Opportunities from Hong Kong Research Grants Council

The Research Grants Council Early Career Scheme supports new junior faculty undertaking independent research at UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. The 2027–28 call opened on 21 August 2026. Project grants are normally up to HK$2 million; funded projects with satisfactory education plans can receive additional support for undergraduate research training, including HK$100,000 for outstanding Early Career Award projects or HK$50,000 for other qualifying funded projects.

The Principal Investigator must be an academic staff member at a UGC-funded university and, at the submission deadline, be within three years of the first full-time academic job as an Assistant Professor or career equivalent involving teaching and research in a substantiation/tenure-track position. The PI must spend at least 80% of time in degree or higher-degree work at the university proper and have salary wholly funded by the university proper under RGC rules. Eligible applicants may apply under ECS or GRF in the same cycle, but not both. Previous ECS grantees or awardees cannot compete in ECS again.