Research boost to drive I&T goals

October 11, 2018

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung:
Education is the key to nurturing talent, which is the most important element in Hong Kong’s continuous development. We therefore propose in this year’s Policy Address, a wide range of new initiatives to improve the quality of education. Some of which are based on the recommendations of the various task forces set up last year for reviewing the major policy areas in education. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders involved.

First, we will inject $20 billion into the Research Endowment Fund to help attract and retain talents. We will also launch a new Research Matching Grant Scheme with a total commitment of $3 billion for three years. Besides, the Research Grants Council will introduce three new regular Fellowship Schemes for post-doctoral fellows, and researchers at associate professor and professor ranks. We believe these initiatives will foster a stronger research culture, thereby promoting the vigorous development of industries and technological innovation. These are conducive to Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology hub.

Secondly, we are implementing measures to support our teachers. All teaching posts in public sector primary and secondary schools will be converted to graduate posts in the 2019-20 school year. We will also provide public sector schools and schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme with additional resources of $570 million each year to strengthen the administrative support for schools and their management committees.

Additional research funding will help drive forward Hong Kong’s potential as a global innovation and technology centre, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung says.

The 2018 Policy Address states the Government will fully accept recommendations made by a task force to strengthen support for the work of researchers.

At a press conference today, he elaborated on the Policy Address measures, which are based on the recommendations of the Task Force on Review of Research Policy & Funding.

“We believe these initiatives will foster a stronger research culture, thereby promoting the vigorous development of industries and technological innovation. These are conducive to Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology hub.

“First, we will inject $20 billion into the Research Endowment Fund to help attract and retain talents. We will also launch a new Research Matching Grant Scheme with a total commitment of $3 billion for three years,” he said.

Mr Yeung said local degree-awarding institutions can apply for the scheme.

He also highlighted the Government will earmark $190 million in recurrent expenditure annually for three new Fellowship Schemes which will help universities attract and retain talent.