The Research Grants Council announces that 779 projects from University Grants Committee-funded institutions have been approved, involving $487 million.

The council received a record 2,081 Competitive Earmarked Research Grant applications from the academic staff of the eight committee-funded institutions, up 6% on last year.

After rigorous international peer review, the council decided to fund 779 projects with a total amount of $487 million. The overall success rate is about 37%.

Out of the 779 projects, 316 were in the engineering disciplines, 155 in disciplines concerning biology and medicine, 139 in areas related to humanities, social sciences and business studies, and 169 in physical sciences, chemical engineering and mathematics.

Council chairman Prof Roland Chin said the council was impressed with the quality and diversity of the research proposals in this exercise.

"We attach high importance to quality in the selection and increased funding support is provided to high-quality proposals. The average funding level per project has increased by 7%, to $625,000."

Meanwhile, the council also made decision on funding for the fourth round of the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme.

11 public policy proposals win nod

Of the total 61 research proposals received, the council decided to fund 11 projects across a wide spectrum of policy areas, including education, policy in support of families, urban planning, effective government and enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness. The total amount of funding support is $6.9 million.

Details of these funded projects are posted on the council's website.