The Review 2006

The Review 2006 20 The Review 2006 21 B REAKING N EW G ROUND Research and experimentation are the seeds of change and progress, but they cannot reach fruition without the right level of support and fertilisation. We have been very effective in this regard. Our researchers are provided with a favourable working environment and a framework for collaborating between disciplines and with our outside partners. As a result, we have been able to attract outstanding scholars who secure substantial funding input and produce substantial research findings. The high quality of the University’s research activities and achievements was recognised locally, nationally and globally in 2005-06. We received more research funding than any other tertiary institution in Hong Kong, an achievement that has been repeated for most of the past decade. We were also named among the top 40 universities in the Times Higher Education Supplement – QS 2006 ranking, partly on the basis of our research prowess. While rankings do not provide a complete picture of a university’s achievements, they are an indicator that we are recognised as meeting high international standards. The University had a record-breaking year for research funding, receiving 30 per cent more than any other local tertiary institution. Our research work continued to focus on breadth and collaboration. We produced fascinating results in a wide range of fields and entered into working partnerships with other institutions in Hong Kong, the Mainland and around the world. Research Funding Hong Kong has a population of only seven million people but eight universities, all competing for a share of research funding that is miniscule relative to other developed countries. Given the challenge, our University has achieved remarkably consistent and superior results. In 2005-06, our most successful year ever, we continued this strong record and received $145.7 million in the Competitive Earmarked Research Grants, 31 per cent higher than the previous year and significantly more than any other tertiary institution. The grants covered 215 of our applications, almost one quarter more than last year. We also received $26.4 million from the Innovation and Technology Support Fund.