Annual Report 2004–05

was opened. The l abo r a t o ry w i l l d r aw u p o n the research strengths of the Un i v e r s i ty a nd M i c r o s o ft Research A s ia to d e v e l op i n n o v a t i ve h uma n - c e n t r ic c o m p u t i ng a nd interface technologies w h i c h w i l l i mp r o ve the q u a l i ty of life. The establishment of the laboratory w i l l promote collaboration between academia and industry, provide leading research infrastructure, and nuture talent. I n the human i t i e s, the Research Centre for Chinese An c i ent Texts was established under the Institute of Chinese Studies. It was founded on the success of the Chinese Ancient Texts ( CH A N T) Project w i t h goals to construct an electronic database of the entire corpus of t r ad i t i onal and excavated ancient Chinese texts and p u b l i sh t h em t h r o u gh different channels. The Research Centre for General Education was also set u p to deepen discourse on general education, foster exchange on general education practices i n tertiary education institutions i n different regions, and promote general education development i n Chinese communities. The Research Centre for Chinese Philosophy and Culture was founded to explore new directions i n the study of Chinese philosophy and culture and to promote academic exchange w i t h overseas researchers; while the Archive for Phenomenology and Contemporary Philosophy was established to set u p a wo r k i ng phenomenology library, b u i ld partnerships w i t h major phenomenology archives i n Europe and other regions, and incorporate major wo r ks f r om overseas archives. These new facilities enhance the basic infrastructure and provide different venues for academics to advance their research ideas. Ap a rt f r om attracting r e n own ed scholars and researchers locally and overseas, the University increased its research personnel through the various postgraduate study programmes offered by the Graduate School. The Research Comm i t t ee is responsible for the d i s t r i b u t i on of internal research f u n d i ng to wo r t hwh i le research projects. It also helps to evaluate and recommend research project proposals for external grants application. Research Funding The research infrastructure of the University is f unded by the UGC while the majority of research projects are supported by the Research Grants Council (RGC). For the year 2004-05, about HK$ 97 m i l l i on was allocated by the RGC to the Un i v e r s i ty for research, of wh i ch HK$78.5 m i l l i on was allocated i n the f o rm of Competitive Earmarked Grants. The University was awarded about HK$28 m i l l i on for Innovation and Technology Fund projects and HK$ 13 m i l l i on for Qu a l i ty Edu c a t i on F u n d projects. Overall, researchers c o n t i n u ed to p e r f o rm we ll i n securing f u n d i ng f r om the government and the private sector. I n the year under review, the Research Committee disbursed a total of HK$27 m i l l i on to internal units. Of this, HK$13.6 m i l l i on was a Direct Grant allocated b y the RGC and the balance was d r awn f r om the University's Block Grant. The Direct Grant was used to support research activities conducted i n various faculties for projects costing less than HK$0.15 m i l l i on each. D i s t r i bu t i on was also made to finance the Group Research Scheme wh i ch supports strategic initiatives, travel grants for postgraduate research students, the Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme and research support for projects w i t h g o od development potential. The Young Researcher A w a r d and the Aw a rd for the Best Research Ou t p ut by Research Postgraduates continue to offer recognition to talented academics and students. 研究 Research 4 5