Calendar 2013–14

The University 7 Part 1 rice yields in China by improving the species of rice grown by Chinese farmers. Established in 2009, the State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China (CUHK) conducts research into the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine and the application of biotechnology in medical science, while the State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, established in 2010, advances inter-disciplinary basic research. About one quarter of the government’s annual allocation to the University in the form of block grants goes directly or indirectly to research. The University also relies heavily on different external funding sources to support research activities. The Research Grants Council remains the major sponsor of research. In the 2012–13 exercise, CUHK staff secured some HK$143.5 million in the form of competitive grants. The high quality of research is also reflected in the many papers published in international and local refereed journals. Other major sources of funding are the Quality Education Fund, the Innovation and Technology Fund, the Health and Medical Research Fund, the Health Care and Promotion Fund, and various private donations. The University’s Research Committee is one of the main bodies responsible for allocating internal funding for research. It is supported by eight subject panels, each consisting of up to 23 experienced researchers. In addition to allocation of research funding, it is also charged with the responsibility of evaluating and recommending project proposals for external grant applications. It is supported by the Research Administration Office, which is responsible for research administration as well as for implementation of policies for the enhancement of the University’s research portfolio. Knowledge Transfer Knowledge transfer (KT) in CUHK encompasses an extensive scope of activities that include contracting, licensing, protecting and utilizing intellectual property, organizing public as well as specialized events, and disseminating knowledge through various platforms. These activities take innovation from the high research-intensive knowledge base of the University to beyond academic journals and lecture theaters to end users in the industry and society, generating economic return and making social impact. At CUHK, the Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) is dedicated to promoting such interactions and partnership opportunities through policy implementation, marketing efforts, capacity building, and an enhanced initiative in entrepreneurship education. With indispensible support from the University Grants Committee (UGC), KTO organizes events and offers an array of funding schemes, with corroboration of case histories that are paramount to the