Research Grants Council of Hong Kong

The RGC (Research Grants Council of Hong Kong) operates through subject panels and committees responsible for considering applications for research grants and fellowship applications :

1. Subject Panels
   There are two pools of panel members, one focuses on the evaluation of proposals in General Research Fund and other funding schemes for individual research and the other on Joint Research Schemes proposals. Five subject panels namely Biology & Medicine, Business Studies, Engineering, Humanities & Social Sciences and Physical Sciences are set up under each pool. Two sub-panels are formed under the Engineering Panel to handle the applications relating to (1) civil engineering, surveying, building & construction and mechanical, production & industrial engineering as well as (2) computing science & information technology and electrical & electronic engineering respectively. Four sub-panels are also formed under the Humanities & Social Sciences Panel to handle the applications in the respective disciplines. These panels consist of local and non-local academics. In assessing applications for research grants on the basis of peer review, the panels work through a network of reviewers, comprising international experts in their fields both in Hong Kong and other regions.
2. Collaborative Research Fund Committee gives advice to the RGC on the Collaborative Research Fund, including selection and monitoring of the approved projects.
3. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme Steering Committee gives advice to the RGC on the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, including selection and monitoring of the approved fellowships.
4. Major Projects Steering Committee gives advice to the RGC on the Theme-based Research and the Areas of Excellence Scheme, including prioritizing proposals for funding and monitoring of approved projects.
5. Steering Committee on Research Themes and Topics gives advice to the RGC on selection of appropriate themes and grand challenge topics for the Theme-based Research Scheme.
6. Research Impact Fund Committee gives advice to the RGC on the Research Impact Fund, including selection and monitoring of the approved projects.
7. The Steering Committee on Competitive Research Funding for the Self-financing Degree Sector gives advice to the RGC on the three Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local Self-financing Degree Sector, including overseeing the implementation details of the Faculty Development Scheme, Institutional Development Scheme and Inter-Institutional Development Scheme, prioritizing proposals for funding and monitoring of approved projects. The Assessment Panel is responsible for evaluation and assessment of the three Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local Self-financing Degree Sector.
8. There are two Disciplinary Committees (DC), namely the DC (Investigation) and the DC (Appeal). The DC (Investigation) gives advice to the RGC on policies and procedures regarding the handling and investigation of alleged research misconduct cases and on principles and guidelines in determining the level of penalty for substantiated cases. It also makes recommendations to the RGC on whether the allegations should be substantiated or not and on the level of penalty for substantiated allegations. The DC (Appeal) gives advice to the RGC on policies and procedures regarding the handling of appeal cases against the decision of the RGC on the substantiation of research misconduct and / or the level of penalty imposed. It also examines the appeal cases and makes recommendations to the RGC on whether the previous decision on the substantiation and / or the level of penalty imposed should be upheld, overturned or modified.