UCL-Chinese University of Hong Kong Strategic Partner Funds 2026/27

UCL and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) are contributing matching funds to support collaborative education and research initiatives through a joint call for proposals.

Projects

This call invites research proposals in areas of mutual interest and complementary strength that will strengthen the partnership between UCL and CUHK. Proposals should be co-led by a Lead Applicant at each institution and can involve a wider team of participants from each institution, as appropriate to the activities proposed.

Proposals from all fields are welcome but those related to the following fields are particularly encouraged:
•    Clinical and translational medicine (e.g. oncology, cardiology, ophthalmology, medicine, and gene and cell therapy) 
•    Health and healthcare (e.g. computational healthcare, global population health) 
•    Life sciences (e.g. neuroscience, brain science and biology) 

Up to three joint projects will be selected for funding. Proposals will be assessed by a panel composed of members from both institutions. 

Applications must demonstrate how the proposed activity will provide a platform for longer-term, larger-scale collaboration between UCL and CUHK in the relevant field, for example, by providing a basis for ongoing joint research and education activity and / or applications to external bodies for research grant funding.

Eligibility

Applications are open to UCL and CUHK staff members with the following roles. 

UCL applicants

• Professor or equivalent
• Associate Professor/ Reader or equivalent
• Senior Lecturer/Principal Researcher/Principal Research Associate or equivalent
• Lecturer/Senior Research Associate or equivalent
• Post Doc/Researcher/Research Associate or equivalent

Applicants from UCL must have an open-ended UCL contract or a fixed-term contract which lasts until at least July 2027.

Principal Investigators from UCL should be aware of the rules stipulated in the Partner Funds webpage here.

CUHK applicants

Applications are open to faculty members ranked at Research Assistant Professors or above holding full-time employment from all disciplines and at all levels are welcome to apply. Award holders are required to remain in university service for not less than a year upon completion of the activities in the proposal.

Institutional Guidelines

Please check each university’s guidelines regarding research ethics and export controls. Applicants are responsible for reading these guidelines and ensuring projects adhere to each university’s approval policy and process.

UCL: Please check UCL’s guidelines regarding research ethics. Applicants are responsible for reading these guidelines and ensuring projects adhere to UCL’s ethics approval policy and process. UCL guidelines can be found here:

• Research Ethics Committee  
• Research Integrity
• Export Controls: academic activity involving international partners or travel may be subject to export controls. Therefore, as part of our awarding process, UCL will need to share the project details of all successful applicants with the UCL Compliance & Assurance (C&A) team. All UCL awards are therefore provisional, subject to a review by the C&A team for export control compliance. Should the C&A team confirm that your project is subject to export controls, your award is contingent upon you being granted an export licence. In such a situation, no project activity can begin until the licencing process is complete. Fortunately, we have yet to have a licence application refused for any projects that require one. Please note that this only applies to the UCL project team.

CUHK: The University’s policy on research ethics is outlined in the University’s Policy on Research. Please contact the Research Office for advice if needed. 

Value

Up to three joint projects will be selected for funding to a maximum total value of approximately £20,000 per project (GBP 10,000 by UCL and HKD 100,000 by CUHK).  

Timeline 

How to apply

1. Download a copy of the full guidance and read it carefully.
2. Use the application form.
3. All applications must be jointly developed by a Principal Investigator from UCL and CUHK.
4. All applications must be submitted online via the UCL portal. Access here.
5. Only complete submissions will be considered.
6. Late applications will not be considered.

Apply now

Contact

If you have any questions about the UCL-CUHK Strategic Partner Funds, please contact:

UCL: 
Zhou Kuang
Global Engagement Manager
zhou.kuang@ucl.ac.uk

CUHK: 
Olivia Kwok
Programme Manager (Global)
oliviakwok@cuhk.edu.hk

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