Schemes supporting international collaborations

Two schemes supporting international collaboration are open for applications.

To drive and support the global engagement agenda and research excellence of CUHK, a range of schemes are offered to facilitate faculty members and PhD students to build and strengthen research partnerships. Among which, the Strategic Partnership Award for Research Collaboration (SPARC) and the PhD International Mobility for Partnerships and Collaborations Award (PhD IMPAC Award) are now open for application. These two schemes support collaborative research projects with partner institutions primarily in the four strategic research areas identified in the University’s Strategic Plan (CUHK 2025). Applications involving selected universities with which the University is building strategic ties are encouraged.

• Strategic Partnership Award for Research Collaboration (SPARC)

SPARC seeds new collaborative research programmes in the University’s strategic research areas which will be impactful and can be sustained through external funding sources for the next phase of their development.

An award of up to HK$150,000 will be provided to each selected application. The award is intended to support expenses, including but not limited to those involved in scoping studies, data collection, preparation of publications, submission of major international grants, hosting of joint workshops, and research visits. Please refer to the webpage for the programme guidelines and application form.

• PhD International Mobility for Partnerships and Collaborations Award (PhD IMPAC Award)

The PhD IMPAC Award sponsors PhD students from CUHK and visiting PhD students for short-term research attachment. The award aims to support research collaboration between CUHK faculty members and their international peers in order to drive research excellence at the University, in addition to enriching the international learning experiences of students. Applications for both the inbound and outbound tracks of the programme are to be made by CUHK supervisors.

Awarded CUHK PhD students will receive a sponsorship of HK$17,000–HK$50,000 while visiting PhD students will receive free on-campus accommodation. The short-term research attachments should be conducted during 1 August 2024–31 July 2025. Please refer to the webpage for the programme guidelines and online application form.

Applications for both schemes will close on 15 April. For enquiries, please contact the Office of Academic Links.