Calendar 2020-21

The University 7 Part 1 At the national level, five State Key Laboratories have also been established at CUHK. The State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology (CUHK), established in 2006, conducts research into the biology and early detection of cancers particularly prevalent in Asian populations, and seeks to develop novel therapeutics for their treatment. The State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology (CUHK), established in 2008, studies ways of improving rice yields in China by improving the species of rice grown by Chinese farmers. Established in 2009, the State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants (CUHK) conducts research into the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine and the application of biotechnology in medical science. The State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, established in 2010, advances interdisciplinary basic research. In July 2013, the State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology with the aim of promoting research in digestive disease. About a 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 (RGC) remains the major sponsor of research. In the 2019–20 grant application exercise, CUHK staff secured over HK$288 million in RGC competitive grant funding. The University’s high quality of research is also reflected in the many papers published in international and local refereed journals. CUHK staff have also been active in seeking funding from several other important sources, including the Health and Medical Research Fund, the Innovation and Technology Fund, the Quality Education Fund, and various private donations. Much of the University’s internal funding for research is allocated by the Research Committee. The committee is supported by eight subject panels, each consisting of up to 17 experienced researchers. In addition to allocation of research funding, it is also responsible for evaluating and recommending project proposals for external grant applications. It is supported by the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services (ORKTS) which oversees, develops and administers the University’s policies in these two areas. Innovation and Enterprise The Office of Innovation and Enterprise (OIE) was established in 2019 to spearhead the translation of CUHK innovation research into product or service commercialization. OIE aspires to create an innovation ecosystem that fosters interactions among industries, investors, government and academia, thereby accelerating CUHK’s innovation and societal impacts. OIE leverages on the opportunities and participates in initiatives launched by the HKSAR government and external partners. The key plans of OIE are: (i) Inno@HK initiative—facilitating the establishment and operation of Innocentres with