AI major focus as Hong Kong funds record 12 university research projects

In its latest round of support for universities, the Research Grants Council has approved funding of HK$478 million

The higher education institutions receiving the most funding are City University, with around HK$145 million, the University of Hong Kong (HKU), with HK$119 million, and Polytechnic University, which got HK$107 million.

The Research Grants Council (RGC) announced on Wednesday that funding had been approved under two flagship schemes.

The Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme will receive HK$158 million – up nearly 10 per cent from last year’s HK$144 million – to support four projects covering medical imaging, smart manufacturing, neutron scattering and sustainable wildlife trade.

The Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) has been allocated HK$320 million for eight initiatives focusing largely on healthcare, green technology and AI.

The council also said it would introduce “Low-altitude, Aerospace and Space Technology” as a new challenge topic under the TRS from the 2027-28 round, with the funding exercise beginning in mid-July.