related organizations,
local private funds, and non-Hong Kong funds. HKUST was
awarded 204 new research projects by RGC, with a total
project value of $165 million. HKUST researchers achieved
the highest success rate (47%) in the competitive General
Research Fund in the 2014-15 exercise.
Two HKUST-led Theme-based Research Scheme projects, focused
on Smart Urban Water Supply Systems, and Understanding
Debris Flow Mechanisms and Mitigating Risks for a Sustainable
Hong Kong, were awarded a total of $66 million. The projects
both come under the Developing a Sustainable Environment
theme and seek to support the city’s future in these two vital
areas through the development of cutting-edge technologies.
Funding of $163 million was secured for collaborative
research (projects supported involving at least two other
partners, one of which is a government or public body), up
nearly 46% year on year. The number of projects supported
also went up almost 22% to 84.
HKUST was awarded a total of six projects under the
Collaborative Research Fund scheme – four Group Research
Grants and two Equipment Grants – totaling $34.55 million.
One grant of $10 million was awarded for the purchase and
installation of a super-resolution electron microscopy facility
(costing over $20 million) for cross-disciplinary materials
research that can benefit not only HKUST but also other local
universities, government laboratories and local industry. The
Group Research Grants will enable research on topics as
diverse as Alzheimer’s disease, muscle stem cells, soft matter,
and food waste disposal.
The University submitted a record 74 applications to the
Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) in 2014-15, and secured
substantial funding. Grants included $13.58 million for
four projects under the University-Industry Collaboration
Programme, $10.63 million for four projects under the
Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding
Scheme, $17.57 million for 12 “Tier 3” projects and $54.23
million for nine “Tier 2” projects for a total number of
29 new projects ($96 million). Among these projects, the
HKUST-MIT Research Alliance Consortium, which fosters
collaboration among companies, universities and the HKSAR
government, received $30.54 million from the ITF for three
“Tier 2” projects.
SECURING MAINLAND AND
INTERNATIONAL FUNDING
Four of HKUST platforms in Mainland China – Guangzhou
HKUST Fok Ying Tung Research Institute, HKUST Shenzhen
Research Institute, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center
and HKUST LED-FPD Technology Research and Development
Center at Foshan – were awarded a combined RMB40.38
